HAMILTON, Mont. — Heather S. Watkins has been named a postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award Fellow for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, at Hamilton. She is assigned to the Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites in the Chlamydial Pathogenesis Section.

Watkins is a member of the research team led by Dr. Laszio Kari, currently working to generate chlamydial trachomatis mutants for the purpose of developing attenuated vaccines for chlamydial strains which cause blinding trachoma and for strains causing STD.

Upon completion of her fellowship, Watkins plans to attend medical school or graduate school and a career in medical research. She received a degree in biology, magna cum laude, from Wheaton College and is a graduate of Cony High School in Augusta, Maine. She is the daughter of Philip and Starena Watkins of Augusta.

School

Emmons wins essay contest

AUGUSTA — Brendan Emmons, a student at Richmond Middle School, was announced a winner of the Maine Municipal Association’s first statewide essay contest.

Part of the association’s Citizen Education program, the contest asked students to demonstrate how they would improve their hometowns and cities if they held positions of local leadership.

Emmons will receive a framed certificate and a $250 prize to be used for educational purposes. His entry will be published in the May issue of the Maine Townsman, MMA’s monthly publication, which is mailed to 4,500 municipal officials statewide.

Watson named Presidential Scholar program semifinalist

READFIELD — Taylor Watson, a graduating senior at Maranacook Community High School, has been named a semifinalist in the 2012 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

Watson is the son of Kathryn Booth and Dick Watson of Mount Vernon. He will attend Dartmouth College in the fall.

College

Percy speaks at college’s graduate, trustee dinner

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Megan Percy of Dresden, Maine, a senior at Champlain College, was an honorary speaker at the college’s Third Annual Graduate and Trustee Dinner.

Percy will graduate this in May with a bachelor’s degree in computer and digital forensics, computer networking. She was recognized for her time at the college and asked to speak on behalf of her academic division.

Maine Maritime Academy announces dean’s students

CASTINE — Maine Maritime Academy has announced its first semester dean’s list for the 2011-12 academic year.

Local students are:

* Justin Genest of Augusta, class of 2012, a marine engineering operations major and a graduate of Cony High School, Augusta.

* Matthew Colby of Belgrade, class of 2013, a vessel operations and technology major and a graduate of Messalonskee High School, Oakland.

* Tyler Paine of Belgrade, class of 2014, a power engineering technology major.

* Zachary Vickers of Coopers Mills, class of 2012, a marine transportation operations major and graduate of Hall-Dale High School, Farmingdale.

* Cale Knox of Sidney, class of 2014, a power engineering technology major and graduate of Messalonskee High School.

* Camilo Lacouture of Windsor, class of 2014, a marine engineering technology major and graduate of Erskine Academy, South China.

* Joel Walker of Winthrop, class of 2011, a marine systems engineering — license track major and graduate of Winthrop High School, Winthrop.

* Tyler Easler of Belgrade, class of 2015, a power engineering technology major and graduate of Messalonskee High School, Oakland.

* Eric Duplessis of Winthrop, class of 2015, an international business and logistics major and a graduate of Winthrop High School, Winthrop.

Couture inducted into Sigma Tau Delta

IRVING, Texas — Mary Couture of Sidney, Maine, was recently inducted into the University of Dallas’ new chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, an international honor society for English.

Couture is a junior English major at the university, where she was also named to the fall 2011 semester dean’s list.

Petersen named to Colgate’s fall term dean’s list

HAMILTON, N.Y. — Rachel Anne Petersen, class of 2014 at Colgate University, received the Dean’s Award for academic excellence during the fall 2011 term.

Petersen is the daughter of Daniel S. Petersen and Dr. Kathleen E. Petersen.

Local students named to Merrimack College dean’s list

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — Two local students, Margaret Jacques of Chelsea, Maine, and Nicholas Flaherty of Litchfield, Maine, were named to the fall 2011 semester dean’s list at Merrimack College.

Gilman named to dean’s list at Wheaton College

NORTON, Mass. — Courtney Gilman of Mount Vernon, Maine, has been named to the fall 2011 semester dean’s list at Wheaton College. Gilman is pursuing a women’s studies major.

Rau named to dean’s list at Drew University

MADISON, N.J. — Hannah Morgan Rau of Hallowell, Maine, was named to the fall 2011 semester dean’s list at Drew University.