Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Summer 2009 | Page 10

Alumni News Public Service Award Dr. Demitroula Kouzounas ’74: Providing Dental Care to the Needy The Thornton Academy Alumni Association presented its 2009 Public Service Award to Dr. Demitroula Kouzounas ’74. She is a dentist and the eldest daughter of Greek immigrant parents who came to America in search of a better life. Kouzounas has helped to expand programs that provide dental care to some of the most needy in Maine. Kouzounas attended the University of Maine at Orono and studied zoology. She and her husband, Dr. Joseph Penna, were the first married couple to be accepted by Tufts Dental School. They graduated in 1981 and went on to live in Germany, both serving in the Army until 1984. In 1986 the couple established Dunstan Photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette ’89 Dental in Scarborough and have been Dr. Demitroula Kouzounas ’74 working together for 31 years. accepted the Public Service Award at Kouzounas has given back to the Thornton Academy’s baccalaureate community in many ways. She volunceremony on May 31. teers each year for the Cumberland County Denture Program and for the National Foundation of Dentistry for the handicapped. She is a long-time volunteer for “Give a Kid a Smile Day” and helped expand the program at a permanent facility, leading to better dental health for some of Maine’s most needy children. She has been an active participant in a children’s oral health program called “Just Take One,” which allows dentists to serve children who are unable to access dental care. She is a strong advocate for these and other programs at the state legislature and encourages all dental professionals to provide services to all Maine citizens. For the past two years, Kouzounas has volunteered her services in the Dominican Republic with her husband and their son, Joseph Penna ’09, to provide care for impoverished migrant workers. Finally, Kouzounas has established funding for and produced public service announcements starring Thornton Academy students to promote good oral health and to prevent tooth loss in children, which air on WSCH Portland Channel 6. TA’s Annual Report Goes Virtual For the first time this summer, our Annual Report will be published online. It will be on the TA web site, thorntonacademy.org, by the start of the school year. Just click on “Giving” to keep up with news about the Thornton Fund and how you can give back to the school. Want us to send you an electronic copy of the Annual Report? It’s the green thing to do! Just send an e-mail to: caron.pelletier@ thornton.saco.org. If you still prefer seeing the Annual Report on paper, call us with your request: 207-282-3361, ext. 245. Postscripts • 10 REUNIONS & ALUMNI EVENTS 2009 Class Reunions 1949 - Saturday, Sept. 19 and Sunday, Sept. 20. Reunion at Captain’s Galley. Campus tour. 1954 - Saturday, Sept. 19. Reunion at Jimmy The Greek’s. 1959 - Saturday, Aug. 22. Reunion at Biddeford-Saco Country Club. Campus tour. 1969 - Saturday, Aug. 15. Reunion at Biddeford-Saco Country Club. Campus tour. 1984 - Friday, Aug. 14 and Saturday, Aug. 15. Socializing at Run of the Mill and Reunion at Holiday Inn Express. Campus tour. 1989 and 1999 - Planning is underway. Other Events Senior Alumni Reunion - This year the popular event for senior alumni is 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. Athletic Hall of Fame - The induction ceremony is in the atrium at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. Field Hockey Reunion Game Takes place Friday, Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. Boys Soccer Alumni Game Takes place Saturday, Oct. 10 at 9 a.m. To learn more, go to thorntonacademy.org and click on “Alumni” or contact Mary Nasse at 207-282-3361, ext. 234, or mary. [email protected]. Share Your Photos When you take those memorable pictures at your reunion, don’t forget to share them with Thornton Academy. We’ll post them to our web site and may print them in Postscripts. E-mail photos to [email protected]. Or send them through regular mail to 438 Main St., Saco, ME 04072.