Robert McKeagney, 1937 Science & Business
Robert B. McKeagney, a nationally respected scientist, engineer and businessman was a member of the Nute High School class of 1937. He enjoyed a distinguished career of more than 50 years during which he established his place as one of North America’s leading authorities on highway design and road construction materials.
Bob attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated in 1942 with a BS in geology. He served with the US Army Corps of Engineers as a field geologist, assigned to the Boston regional office and located in Portland, Maine. His first assignment was to help locate sites and construct coastal defense platforms in northern New England. He completed graduate studies at MIT and Purdue University. During this period, he reconnected with Blanche Dorr (Nute 1940) who was in nurse’s training in the Boston area. Bob and Blanche married in 1944 and began their family which eventually included seven children.
After WWII, Bob divided his time between flood control dam projects in the southeastern US and airfield construction throughout the world. He became a respected expert in the science of soil mechanics and use of the basic materials required for pavements exposed to heavy use and demanding weather challenges.
In 1952 Bob and Blanche returned to Boston where he served as the New England Regional Engineer for the Asphalt Institute. He was then promoted to Lead Engineer for the Asphalt Institute’s Eastern Region where he gained recognition as a leading national expert in highway construction. In 1958 Bob became the Director of Business Development for the New Haven Trap Rock Company where he remained for twenty years. He became a dedicated community leader Cheshire, Connecticut, where he served as president of civic organizations, local school parent groups, and chairman of the municipal sewer commission. In the mid-70’s Bob became the Director of Research and Development for the Vulcan Materials Company. He became active in developing stronger standards for highway and related construction. Bob received many national awards and enjoyed respect and recognition as a leading expert in his field.
Bob McKeagney attempted to retire around 1990, but maintained a workload as consultant and participant in national technical and policy committees. He continued to receive awards and formal recognition from colleagues and professional organizations until his death in January 1993.
Robert Regan, 1958 Business
Robert Regan graduated from Nute High School in 1958 where he was co-valedictorian (with Ralph Pugh). He played basketball and baseball for 4 years and volleyball for one. Bob wasclass treasurer freshman year and class treasurer for 3 years. He was also president of the National Honor Society his senior year. Bob received the Balfour Algebra, Horatio Alger and Good Citizenship awards while at Nute. At UNH Bob studied Electrical Engineering and received hisBSEE in June 1962. He was president of ATO Fraternity and a member of Senior Key, the senior men’s honor society and service organization.
Bob retired from AT&T in 1998 after 36 years of service. He worked in several management jobs including Engineering, Operations, Sales and Human Relations. Bob worked in Pittsburgh, New York City, and Washington, DC and retired as Director of Corporate Industry Affairs. While at AT&T he did graduate study at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and George Washington University. Bob served in the U.S. Army and was honorable discharged in February 1969.
Volunteer and community work has and continues to be an important part of Bob’s life. He served as president of the Hall Chapter of the Telephone Pioneers, vice president of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, served as and advisor for Junior Achievement, delivered Meals On Wheels for more than 10 years and served for several other charities over the years. Bob’s major athletic accomplishments were running the NYC and NJ Marathons.
Bob and Linda, his wife of 53 years currently reside in Easton, PA
Cassandra Kirk, 1961 Science
Cassandra June Ann Kirk graduated from Nute High School in 1961. She went on to UNH, graduating in 1965, continuing her studies, she earned her PhD in Neurobiology. Cassandra wrote her thesis in French while living and working in France as a single mom. She lived and worked in Italy, Germany, and France for ten years, and mastered French, German, Italian and Spanish languages. Cassandra advanced to management levels in the Boston/Cambridge biotech industries where she was a mentor for budding scientists. Cassandra contributed research and findings to published scientific journals which included: Nature Medicine, 1995; Journal of Neuroscience Research in 2000; Developmental Neuroscience in 2001; and Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters in 2001, 2006, and 2010.
Mary Dickson Allen, 1965 Education & Community Service
Mary was born in Milton, NH in August of 1947, the daughter of Franklin & Mary Timmons Dickson and sister of Ernest Dickson. She grew up on Silver Street and attended Milton Elementary and Nute High School, graduating in 1965.
As a student, Mary excelled in athletics as well as academics. Athletically Mary was a standout at Nute. She played on the varsity softball team her freshman, sophomore, and junior years, on the varsity volleyball & basketball teams all 4 years, and was captain of the basketball team her senior year. She received sportsmanship awards in basketball & volley ball. Academic recognition included Balfour Awards in French, English, World History, and Chorus; participation in the National Honor Society as a junior and senior, the Student Council and serving as Class Secretary.
After graduating from Nute in 1965, Mary attended Boston University’s College of Liberal Arts with a dual major of Spanish & Russian. After 3 years, she transferred to the University of New Hampshire to continue her education and be closer to home as she focused on her new role as wife and mother. At UNH, she continued her studies of Spanish and Education, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Mary continued her education at Notre Dame College in Manchester, NH.
Mary returned to Nute as a Special Education aide for 4 years, moving on to become the Special Education Facilitator, a role she held for 22 years. She also continued to enjoy her passion for language by teaching Spanish and World Languages at Nute for many years. In that role she made two school trips to Europe with students in the French & Spanish programs. She was also an advisor with the Odyssey of the Mind program.
