PEOPLE YOU KNOW IN the NEWS
WOODSTOCK, Ga. – Michelle Rickard, middle school band director, has been named the 2010-2011 Durham (Georgia) Middle School Teacher of the Year. One of the highlights of the 2009-2010 school year was the performance of the Durham eighth grade band at the Music For All National Concert Band Festival.
A native of Presque Isle, Rickard is in her 19th year as a music educator. She began her music education studies at the VanderCook College of Music and continued at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she received the bachelor of music (cum laude) in 1982. She taught band at “Music in the Catholic Schools” in Omaha for one year before enlisting in the U. S. Air Force. Rickard served as clarinetist and bagpiper in the Strategic Air Command Band (Nebraska) and in the Band of the Air Force Reserve (Warner Robins, Ga.) until 1988. She is a distinguished graduate of the NCO Preparatory School, has received the Air Force Achievement Medal, and was chosen Airman of the Quarter and Airman of the Year.
As a clarinetist, she has performed with the Macon Symphony, Georgia Winds, Nebraska Wind Symphony, and has freelanced in the Chicago, Omaha, Macon, and Atlanta areas. She is currently performing with the Cobb Wind Symphony under the direction of Alfred Watkins. As a private instructor, Rickard has taught clarinet since 1978, producing numerous All –State clarinetists. During the 1992 fall semester, she served as an interim clarinet instructor at Mercer University (Macon, Ga.).
Rickard was director of bands at Lost Mountain Middle School (Cobb County) for seven years. This is her eleventh year as director of bands at Durham Middle School. Her bands have performed at the Georgia Music Educators Association Inservice, the University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival and the Music For All National Concert Band Festival. She has received two Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association.
Rickard is a guest clinician and conductor throughout the state of Georgia, and resides in Woodstock, Ga. with her sons, Ben and Chris.
CASTINE – Jordan Bartol, of Charlotte, N.C., recently received a bachelor of science degree, cum laude, in power engineering technology from Maine Maritime Academy at the college’s 67th commencement held Saturday, May 1. Bartol is a graduate of Presque Isle High School.
AUGUSTA — Major General John W. Libby, the adjutant general, Maine National Guard, has announced May promotions to the rank specified for the following Maine Army National Guard soldiers: John Thomas Pelletier, SGT, 185th Engineer Support Company, Presque Isle; and Scott Gagnon, SGT, 185th Engineer Support Company, Saint David.
LEXINGTON, Va. – Army ROTC Cadet Michael L. Hamilton is one of 275 cadets who attended the 2010 George C. Marshall Foundation ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Awards and Leadership Seminar in Lexington, Va. The award is named in the honor and legacy of General of the Army George C. Marshall, who served in World War II and outlined a post-war era program of economic assistance and recovery for worn-torn Europe.
The awards are presented annually to the most outstanding Army senior cadets in military science studies and leadership values in each ROTC battalion at host universities or colleges. The student-cadets are the best and brightest in the ROTC program who will serve as future leaders in the Army. Top cadets from each battalion represent the very best of a highly selective organization.
At the seminar, cadets participated in focus groups and round-table discussions and lectures on the theme of national security issues of the U.S. and the Army’s security role in the international arena.
Upon meeting academic requirements for graduation and completion of the ROTC program at Husson University in Bangor, Hamilton will receive a bachelor’s degree and a commission of second lieutenant in the Army.
He is the son of John and Mary Hamilton of Mapleton. His wife, Amber, is the daughter of Wayne and Sally Garrison of Mars Hill.
Hamilton is a 2006 graduate of Presque Isle High School.
WEST HAVEN, Conn. — Allison Young, of Presque Isle, was named to the dean’s list at the University of New Haven for the spring 2010 semester. Full-time undergraduate students must have a 3.50 or better cumulative GPA for the semester to be eligible for the dean’s list.
Keenan Tilsley, of Cony High School in Augusta, has been selected to attend the American Legion’s Dirigo Boy’s State program, held at Thomas College in Waterville.
Tilsley is the son of Annette Tilsley and Scott Stevens, of Augusta, and Kyle Tilsley, of Rumford. He plays varsity football, hockey and lacrosse and is a member of the Student Council. Tilsley was selected to be a 2010 captain of the Varsity Football Team. He has performed with the concert and pep bands, as well as jazz band, jazz ensemble and the Kennebec Performing Arts Company. He has been involved with Chizzle Wizzle and been a part of District III and State Jazz festivals as well as Berklee College Music Festival and traveled with the Jazz Ensemble to Festival Disney.
Tilsley has volunteered for Cony’s Day of Caring and the Augusta Recreation Department. He is the grandson of Ken Tilsley, of Fort Fairfield.
BOSTON — Wentworth Institute of Technology has announced the names of students who have earned dean’s list recognition for the spring 2010 semester. Included in this list was local student Mathew Smith of Fort Fairfield.
STANDISH — Joy Saucier, of Presque Isle, received a master of health administration degree through the Graduate & Professional Studies division at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, which offers online education for working adults.
BURLINGTON, Vt. — Kate L. Morrow, of Washburn, received a bachelor of arts in physics, as well as a bachelor of science in mathematic during the University of Vermont’s commencement ceremonies on May 23.
