Schools

John Bapst Homecoming

BANGOR — John Bapst Memorial High School will hold its Homecoming parade and football game vs. Bucksport High School on Oct. 1.

The football team, cheerleaders, band and chorale will be led by police escort at 4:25 p.m. from the school at 100 Broadway to Cameron Stadium. The parade will progress from the school along Somerset Street, Forest Avenue and Mount Hope Avenue, concluding in the Mount Hope Avenue parking lot next to the field. John Bapst school groups and alumni will convene in the parking lot prior to the game for tailgating.

The pre-game show begins at 6:20 p.m., with kickoff at 7 p.m.

Colleges

Ambassador talk

BANGOR — Retired U.S. Ambassador Patrick Duddy will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, in Gracie Theatre at Husson University. His topic will be “Is the Monroe Doctrine Still Relevant — Adapting U.S. Policy to a New Reality.”

Originally from Bangor, Duddy earned a bachelor’s degree from Colby College and a master’s degree from Northeastern University. He also is a graduate of the National War College, where he earned a master’s degree in national security strategy.

As former ambassador to Venezuela, Duddy is one of the Department of State’s most senior Latin American specialists with broad experience in trade, energy, public affairs and crisis management. He oversaw one of the most complex political, economic and public diplomacy portfolios in the Western Hemisphere.

Duddy was the chief architect of the U.S. strategy to promote American interests in Venezuela and served as steward of one of the country’s most important energy relationships. He directed a staff of nearly 400 professionals representing 10 U.S. government agencies.

Duddy also has been deputy assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere, with responsibility for the Office of Economic Policy and Summit Coordination, and the Offices of Brazil-Southern Cone Affairs and of Caribbean Affairs.

Duddy played a lead role in coordinating U.S. support for the restoration of democracy in Haiti, coordinating efforts with the interim government of Haiti, the United Nations and the international donor community. Later, he played a similar role in efforts which led to a biofuels agreement between Brazil and the United States.

Husson Homecoming

BANGOR — Husson University is gearing up for Homecoming Weekend, Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 29-Oct. 2. Alumni and community members are welcome at all the festivities, which include a night of laughs with comedian Juston McKinney and a disco dance party with Motor Booty Affair.

Sept. 29

• 8 p.m. Sonos, a cappella group, Gracie Theatre. Alumni, friends, current students.

Sept. 30

• 6:30-10:30 p.m. Husson Alumni & Friends Reunion with Motor Booty Affair, Campus Center.

Oct. 1

• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tailgate party, Winkin Stadium lot. Chili cook-off.

• 1 p.m. Husson Football vs. Becker College.

• 1 p.m. Husson Men’s Soccer vs. Johnson State.

• 3 p.m. Husson Women’s Soccer vs. Johnson State.

• 6 p.m. Husson Field Hockey vs. Thomas College.

• 6:30 p.m. Evening of Celebration, Darling Atrium, Gracie Theatre, induction into Husson University Alumni Hall of Fame for Donald P. White, 1975; and Jessica Bay House, 1999.

• 9:15 p.m. Comedian Juston McKinney, Gracie Theatre.

Oct. 2

• 9 a.m. Husson Run for the Children, College Circle, 1-mile Fun Run or 5K Road Race to support a college scholarship fund for Maine Children of Fallen Soldiers.

• Noon. Husson Field Hockey vs. Lyndon State.

• 2 p.m. Husson Men’s Soccer vs. Lyndon State.

For a complete schedule, visit http://www.husson.edu/homecoming.

Open house at Beal

BANGOR — Beal College will host an open house in celebration of its 120th anniversary on Friday, Nov. 4.

“The goal of our open house is to educate prospective students and members of the community about our career training programs and our unique MOD system,” said Erin Leighton, director of admissions. “We want people to see that while we’ve been around for a long time, we’ve also been able to keep current.”

Application fees will be waived for those interested in applying for admission at the event.

Campus tours will showcase the Fitness Center and Beal Cafe, which were added last year. A college access fair will help attendees learn about career training programs at Beal from faculty members. Attendees also may speak with community members about ways to reduce barriers to college access. A complimentary breakfast and luncheon will be served.

Those interested in attending may register online at http://www.BealCollege.edu/openhouse or call 800-660-7351and ask for Admissions. The deadline is Oct. 14.

It will be the first open house since 2005, when Beal moved to its current location at 99 Farm Road. Established in 1891, Beal College is a small, private, locally owned career college. Accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, Beal offers an environment designed for students who want a targeted education that provides the skills and training necessary for the careers of today and beyond.

Beal offers associate degrees in accounting, administration, business management, criminal justice, early childhood education, health information management, medical administration, medical assisting and social and human services assisting. A one-year diploma in substance abuse counseling also is offered. Financial aid is available to those who qualify for these academic programs.

