Cousins earn UMO honors

    The University of Maine’s second-year women’s honor society, The Sophomore Eagles, inducted 13 new members on April 19 at the Sigma Chi Heritage House on the University of Maine campus in Orono, with friends and family in attendance. The young women were chosen from a pool of about 30 first-year female applicants after several events and an interview process.
    Among the 13 inducted were Casey Deanne Faulkingham, daughter of Mark and Leanne Faulkingham of Houlton, and her cousin Samantha Phyllis Paradis, daughter of Stacy and Patrick Paradis of Frenchville-Madawaska.
    Both girls are the granddaughters of Keith and Deanne Hunter of Houlton.
    These women represent the top 1 percent of their class in scholarship, leadership, character, friendship, and dignity – the five points of the Sophomore Eagles’ symbol, the blue star.
    Faulkingham is pursing a degree in social work, while Paradis is following a career path in nursing. Both girls were the salutatorians of their high school classes and both are now going to serve as resident assistants at UMaine.
    The Sophomore Eagles were originally formed in 1926 as a younger counterpart to the All Maine Women, with the purpose of helping incoming first-year women acclimate to the university. Today they participate in a number of charitable and campus events, often in partnership with the All Maine Women, Senior Skulls, or Sophomore Owls honor societies.
    Faulkingham was also chosen as a delegate for the National Education for Women (NEW) program sponsored by the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center.
    By participating in the program, a diverse group of college women from Maine will gain a greater awareness of their leadership potential, skills, and opportunities in civic life and public office. NEW Leadership will ensure that new generations of Maine leaders understand the importance of running for office, taking part in campaigns, and engaging in public policy development. With the skills they have learned and the networks they have developed, participants will be empowered and energized to emerge as political leaders.