BELFAST — Belfast Area High School (BAHS) has a fresh face in its Fine Arts department. If you’ve been to recent game, the Homecoming assembly or parade, or if you’ve seen the latest fall concert, you would have noticed a new music teacher. You might also see him at BAHS’ Fall Musical, The Wizard of Oz, as music director for that show.

David Coffey hails from Ohio, recently taught music at Lee Academy, and is already making himself known in the music scene at BAHS.

Coffey holds a bachelors of music degree from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and a master’s in music education from the University of Dayton, Ohio. 

He served four years as music director for the Dayton Boy’s Choir, formed a pop a cappella ensemble, We are Sparta, and served in various leadership roles while simultaneously teaching and coaching various extracurricular activities.

Coffey can be found at both BAHS and Troy Howard Middle School.

Coffey aspires to make music more assessable to the public and of course, to teach and share his passion with his students, according to the press release.

In the words of Sarah Berry, a senior at BAHS, “Mr. Coffey brings new energy and makes students want to be involved in the music program.”

Medical terminology course at MCST Adult Ed, Rockland

ROCKLAND — Midcoast School of Technology Adult Education is offering a 10-week course covering medical terminology beginning Thursday, Nov. 6.

This introductory course is designed to increase student knowledge of basic anatomy, physiology and related medical terminology.

This knowledge is an asset when pursuing employment in the broadening healthcare field or preparing for college studies, according to the press release.

Barbara Randall instructs the class every Thursday from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Stop by or call the office weekdays (596-7752), or register online at www.midcaostadulted.com. 

Open house at Watershed School

CAMDEN — Watershed School invites all interested parents and students to an Open House and Veteran's Day program Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 9 a.m. to noon.

There will be a morning demonstration of selected course offerings, and a presentation by local veterans Rob Pfeiffer and Roy Peasley.

Math, language, and history classes will run from 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., followed by speakers Pfeiffer and Peasley from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Veterans of Vietnam and World War II, Pfeiffer and Peasley will offer shared memories of a difficult time in their lives, presenting their individual perspectives and offering insights into the experience of war.

For more information, or to RSVP for this event, email info@watershed-school.org or call 230-7341.

Maine Maritime Academy’s Professor Paul Wlodkowski receives Fulbright Scholarship, plans for spring semester in Russia

CASTINE — Maine Maritime Academy Professor of Engineering, Paul Wlodkowski, Ph.D. of Ellsworth, has received a Fulbright Scholarship to advance international exchange in engineering education. 

Wlodkowski will conduct research and teach engineering courses in both English and Russian at the Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping in St. Petersburg, Russia for six months. Wlodkowski's project is titled, "Advancing Global Engineering Education Through a Maritime Lens."

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. It is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program provides participants — chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

"In addition to affording me the opportunity to teach overseas in my area of expertise, the Fulbright award enables collaborative research in engineering education, as well as exposure to the Russian method in pedagogy," said Wlodkowski, in a news release.

"As a result, I will conduct a comparative assessment of engineering curricula, which will serve as a precursor to future student and faculty exchanges. Moreover, I believe this collaboration in engineering education research will naturally promote the development of a joint research program in energy and environmental systems."

Born and raised in Augusta, Wlodkowski graduated from Cony High School in 1984, and went on to double major in physics and economics at Dartmouth, where he graduated cum laude in 1988. He earned an M.S. degree at the University of Virginia in engineering physics in 1990 and a doctorate in reliability engineering from the University of Maryland in 1999.

He joined the Maine Maritime Academy faculty in 2002 and was appointed to the Governor's STEM Council in 2011 to serve as representative for President William J. Brennan, an ex officio member of the Council.

Wlodkowski, his wife, Alexandra, and their three children will live abroad for the full semester, and the children will attend school in St. Petersburg. Wlodkowski is fluent in Russian, having grown up speaking the language at home. His first experience in Russia was as an exchange student at Lomonosov Moscow State University in 1988. On that trip, he met President Reagan after the President's summit speech at the University. He also worked as a translator for CNN during the Reagan-Gorbachev summit.

Maine Maritime Academy Trustees to hold quarterly meeting

CASTINE — The Maine Maritime Academy Board of Trustees will hold a regular quarterly meeting on Friday, Nov. 7, at 8:30 a.m. in the Holmes Heritage Room, located at the Harold Alfond Student Center on the campus in Castine.

Thursday, Nov. 6, committees of the Board of Trustees will meet on the hour between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the Holmes Heritage Room.

Meeting times and location are subject to change. If changes occur, a revised schedule will be posted at the entrance to the meeting room.

The next MMA Board of Trustees meeting will be held on Friday, Feb. 20, 2015 at 8:30 a.m.