Courtemanche earns degree

    HOULTON, Maine — On May 10, Adam Courtemanche graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern Maine in Portland and Gorham. He received a baccalaureate degree from the School of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology.
    His major was industry technologies with a concentration in information and communications. While going to school, he spent his first two years working part-time for the university in graphic designs/publishing. For the next two years, he worked full-time as a network/systems administrator and developer for the Research Computing Group where he maintained and enhanced the computer networks in a five-floor scientific laboratory environment.
    During his last year, he worked full time as a systems administrator, Web developer, desktop support technician in the Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology.
    Courtemanche made the Dean’s List every semester and achieved a 3.9 grade point average. He was a faculty-chosen recipient of the Lawrence N. Cilley Scholarship in 2006, the Clifford A. Parsons Scholarship in 2007 and the Department of Technology Outstanding Student Award for 2008.
    He graduated summa cum laude and he also became a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Epsilon Pi Tau International Honor Societies this year.
    Courtemanche will be working for a small firm called Transit ID in Portland as a computer programmer and Web developer. He eventually would like to have his own company.
    Besides his father Stephen of Ludlow, congratulations also come from his siblings: Robert, Ashley, Sarah and Chelsea, as well as his grandmother Bernice Courtemanche of North Providence, R.I.
    Courtemanche also joins a group of student scientists from the University of Maine and Southern Maine who have been approved for takeoff in a near-zero gravity flight experiment. Four students in total will be floating in a modified jetliner while performing experiments that could benefit future astronauts.
    The information technology major will participate in NASA’s Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program in Houston from July 10-19.
    The students will experience a total of 30 seconds of hyper-gravity, which is two G’s, higher than on earth. Also known as the “vomit comet,” the near-zero microgravity process will involve putting the plane into a nose over, diving toward earth and will repeat this process 30 times before the experiment is over.
    The Maine team is responsible for about $10,000 in travel and personal expenses. The Maine Space Grant Consortium has already agreed to fund half the amount.