Class of 1998 Summer 2020 Class Note

LTC Robert E. Brewer

Hearty Maine Hello from COVID-19 lockdown in Wiesbaden, Germany!

The Class of 1998 had two of the three finalists for Maine Teacher of the Year 2020! Unfortunately, neither were the ultimate winner, but definitely a significant achievement for two of our classmates.

First, Rob Taylor G is a math and Science teacher at Spruce Mountain Middle School in RSU 73. Rob was Franklin County’s Teacher of the Year, and has spent his entire career in the Jay-based district. He is also an advisor for the school’s FIRST LEGO league program. Additionally, he teaches Advanced Placement environmental science at the high school and is an advisor for the school’s Envirothon program.

Tom Gray G, ’13G was the 2019 Knox County Teacher of the Year. Tom teaches at Camden Hills Regional High School. As the coordinator of his school’s Intercultural Program, he developed partnerships with educators around the world, giving students an opportunity to interact and collaborate with peers in China, France, and Morocco. He also helped pioneer a district-wide initiative in innovation engineering in partnership with the University of Maine.

Last summer, Heather Ehrlenbach Dorr ’17G started her new job as principal at Peninsula School in Gouldsboro. Heather spent the last three years at Ella Lewis Elementary School. Before that she spent 13 years at Trenton Elementary School. She started her career at Dixon Elementary School in Sneads Ferry, NC. Last year, Heather also received the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science teaching.

Congrats to Alexander Renshaw on being the first recipient of the Class of 1998 Scholarship for the 2019-2020 academic year at the University of Maine. Alexander is the child of Valerie Goslin Renshaw. Alexander is a sophomore, majoring in Business Management.

Melissa Penton Lyons was proud to receive the Edward H. Holmes Scholarship in 1997, which was funded by Stephen King ’70. “Stephen has had a huge influence on my creative career,” she writes. “I have been eternally inspired and grateful for the scholarship that I received.” Melissa reports, “A horror screenplay I recently wrote has been optioned by the producer Robert Raymond (Schindler’s List) and is scheduled for production in 2020.”

Yes, the Class of 1998 has a scholarship for of decedents of the members of the class. If one of your family members is interested in applying, see the University’s Office of Student Financial Aid. If you are interested in donating to the scholarship this can be done through the University of Maine Foundation.

I hope everyone is staying healthy!