WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester Polytechnic Institute conferred 616 bachelor’s degrees, 252 master’s degrees and 22 Ph.D. degrees at their 137th commencement on May 22.

Included are the following area students: Pamela Giasson of Auburn, BS in chemical engineering; Joshua Raines of Bowdoin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Raines, BS in electrical and computer engineering; Jonathan Spitzinger of Gray, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Spitzinger, BS in Civil Engineering; Chris Beaudoin of Lewiston, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Beaudoin, BS in mechanical engineering with mechanical design; Diana Camire of Mechanic Falls, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Randall Camire, BS with high distinction in biochemical engineering; Brian Lawrence Ellis of Pownal, BS with high distinction in computer science; Samantha Michalka of Winthrop, daughter of Ms. Jane Wakefield Despres, BS with high distinction in mechanical engineering; Katherine Labbe of Jay, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Labbe, BS in biochemistry and technical, scientific and professional communication.

Roger Williams

BRISTOL, R.I. – More than 900 candidates received degrees in commencement ceremonies held at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., on Saturday, May 14. Among the 2005 Roger Williams University graduates were the following local students:

Neil Cyr of Brunswick, who graduated from the Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy; Kevin Morin of Lewiston, who graduated from the School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, magna cum laude, in Architecture; Karli Folsom of North Monmouth, who graduated from the Gabelli School of Business with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing; Nicole Bissonnette of Poland, who graduated from the Gabelli School of Business with a Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, in Business Management; Sheena Driscoll of Turner, who graduated from the Gabelli School of Business with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing; Timothy Stevens of Turner, who graduated from the School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation with a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture.

USM/L-A science graduate honored

LEWISTON – Rebecca Lebrun was honored recently as the University of Southern Maine/Lewiston-Auburn’s first recipient of the Student Research Award. She graduated with highest honors in May, earning a bachelor’s degree with a double major in natural and applied sciences and leadership and organizational studies.

Lebrun started out as a teaching assistant, moved on to research assistant, then to lab manager, and finally capped her service as a post graduate research technician. In citing her accomplishments, faculty member Ike Levine, Ph.D., highlighted her invaluable assistance with his ongoing research in the bioremediation of aquacultural wastes and the production of valuable bioproducts. Levine added that “Rebecca was also a model of student leadership and fellowship. She was always ready to organize students for studying and student-directed research. She was never too busy to offer assistance to her fellow students.”

Lebrun, who lives in Lewiston, is employed with a local water quality laboratory and is a board member of AMEL (Association of Maine Environmental Laboratories).

Northeastern University

BOSTON, Mass. – Northeastern University is pleased to recognize those students who distinguish themselves academically during the course of the school year. Local residents were recently named to the University’s dean’s list for the spring semester 2005, which ended in May 2005. These students are:

Jennifer Souza of Auburn, majoring in Nursing; Kellie Parent of Auburn, majoring in Medical Laboratory Science; Stephen Bearce of Gray, majoring in Finance and Insurance; Andrea Thornton of Lewiston, majoring in environmental sciences and geology. She is a 2001 graduate of Edward Little High School, and the daughter of Cecile Thornton of Lewiston and Jim Thornton of Scarborough; Johanna Gauvreau of Lewiston, majoring in Sociology; Gregory Roy of Lisbon Falls, majoring in Criminal Justice Pathology & Audiology; Kara Forgues of Auburn, majoring in Physical Therapy; Leigh Huston of Lisbon Falls, majoring in Speech-Language

To achieve the dean’s list distinction, students must carry a full program of at least four courses, have a quality point average of 3.25 or greater out of a possible 4.0 and carry no single grade lower than a C during the course of their college career. Each student receives a letter of commendation and congratulation from their college dean.



Patricia A. Poirier, of Berry, Mass., recipient of the Award for Academic Excellence in nursing (PhD Program). Poirier, who attained the highest grade point average 3.94 of all 2005 graduates of the PhD in Nursing Program, is deserving of the Academic Excellence in Nursing Award for that and many other accomplishments. Poirier has been a nurse for 30 years. She began her nursing career as a staff nurse, progressed to a clinical instructor role for several years as she earned baccalaureate and master’s degrees in nursing, and returned to direct nursing practice in radiation oncology after she earned her master’s degree.

Since 1991, she has been in a leadership role as a nurse manager and clinical nurse specialist in radiation oncology. Since that time, she has also held leadership positions in the Central Massachusetts Chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society. She writes a regular column on health policy in the chapter newsletter, and for the past four years she has served as the health policy liaison from Massachusetts to the Oncology Nursing Society. In addition, she served on the American Cancer Society Board of Directors for 15 years.

Poirier decided to pursue a doctoral degree in nursing, with a concentration in health policy, as she came to understand the need for the multidisciplinary knowledge required for influencing the care of patients with cancer beyond direct nursing practice. Her doctoral studies have prepared her to effect changes in health policies at the local, state, and federal levels.

