Page 11 - Spring 2025
P. 11
Spotlight on Alumni
Bruce Plourde, Class of 1983
By Richard Nickerson, ‘81
Biographer for the North Star Magazine
Have you ever considered how many graduates from
Houlton High School go into teaching? One can only
assume that is the result of the great teachers and
experiences they had while students at Houlton High
School. Bruce Plourde ‘83 is currently Professor of
English at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey.
After graduation, Bruce attended Davidson College
in North Carolina where he received his Bachelors
degree. He went on to earn a Masters from Wake Forest
University and his PhD from Temple University. He
lectured n Kunming, China as a Fulbright Scholar in
2010, and has been a full-time member of the English
Department at Rowan since his return. His students
call him a challenging teacher who cares about his Bruce has some great memories
students and wants them to succeed.
of growing up in Houlton.
“Looking back at everything
“Looking back at everything I was unaware of; I now
appreciate that I grew up in a
I was unaware of; I now small town where everybody
appreciate that I grew up in a knows you and everything
small town where everybody about you. I never felt like an 1983 Yearbook Photo
outsider in Houlton. People
knows you and everything knew my family and they
about you.” knew me, so I was able to explore and wander and
experience everything without getting into too much
trouble. It was an ideal upbringing in many ways. The
His research interests include American literature and town had so much to offer us. In the summertime, my
American Studies, and he has published articles on younger brother and I could wander to the park to visit
popular culture, literature, and history. He currently with friends, run through the sprinkler, and play pirate
teaches courses on U.S. literature and American English on a climbing wall that would not be allowed today.”
Grammar.
To hear Bruce describe his favorite memories of
When asked about his experiences in high school, growing up in Houlton is like revisiting the Houlton
Bruce stated that he could not have gotten a better that many of us knew years ago. “On days when the
education than the one offered by Houlton High park was boring, we could always catch a ride to
School. The specific classes that stand out are Ms. Nickerson Lake or Drews. Late summer meant the
Snell’s French class, Mr. Perry’s physics class, Mr. Peanut Carnival, which my own kids now enjoy. I
Russell’s biology class and Mr. and Mrs. Wiggin’s English remember the event as being bigger, but everything
classes. “So many great and dedicated teachers”, he shrinks with age. Saturdays were reserved for movies
said. at the Temple Cinema. When the interior was one large
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