Ashley Cook, a 2004 graduate of Mt. Abram High School in Salem, graduated in May from St. Joseph College of Maine with a bachelors of science in nursing.

She was a member of the Student Nursing Association, St. Joseph’s Chapter. In 2005 she represented St. Joseph’s at the national conference in Salt Lake City. She was a member of the Campus Ministry.

Cook helped coordinate and participated in science opportunities in the greater Portland area for local youth, one a health promotion with the seventh grade at Fred C. Wescott School in Westbrook. She also helped coordinate and participated in the Midnight Foundation that collected food, clothing and personal supplies for the homeless in New York City. She made the trip to distribute them

For three and a half years during college, she was employed at CASA Inc., working with children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities. She also worked at Glenn Ridge Nursing Home in Augusta. Her senior internship was at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick.

Cook was active in the Rainbow organization during her high school years and she continued this affiliation during college, serving as a state officer for two years and for her last year as an adult supporter for Rainbow throughout the state.

In July she passed her state board licensing exam and is employed in surgical services at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington.

Cook is the daughter of David and Crystal Cook of Avon.

Audrey M. Grass, daughter of Alan and Michele Grass of Sabattus, has been named to the dean’s list for the spring semester at the University of New England. Dean’s list students have attained a grade point average of 3.30 or better out of a possible 4.0 at the end of the semester. A 2007 graduate of Oak Hill High School, Wales, Grass is a major in occupational therapy.



Ashley Cyr, daughter of Marc and Theresa Cyr of Sabattus, has been named to the dean’s list for the spring semester at the University of New England. Dean’s list students have attained a grade point average of 3.30 or better out of a possible 4.0 at the end of the semester.

A 2004 graduate of Oak Hill High School, Wales, and 2008 graduate of University of New England, Cyr is a major in dental hygiene. She is involved in the Emerge Leadership program, is a peer mentor and a member of the Student American Dental Hygienist Association. She also volunteered for the Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine.

Berklee College of Music in Boston has announced that Bryan Ouellette of Turner has earned placement on the dean’s list for the spring semester. To be eligible, a full-time student must achieve a grade point average of 3.4 or above; a part-time student must achieve a grade point average of 3.6 or above.

Chelsea Dionne of Poland graduated from the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Conn., on May 18, with a bachelor of science degree. She is an ARRT licensed radiologic technologist and has also completed the MRI certificate program. She graduated magna cum laude with a grade point average of 3.51.

Dionne graduated from Poland Regional High School in 2004 and is the daughter of Gilles and Roxanne Dionne and the granddaughter of Christo and Pauline Simones.



Julia Derderian Crosby received a bachelor of arts degree in May from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass. Crosby, a dean’s list student and scholarship recipient with a major in biology and a minor in film, also received special honors from the French Department.

She was a member of the Protestant Council of Deacons, serving as treasurer, a manager for campus dining services and a campus emergency medical technician. She is employed by American Medical Response Ambulance Services of Springfield, Mass.

Crosby is a Leavitt Area High School graduate and is the daughter of Robert Crosby and Lynn Derderian of Turner.



Kathleen Shields graduated magna cum laude from the Husson College bachelor’s of science nursing program on May 10.

A 2003 graduate of Dirigo High School in Dixfield, she is the daughter of Elwin and Leigh Shields of Dixfield. She is the granddaughter of Leon and Carol Cantin of Mexico, Elwin Shields of Norridgewock and Arlene Babb of Wilton.While attending Husson in Bangor, Shields was a member of the Signa Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, the Epsilon Tau Epsilon Sorority and the Organization of Student Nurses. The groups participated in many community outreach programs.

Shields is working as a registered nurse at the Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln and is residing in Bangor. She is continuing her education with specialized advanced courses and recently completed cardiac care for intensive care unit patients.

Richard Allen Jr., during his first year at Western New England College in Springfield Mass., has been named to the president’s list, achieving a grade point average of 3.8 or above. He is majoring in history and plans to attend law school.

Allen has been offered membership in Alpha Lambda Delta, the national honor society for first-year students. Eligibility is based on a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better. Achieving this level of academic performance is an accomplishment that less than 15 percent of first-year students reach. Allen will be inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta at the fall convocation planned for Sunday, Aug. 21.

Allen is the son of Richard and Valerie Allen of Byron and the grandson of Robert and Hazel Hodgkins of Roxbury and Pauline Allen of Mexico.



William Dore Murray of Auburn received his bachelor of science degree magna cum laude from the University of Southern Maine on May 10. He was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the Golden Key International Honor Society.

Murray also received an associate of science in education from Central Maine Community College in 2007.

In addition, he has been enrolled in the CLASS PDS teacher education program at USM-LA College and is scheduled to complete the final phase, a 13-week resident internship at Sherwood Heights Elementary School, Auburn, during the fall semester. He will then receive state certification to teach grades kindergarten through eight. Murray lives in Auburn with his two daughters.



The following local students received degrees from Western New England College in Springfield, Mass., on May 17:

Brandon M. Gervais of Lewiston, bachelor of science in business administration.

Matthew R. Morgan of Lewiston, bachelor of science in business administration.

Shawn T. Longley of Raymond, bachelor of science in business administration.