Former elementary principal to speak at HHS graduation

    HOULTON — Robert D. Cowperthwaite, retired principal of Houlton Elementary School, has been invited by the class of 2012 to be the guest speaker at their commencement exercises, which will take place on Thursday evening, June 7, at 7:30 p.m. at John A. Millar Civic Center.
    Cowperthwaite has been a lifelong resident of the Greater Houlton area. He attended Monticello Wellington and Grammar School through grade eight. He graduated from Ricker Classical Institute in 1963 and attended Ricker College until he enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Crisis.  Upon his return from active duty, he received his Bachelors of Science Degree from the University of Maine at Presque Isle in 1974, majoring in Early Childhood Education. In 1988 he matriculated at the University of Southern Maine where he earned his Masters of Science in Education/Educational Administration degree.
    Cowperthwaite was employed by SAD 29 in 1974 following his student teaching at Houlton Elementary School.  He has taught first, third, fifth and sixth grades, Gifted and Talented classes and many summer school and Adult Education classes. He has been a teaching principal at Wellington School, full time principal at Houlton Elementary School, and interim principal at Southside School.  He has served the SAD 29 Teachers’ Association as president, vice president, past president, representative to the Executive Committee, and as a negotiator, and has also served as president of the Aroostook County Elementary Principals’ Association.  He has supervised many student teachers from the University of Maine campuses and has taught for the University of Maine Outreach Program. He has served as a camp tutor for dyslexic students in Rangely, Maine. Cowperthwaite has traveled abroad on several occasions in search of the best educational practices for teaching and learning and has done numerous workshops around the State and for the Maine Principals’ Association.
    His present community affiliations are with the American Legion Post 47, a lifetime member of the Houlton Lodge of Elks, a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, and is a member of the Houlton United Methodist Church. As president of the Southern Aroostook Cultural Arts Project and facilitator of the Shiretown Scribes, he gives back to the community by enabling artisans through mentoring, writing, and displaying their works of art at the Visions and Blue Moon Galleries in Houlton. In retirement he enjoys gardening, drawing, painting with acrylics, quilting, spending time at his camp on Drews Lake, and enjoying his family. He and his wife Angela will celebrate 42 years of marriage in August. They have three children, Eric and his wife Audra, Sarah and her husband James Noland, and Martha and her husband Dr. Chris Bell. They have seven grandchildren, Nicholas, Zachary, Margaret, Leah, Lauren, William, Alixandria, and Gavin.
    The last weeks of school are a busy time for the seniors. On Sunday, May 20, the seniors leave for their class trip to New Hampshire, returning on Monday, May 21. On Monday evening, June 4, the senior banquet will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Region 2 School of Applied Technology. Senior Last Chapel will follow the banquet at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium, where scholarships and awards will be presented.  After graduation exercises at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 7, the class will gather at the Houlton Lodge of Elks for Project Graduation. Many businesses and individuals have contributed to this program to provide prizes, food, and a safe place for seniors to celebrate after graduation. If parents or guardians have questions concerning any of the above activities, please call the school at 532-6551.