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Mitchell Scholar Alumni News

Alex Cornell du Houx

I was recently elected to Seat 66 (Brunswick) in the Maine House of Representatives.
Alex Cornell du Houx
Bowdoin College

Mitchell Scholar Noah Bryant
with his wife at their wedding

In 2006, I graduated from UMaine, and wanted to stay in the Bangor area. I couldn't get an engineering job right away, so I took a job as a fire alarm technician for a year. I got married a few months later, and moved back home to Southern Maine to take a salaried job in my field of study. UMaine Engineering prepared me so well for the position, and the company is so great to work for! We bought a house near Portland, and now have a child on the way. Our big focus has been partnering with a pastor in Scarborough, and starting up a church from scratch. We are currently renting out a Mason's Lodge in Scarborough, and have been putting a lot of time into evaluating the community's needs. We're looking for many others who can partner with us in this exciting project. The times are changing, and today's generation needs a new kind of church! Our website is http://www.journey-on.org.
Noah Bryant
University of Maine

Stevie Barnett with a froggy friend

I have had the opportunity to volunteer at the New England Reptile Distributors (NERD). They are the leading reptile distributor and educator in New England. One of their goals is public education to promote awareness and conservation of habitat and various species. They also do educational lectures within the immediate area to schools, scout groups, churches, and universities. NERD's educational lectures and animal encounters have allowed many to come face-to-face with animals they might otherwise not have the opportunity to see in person. My boyfriend and I go down to Plaistow, NH, from Portland every Saturday and basically "muck out stalls". We mostly feed, clean cages and absorb everything possible about the animals they have there. And we have fun too! It is a weird opportunity for most people, but for us it is very rewarding and we are blessed to be able to work with some very brilliant people.
Stevie Barnett
University of Southern Maine

Jason Long

I am in my third year of teaching U.S. History at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, however right now I am living in Jinhua, China. I am here in China teaching as my school district's first exchange teacher, and my Chinese counterpart is now dealing with the snow in Oxford County as I soak in the warmer temperatures here south of Shanghai. I have been told by quite a few people here, even strangers I have spoken with on the street, that teaching is viewed as a "virtuous occupation" in China. The Chinese really do value education, and, especially due to sacrifices endured by recent generations, they recognize and value the opportunities that now exist here. Mitchell Scholars and many Chinese students share an important value; we take nothing for granted, and thus it is no wonder why we are both on the rise. (NOTE: If you would like to learn more about Jason's experiences in China, please visit his website).
Jason Long
Bowdoin College

Eric Davis

I have finally started my ten months in the Americorps NCCC program. The NCCC branch I'm in has its campus in Perry Point, Maryland, and for the past three to four weeks I've been undergoing orientation and receiving disaster and community services training. My team has already done a few one-day service projects such as aiding in cleaning up the Gwyn Falls Trail in Baltimore and helping Moveable Feasts (a state organization that provides meals for people with the HIV/AIDS virus) move into their new headquarters. My team's first extended service project will be clearing a new trail at Hungry Mother State Park in Virginia, and we plan to leave on March 10 and stay there until sometime in mid-April. After that, there will be three more extended service projects before "graduation" in November.
Eric Davis
Bowdoin College

Katie Libby with a Wal-Mart Greeter in Shanghai

I am a first-year full-time MBA student at Bentley College in Waltham, MA. Also at Bentley, I am the Vice President of Philanthropy for the Graduate Student Association. As part of the program, I had the opportunity to study in China over winter break. I was there for two weeks with a group of 16 other students from Bentley studying international business. We visited Beijing, Xian, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. We attended lectures at Peking University in Beijing and Fudan University in Shanghai and visited companies such as State Street, EMC and The Monitor Group. The picture is of me with a Wal-Mart Greeter in Shanghai!
Katie Libby
University of Southern Maine

Mitchell Scholar Angela Feroze

I will be applying to Graduate studies at UNE for the fall of 2010. After graduation, I will be revisiting Germany and traveling throughout Europe. I will also be going to my home country of Afghanistan at the end of summer for a brief visit. When I return, I will be moving to NYC to accept a position as a National Account Manager for a prestigious and growing sales company!
Angela Feroze
University of Southern Maine

Mitchell Scholar Karin Iuzzolino

There is a ton of exciting news for me in the year of 2008. I was recently selected for the Marine Educator position at The Pier Aquarium in St. Petersburg, Florida. I am really looking forward to the challenges and rewards of this job, which will include public outreach programs, working with local schools, and the chance to create my own curriculum-based marine science programs. This is a dream come true! I am so extremely thankful to the Mitchell Institute for opening so many doors, which enabled me to get the experience I needed to attain such a wonderful job. Also, on August 16, 2008, I will marry my best friend, Jason Paquin. We will be getting married in Boothbay Harbor around sunset. For our honeymoon, we will be traveling to Italy.
Karin Iuzzolino
University of New England

I currently work for Campus Crusade for Christ in the outdoor ministry called Lifelines at the University of Maine. This is my 4th year of employment with CCC/Lifelines. I act as a spiritual resource and counselor for the UMaine community by organizing and leading outdoor programs (rafting, rock climbing, paint ball, hiking).