Poirier has been honored by election to Sigma Theta Tau International, the nursing honorary society, and appointment as a fellow of the Oncology Nursing Society leadership Development Institute. The UMass Boston Award for Excellence in Nursing is an acknowledgement of her substantial contribution to nursing knowledge through her dissertation research. She is the sister of Rose Partridge of Mexico and Florida.

Mount Holyoke College

On Sunday, May 22, Jamie Monzo, a resident of Oxford, received her bachelor of arts degree cum laude from Mount Holyoke College. She was one of 547 seniors who graduated during the College’s 168th commencement exercises at which Nina Totenberg, NPR Legal Affairs Correspondent, was the featured speaker.

While at Mount Holyoke, Monzo majored in psychology and education. She completed a self-designed minor in women’s multiethnic studies. She has received the Frances Harriet Williams Award for outstanding service and academic achievement, the Helen Warren Smith Award for leadership, the Ronald E. McNair Outstanding Social Science Research Award, the Hispanic Scholarship fund Scholar Award, the Leadership Alliance Summer Research Fellowship, the Weed-Ford Summer Research Fellowship, and was elected to Psi Chi, a national honor society for psychology majors, and to Who’s Who Among Colleges and Universities. She completed two summer research internships in psychology and education at Brown University and Michigan State University. Her extracurricular activities included serving as co-chair of the Passages pre-orientation program for incoming students of color, a mentor for the Take the Lead Program, and an active member of Mixing It Up, an organization for multicultural students on campus. After graduation, Monzo will enroll in a Ph.D. program in educational psychology. She has been accepted to and is currently deciding among graduate programs at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; the University of Maryland, College Park; Harvard Graduate School of Education; Tufts University; the University of Pennsylvania; Michigan State University; and the University of Virginia.

Before enrolling in Mount Holyoke College, Monzo attended Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School. She is the daughter of Michael and Sandra Monzo of Oxford.

UM at Machias

MACHIAS – Stuart Swain, acting associate vice president for Academic Affairs at the University of Maine at Machias, has announced that 193 students have been recognized as dean’s list students for the spring semester.

Included on the list are 24 students with a perfect 4.00 grade point average for the semester.

Area full time students are: Brandi S. McLellan of Lewiston, Robin M. Bosse of Lisbon and Emily J. Dano of Poland; Alexandra M. Danforth of Farmington.

Area part-time student on the list is Jessica A. Guerrett of Mexico.

Merrimack College

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Merrimack College recently announced the following local students named to the college’s Spring 2005 President’s List or Dean’s List. To be named to the president’s list, a student must achieve a 4.0 grade point average based on a 4.0 grading system. Dean’s List students must achieve a minimum 3.25 grade point average.

Amy Rowe of Durham was named to the President’s List.

Catherine Johnston of Greene was named to the Dean’s List. Jamie Turcotte of Poland was named to the Dean’s List. Meghan Miller of Raymond was named to the Dean’s List. Matthew Charette of Topsham was named to the Dean’s List.

Loomis Chaffee School

WINDSOR, Conn., – Jenna McCabe of Brunswick was among 209 students to graduate from The Loomis Chaffee School during the school’s 89th Commencement ceremony on Friday, June 3. She served as a senior dormitory prefect at Loomis Chaffee. Jenna was captain of the varsity lacrosse team and a member of varsity field hockey. She was named to the All-New England championship Team in field hockey as a senior, and she received the Most Valuable Player Award in field hockey from the school. Jenna was selected to prepare and present a final senior group project; her topic was “Athletic Hall of Fame.” She will matriculate at Boston College.

Boston University

Emily Johnson has been accepted into the Bachelor in Science and Master’s in Public Health programs of Sargent College and The School of Public Health at Boston University where she has recently completed her sophomore year with a grade-point average of 3.07. As a junior this fall, she will be taking one graduate course per semester along with her regular studies until she graduates 2007 with a bachelor degree in Human Physiology. She will then pursue an additional year for her master’s degree in public health allowing her to concentrate on international health, focusing mostly on the health care systems of third world countries through a 27-month service with the Peace Corps. She is the daughter of Ken and Sue Johnson of Buckfield.

Bates College

LEWISTON – Two local students were named to the dean’s list at Bates College as a result of their scholastic standing during the second semester of the 2004-05 academic year. To qualify for the dean’s list at Bates, a student must maintain a better than B+ average for the semester, for a minimum quality point ratio of 3.6.

Cassandra K. Kirkland, a first-year mathematics major and 2004 graduate of Leavitt Area High School, is the daughter of Allan Krikland and Kathryn Grefer-Kirkland of Greene.

Timothy D. Maurice, a sophomore, is a 2003 graduate of Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School. an accomplished pianist, he is the son of William and Linda Maurice of Oxford.

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