Maine Chinese Conference

BANGOR — The 2011 Maine Chinese Conference will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28-29, at Husson University’s Dyke Center for Family Business.

The conference is hosted by the Chinese Language and Culture Center of Maine and Bangor Chinese School, in collaboration with the Maine Department of Education, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences of University of Maine, Maine International Trade Center, the City of Bangor, Husson University and Orono High School. The event is sponsored by Lee Academy, John Bapst Memorial High School and Hanban-Consulate General of China in NYC.

Keynote speaker Eliot Cutler, attorney and former independent candidate for governor, will speak on “How Maine and China May Come Together.” The conference theme will be “Creating cooperative opportunities in education and business between U.S. and China through promoting Chinese language teaching in Maine and establishing a local business partnership between the peoples of these two global powers.”

The primary audience is school administrators, school board members, teachers, parents, members of institutions of higher education, students, entrepreneurs and interested others.

For information, visit http://www.bangorchinese.com/CONFERENCE11.HTML.

Because of limited space, registrations will be accepted first come, first served. Early-bird registration is Oct. 5. Call 990-0710 or email jingzhang@bangorchinese.com for information.

Director’s Award

ORONO — Maine Senate President Kevin L. Raye of Perry was presented the 2011 Director’s Award by Professor Habib Dagher, director of the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center in Orono.

Dagher praised Raye as this year’s outstanding state leader for his contributions to the University of Maine’s groundbreaking research and development efforts and his leadership as the 114th president of the Maine Senate. The award was presented during Raye’s visit to the UM campus on Sept. 19.

UMF scholarship

FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington has the new UMF Stevens Scholarship, an academic scholarship available to first-year applicants from Maine starting in fall 2012. One of several merit-based scholarships offered by the university, the UMF Stevens Scholarship will be awarded exclusively to Maine students and is part of the continuing effort by UMF to help college-bound Maine students have affordable access to a quality education in their home state.

The competitive UMF Stevens Scholarship, worth $3,000 per year, will be awarded to first-year applicants from Maine with the best grades in challenging academic programs through their junior year in high school. The financial award is renewable for up to four years (eight semesters) with a total value of $12,000, providing students maintain a GPA of 3.0 and enroll in 12 credit hours per semester.

While the majority of institutional grant aid distributed by UMF is awarded to meet in-state and out-of-state students’ demonstrated financial need, UMF, as a public institution, also seeks to attract the top Maine students. According to UMF officials, they anticipate awarding the UMF Stevens Scholarship to at least 80 applicants admitted from Maine.

“In these challenging times, many Maine students are looking for a way to curtail college costs,” said Roberto Noya, UMF vice president for enrollment management. “This significant academic award benefits those talented Maine students who have worked hard during their high school years and are looking for a quality education at home.”

No special application is necessary for UMF merit-based scholarships. Recipients will be notified of their merit award on admission. But UMF staff recommends that prospective students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to determine their eligibility for need-based financial assistance. It is available online at http:// www.fafsa.ed.gov.

The new scholarship is named for UMF alumnus John F. Stevens, chief engineer of the Panama Canal and a symbol of the value of a liberal arts education. Stevens, who became a schoolteacher soon after leaving UMF, combined his affinity for mathematics and surveying with a passion for learning and spirit of adventure. He went on to study civil engineering, building bridges, tunnels and, most notably, railroads. His railroad expertise brought Stevens to the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt, who hired him in 1905 to take over construction of the Panama Canal.

For information on the UMF Stevens Scholarship, visit http://www.farmington.edu/admissions/finaid-merit.php..

Student innovation events

ORONO — The University of Maine Foster Center for Student Innovation is holding events designed to bring out the creativity of UMaine students and help them hone presentation skills.

On Sept. 27, the center launched its first “Whiteboard Pitch Competition” to give winning presenters a $100 prize. In addition, the center is soliciting participants for a first UMaine “Epic Fashion Show,” with lights, cameras, style, art, music and fashion, for budding clothing and accessories designers on Oct. 12.

The whiteboard pitch competition, which continues Oct. 29, is for UM students with ideas about a business concept, invention, nonprofit, fundraiser, art show, capstone or thesis, said Jesse Moriarity, Foster Center coordinator.

Thanks to HerCampus, a student-run online magazine, UMaine, in collaboration with UNO Chicago Grill and the Foster Center, the first University of Maine Epic Fashion Show is scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the innovation center.

“This event is a special opportunity for students and alumni to showcase their creative side of life,” Moriarity says. “It will be a night to remember with lights, cameras, style, art, music and fashion.”

Photo submissions are open to students and alumni. Organizers are seeking art, fashion, creative ideas and models in preparation for the event. The due date for all submissions is Sept. 30. Email them to Drew King at Drewking10@hotmail.com.