Lifelines is taking a spring break trip to Joshua Tree National Park in southern California from March 3-10. The trip is designed for leadership training. During the week, students will engage in spiritual conversations with climbers from around the world. The last two days of the trip will be a community service project for the town of Twenty-Nine Palms and the Marine base community.

I am getting married May 3, 2008, to Greenville Forest Ranger Samuel Heffner (2004 UMaine graduate) who proposed in November! We met at UMaine. GO BEARS!

I will be moving to Greenville, ME in May after my wedding, where I hope to teach in the Greenville school systems using my Kinesiology and Physical Education degree. The Greenville schools are waiting for a response on a grant proposal that would use outdoor education to reduce the under-aged alcohol abuse in their area. I am being considered for the Outdoor Educator position working with Greenville High School's Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG) if the proposal is passed.
Tara Bryant
University of Maine

Mitchell Scholar Hilary Thibodeau with her mom at graduation

I GRADUATED ... not that I had lots of doubts. I spent the entire summer interning with the department of conservation, yet again, made my first trip to Disney World, and moved to Auburn Maine where I am currently still seeking employment! If anyone needs a good secretary, or excellent environmental scientist, please PLEASE give a ring. To keep me busy, though, I've been volunteering at the local humane society, and have made some great new friends affiliated with the Homeless Animal Rescue Team of Maine. We're going to be a foster family for some of their feral kitties.
Hilary Thibodeau
University of Maine at Machias

I recently got a promotion as USM as a Youth Program Specialist in the Summer/Winter Session office. Considering that I am only 24, this is a great job with great pay for someone my age! Also, I am living in Sanford now -- in my new house!
Sara Johnson-Berz
University of Southern Maine

Hello from the tiny rural town of Frankfort, Maine! I graduated from UMaine in May 2006 and will be completing my masters program this summer. Much of my grad work has dealt with the implementation of LD291 (requiring teaching of Native American History) into an integrative curriculum which coincides with the recent update of Maine Learning Results. I also teach 7th grade science and 8th grade math at Glenburn Elementary. If everything continues to go well (I am so blessed) I will start on my PhD in January 2009. This is a very heady experience considering I am the first of my family to even attend college. I continue to volunteer with our local swim club and with Maine Swimming as well as our 8th grade graduation at Glenburn. (Want to buy a raffle ticket?) My "little" boys who had stickers on their foreheads at the Mitchell Scholar Brunch in 2002 are now wonderful young men who are 14 and 15. They, too, are very active in school, sports, and the community. Their aim is to further their education when the time comes. Life is truly good! However, much of what I have accomplished would not have been possible if not for the support of organizations like the Mitchell Institute. My success is your success. Carpe diem!
Doretta Callahan
University of Maine

Mitchell Scholar Nadine Bouchard

Well, I recently graduated with a B.A. in Sociology, and now I'm working on getting my Associates as a Veterinary Technician online through Penn Foster College. I'm also just starting my third week at the Brewer Veterinary Clinic where I'm working as a Pet Care Attendant.
Nadine Bouchard
University of Maine at Farmington

Mitchell Scholar Kale Stutzman
with his new family!

As you can see in the picture, I've been pretty busy the last few years, what with studying in Japan, getting married, and now having a baby! His name is Seiya Denny Stutzman and he is about one and a half weeks old now (my wife and I are very tired). Also, next week I'm transitioning from being a contract employee to full-time at a place called "Big Fish Games," where I'm doing graphic design/web design and little bit of Flash work as well. Big news, huh?
Kale Stutzman
College of the Atlantic

I just started grad school in the fall. I am at University of Maine where I am getting my Masters of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Lauren Brown
Colby College

Since graduating from the University of New England a year early with a bachelor?s degree in medical biology, I have had quite the experience. I began an accelerated PharmD program, but found that the program did not seem to provide the education necessary to properly serve future patients, and I withdrew from the program. Since that time, I have become EMT certified. After completing internships at NorthEast Mobile Health Services as well as with a physician assistant at InterMed, I realized the love that I have for one-on-one patient interaction. This has led me into the accelerated nursing program at Quinnipiac University, where I can pursue my goals by becoming a nurse practitioner. This program has phenomenal facilities and a highly personalized, student-centered education approach. I am very excited about this decision and look forward to continuing this journey!
Marissa Ragonisi
University of New England

I'm currently working on a Master's degree at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C. I'll be attending "Unity in Diversity," a Transatlantic Students Symposium to be held in Croatia, Bosnia & Germany in March. I'll be presenting a paper entitled "The European Union and Gender Equality: Are migrant women in the EU doubly marginalized?" I'm very excited about the symposium!
Emily Peckenham
Bates College