Happy summer, Class of 1995! As I type, it’s a sunny spring day that holds lots of promise for things to come, and I truly hope this finds you well, happy, and healthy.
Cynthia Jackson Soule received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, after being named the 2021 Maine Teacher of the Year. Cindy is a teacher at the Gerald E. Talbot Community School in Portland and received a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. She has been teaching at the Talbot School for more than 21 years, in roles including fourth grade teacher and in her current role as content literacy coach, integrating science learning with literacy. She says, “I get really excited because what I’m doing will help recognize the value of science learning in elementary grades.” Cindy lives in Cumberland and was invited to an awards ceremony in Washington, DC. Congratulations, Cindy!
In other awards news, Travis Lazarczyk was chosen as the 2021 Maine Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Travis is a writer for the Portland Press Herald, after spending two decades with the Morning Sentinel of Waterville. This is his second selection for this award in three years and he was honored at a ceremony in Winston-Salem, NC, in June. Congratulations to Travis!
The Maine Municipal Association will merge the Departments of State and Federal Relations and Communications, and Kate Dufour G has been selected to lead the combined departments. Kate previously acted as the director of state and federal relations with the organization, whose services include advocacy, education, and information, professional legal and personnel advisory services, and self-funded group insurance programs. There are 484 municipalities in Maine that belong to the Association, whose core belief is that local government is a fundamental component of a democratic system of government. Congratulations on your new role, Kate!
Lastly, the Class of 1995 scholarship was presented to Samantha Golden, daughter of classmate Karen Griffen Golden, from Lee. Samantha is studying mechanical engineering as a sophomore and graduated from Lee Academy. For more information on our scholarship endowment, you can reach out to the University of Maine Foundation.
That’s all for now — hope to see some of you in person, soon!