News in brief
Rodgerson earns his wings
FORT FAIRFIELD — Air Force 2nd Lt. Derek R. Rodgerson has received silver pilot’s wings after graduating from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) at Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio, Texas.
The SUPT is a 52-week training program consisting of a three-week preflight phase I, which includes academics and physiology training for flight preparation. The second phase, primary training, is conducted in the twin-engine, subsonic T-37 Tweet aircraft to learn flight characteristics, emergency procedures, takeoff and landing procedures, aerobatics, and formation flying.
After the T-37 training, students select advanced training in the fighter-bomber track, tanker-transport track, turboprop aircraft track or helicopter track. Each track is designed to best train pilots for successful transition to their follow-on aircraft and mission.
The fighter-bomber track trains in the T-38 Talon supersonic trainer, the tanker-transport track trains in the T-1A Jayhawk, the military small version of a passenger business jet. The turboprop aircraft track trains in the C-130 Hercules aircraft, and the helicopter track trains in utility helicopters.
Lt. Rodgerson will be assigned as a pilot of the C-17 aircraft at McChord Air Force Base, Wash.
He is the son of Reggie Rodgerson of South Portland.
His wife, Brianna, is the daughter of Brian Blanchard of Fort Fairfield.
In 2000, he graduated from Hampden Academy and received a bachelor’s degree in 2004 from Franklin Pierce University, Rindge, N.H. He earned a master’s degree in 2005 from Lynn University, Boca Raton, Fla.
Sawyer honored
Sawyer recognized
ITHACA, N.Y. — Keely Sawyer, a Presque Isle resident, was inducted into Ithaca College’s Oracle Honor Society in November. The fall ceremony honors students who have completed their first semester ranked in the top 5 percent of their academic schools. Sawyer is a exploratory major in the college’s School of Humanities & Sciences.
Forbes returns from England
Rosalyn Forbes, daughter of Peter and Susan Forbes of Presque Isle, has recently completed a Scholar’s Semester in Oxford arranged through Best Semester of Washington, D.C.
Slated to return to Presque Isle this month, Forbes has had the experience of being introduced to advanced intense scholarship, specifically “the tutorial” which is the most distinctive element of Oxford’s teaching. An English secondary education major, Forbes has made good use of several of Oxford’s more than 100 libraries with access to more that 11 million items. One course called the “British Landscape” neatly introduced students to the rich heritage of the country with visits to such sites as, of course, Stonehenge.
Forbes has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to study at the historic seat of learning, Oxford University, the oldest university in the English-speaking world.
Project CHILD FIND
The Aroostook County special education directors, in coordination with the local Child Development Service office are sponsoring, “Project CHILDFIND.”
Federal and state regulations require that each state provide for an appropriate education for all children, including children with disabilities.
Each school unit and CDS site is required to identify children between birth and age 20, who may require special education services and any supportive services. Parents or persons who suspect that a child may be in need of specialized education services, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling and/or specialized equipment should contact the special education director at their local school for ages 5-20 or the Child Development Services’ office for children from birth to age 5 at 764-4490. When appropriate, a screening by trained and experienced specialists will be recommended.
All information is confidential and parents have the right to refuse service.
