Writing contest
Maine high school juniors are invited to submit entries for A Journey Into Writing, the Maine Community College System’s statewide writing contest. Entries will be accepted Dec. 29 through Jan. 28.
Students are encouraged to submit an original poem, short story or essay of up to 1,500 words. Up to three winners may be selected by the contest judges and honored with the designation of “2015 Governor’s Young Writer of the Year,” an award that includes a $2,500 cash prize.
The contest judges are award-winning Maine authors Susan Kenney, Lewis Robinson and Bill Roorbach. Kenney is the author of five novels and taught fiction for 25 years at Colby College. Robinson is the author of two novels and teaches in the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. Roorbach’s newest novel, “The Remedy for Love,” was one of six finalists for the 2014 Kirkus Prize in Fiction. The 10th anniversary edition of his book, “Writing Life Stories,” is used in writing programs around the world.
A Journey Into Writing was created in 2004 as a way to encourage creativity and inspire young writers to develop their craft. The contest is sponsored by the MCCS with financial support from U.S. Cellular. Since its inception, the contest has garnered more than 2,200 entries from 160 high schools throughout Maine.
Contest rules and entry form are available at mccs.me.edu/writing.
Afterschool Academy
ORONO — University of Maine Cooperative Extension will provide professional development for afterschool providers at seven locations across the state beginning in January.
During the 10 hours of training, positive youth development concepts suitable for afterschool programs and the interactive 4-H science curriculum will be highlighted. The agenda includes webinar overviews of the 4-H Afterschool Academy and 4-H science resources, an e-learning course for 4-H volunteers, and two in-person training sessions on the 4-H program model and the 4-H science curriculum.
Course fee is $60; CEU credits are available. Registration deadline is Friday, Dec. 19. To register and for academy locations, dates and times, visit umaine.edu/4h/youth/how-can-you-participate-in-4-h/afterschool/academy. For information or to request a disability accommodation, contact Jennifer Lobley at 255-3345, 800-287-1542 (in Maine) or jennifer.lobley@maine.edu.
Colleges
Husson University
BANGOR — Husson University and Cianbro announced that they have entered into an agreement that creates a smooth process for the transfer of credits from Cianbro corporate training programs toward degrees in the Husson University College of Business.
A signing ceremony, representing the culmination of the agreement process, took place Dec. 12, at Husson University.