Atwood new USM director of major and planned gifts

Robert “Rusty” Atwood of Gorham, former major gifts officer at Colby College in Waterville, has been named the USM Director of Major and Planned Gifts at the University of Southern Maine.

Within this role, his responsibilities include planning and directing the university’s planned giving program as well as maintaining contacts and solicitation of a portion of all major gifts.

As a major gifts officer at Colby College for six years, Atwood was a member of a fundraising team responsible for soliciting gifts to the college of $50,000 or more. He also worked for four years as director of development and community relations at the Spurwink Institute, based in Portland. Atwood also worked for 18 years in various fields of public education in Maine as a social studies teacher, basketball coach, and assistant principal.

Atwood received a bachelor of arts degree in political science/history in 1973 from the University of Maine, Orono, and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Southern Maine in 1981.

Bartlett meets Hillary

State Sen. Philip Bartlett, D-Gorham, joined local, state and national leaders at a Democratic leadership council conference from July 23 through 25 in Columbus, Ohio.

“The conference was a wonderful opportunity to meet with leaders from around the country to share ideas and develop strategies for addressing common problems,” Bartlett said.

Following a day of workshops covering topics ranging from health care to education to job creation, U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-New York, shared her vision for America over the next 20 years.

Fermanis on dean’s list

Alexis Fermanis has been named to the dean’s list in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y.

Fermanis is majoring in broadcast journalism.

Thayer going to Bates

Benjamin J. Thayer is among 516 students who are starting this fall at Bates College in Lewiston.

A 2005 graduate of Gorham High School, Thayer is the son of Alden and Deborah Thayer of 9 Bridle Path Way.

New pastor at First Parish

Rev. Larry Kalp of Gorham began his new duties on July 15 as an interim associate pastor at the First Parish Church.

Kalp, a retired United Church of Christ minister, has been a member of the congregation at First Parish Church.

Taxpayer debt

The Bureau of Public Debt reported on Tuesday, Aug. 9, that the U.S. public debt was $7,883,572,311,422.86.

50 years ago

The Westbrook American reported in its issue of Wednesday, Aug. 17, 1955, that Roy Hicks, 14, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hicks of South Gorham, had won a 4-H tractor-driving contest at the University of Maine.

Roy was to go to Richmond, Va., later that summer to represent Maine in the Atlantic states competition.

Attending a recent leadership conference in Ohio, Maine state senator Phil Bartlett meets U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.Rusty Atwood