Holy Cross teacher named Catholic schools teacher of the year

Bill Ridge, a social studies and Latin teacher at Holy Cross School in South Portland, was named 2023 Maine Catholic Schools Teacher of the Year on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

Holy Cross School in South Portland: social studies teacher, Latin teacher, coach, athletic director, assistant principal, technology coordinator, event supervisor, and many others.

“There are so many amazing Catholic school teachers across the country, and we do it for completely different reasons than other people do their jobs. All the Catholic school teachers who do this for the right reasons, helping kids learn how to make good decisions in their lives based on the framework of faith, it can’t be more important,” said Bill Ridge. “I appreciate this so much.”

Public voting open for Black History Month art contest

It’s voting time for UScellular’s sixth annual Black History Month art contest submissions by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine. Community members 18 and older in the greater Portland, Lewiston/Auburn and Biddeford areas can vote for their favorite artwork at newsroom.uscellular.com/2023-bhmac-vote-now.

Members of the Boys and Girls Club created original artwork representing influential Black STEM icons. The top three will receive prizes including $100, $150 and $250 gift cards. Voting ends February 28. Results are announced in March.

$1,000-$10,000 scholarships open for application

Scholarship applications are open from the Atlantic Federal Credit Union Foundation for high school seniors graduating this spring and planning to continue to higher education. Apply by March 24 with a 350-400-word essay, a resume and a letter of reference. Five scholarships are available ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Learn more at atlanticfcu.com/scholarships.

Portland Water District scholarships

The Joseph A. DiPietro Scholarship, established in 2003 in memory of Portland Water District Trustee Joe DiPietro, is open to students in communities served by the PWD and pursuing a career applicable to the water/wastewater industry. This can include HVAC, fire science, engineering, public administration and more. The deadline is March 31. Learn more at pwd.org.