Mary spent many years on the Nute Library Committee and had an active role during the construction of the new library. Mary loved sports, intellectual challenge and creativity, her students and life. She was a loving wife, mother of 2, grandmother of 4 and distinguished graduate of Nute High School.
Wayne Hoyt, 1970 Military & Community Service
Wayne F. Hoyt grew up in Milton attended Milton schools grades 1-12, graduating from Nute High School with the Class of 1970. Wayne worked for one year at Davidson Rubber in Farmington where he met his wife, Susan Dearborn of Nottingham.
In 1971 after finishing basic infantry training, he was assigned to the USMC Military Police at Quantico, VA where he was assigned patrol and security duties to include the Presidential Helicopter Squadron HMX-1. In 1972 he was assigned to the patrol-narcotic detector dog teams, with duties in D.C. as well as other eastern seaboard facilities of the Navy and Marines.
Wayne left the Marines in April 1975 to enter the U.S. Customs Service as Canine Enforcement Officer working narcotic detector dogs. His first home port station was Highgate Springs, Vermont. Working with two other teams equipped with patrol vehicles and a custom designed motor home for extended deployments, the teams were assigned to cover the sector from Alexandria Bay, NY to Jackman, ME. He was also assigned to various ports on the Mexican border for temporary duty.
From 1979 to 1984 Wayne was reassigned to Toronto Canada as a U.S. customs Inspector to enforce U.S. laws and regulations concerning individuals and merchandise entering the U.S. via aircraft. His duties included daily liaison and assistance with Canadian Law enforcement on security and drug enforcement.
From 1984 to 1987 Wayne was assigned to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as an adviser to the Saudi Customs Drug and Explosive Detector Dog program. In 1987 he returned to the U.S. at Calais Maine, where he was the firearms and tactics instructor and Senior Inspector. Following 9/11 Wayne was assigned to enhanced security and narcotics interdiction teams. He retired in 2007 with 36 years combined service. In 2008 Wayne and Susan returned home to be closer to their remaining family and friends.
Since then, Wayne and Susan have enjoyed travelling around the country, especially to visit with their two daughters, Angela in Springfield Mass, and Stephanie in Calgary, Alberta Canada. They live in Dover where both Wayne and Susan are active with various retired groups and school organizations one in particular, the Friends of Nute. Susan enjoys baking pies and breads for friends and Wayne is an active stamp collector.
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Jason Shute, 1993 Education & Community Service
Jason Shute grew up in Milton, the son of Douglas and Nancy Shute. He attended Milton Elementary School and graduated from Nute High School in 1993. Jason attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated in 1999 with a B.A. majoring in Social Work and Psychology. He continued his studies at the University of Massachusetts, and Simmons College where he received his Master of Science in Education in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2007.
Jason has pursued a career working with developmentally disabled children and adults in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire. Beginning in 2005, Jason gained experience in his field as a Classroom Teaching Assistant, Site Manager, Clinical Instructor and Classroom Teacher. For four years he worked as the Educational Consultant at the May Institute in Randolph MA, and from 2012 – 2015 Jason was the Director of Curriculum and Clinical Services for The Waban Child Development Center in Sanford, ME. Jason currently works as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the Jolicoeur School for Easter Seals in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Jason has been actively involved as a volunteer, beginning in 1995 when he facilitated elementary school safety awareness seminars and helped at a homeless shelter connecting residents to the resources in the community. He currently serves as a Board Member for the Community Action Program of Strafford County.
Jason has devoted his life and career to working with mentally challenged children and adults. He lives in Milton with his wife and two children who attend the Milton Schools.
Derek Warburton, 1993 The Arts & Community Service
Derek Warburton is an International media personality, celebrity stylist and co-owner and creative director of LAPALME Magazine, a premiere lifestyle publication. He has developed a loyal following of celebrities, Fortune 500 brands and the TV viewing public across America. Also known for his many appearances on TV on shows like Good Day New York, The Daily Buzz, Live Well Network, NBC and Fox, where he spreads his philosophy, “help, teach, inspire, love and have fun.”
Derek attended elementary schools in many places, Farmington, up-state New York and Florida where he was homeless for his seventh and eighth grade years. Derek credits his success to his difficult childhood. “I was told I wasn’t good enough and would never be anything. I can understand a person’s struggles so can relate to everyone’s story”. In 1990 Derek came to Milton to be with his father Bob and step-mother Becky and enrolled as a sophomore at Nute. He worked after school at “The Limited “at Fox Run Mall.
After graduation in 1993, Derek went to New York City where he worked a year and then attended the Fashion Institute of New York in Manhattan. Derek entered the fashion industry by volunteering with charitable organizations and doing lots of fashion shows. The first major event he did on his own was in the mid-1990s called “Fashion for AIDS.” The show raised $15,000 for newly diagnosed patients to go to camp to deal with their duress. That event got huge media attention. He has lived and worked in Boston, New York, Miami, and Europe as a stylist for magazines, dressing celebrities, event planner for charities and make-up artist. He has worked with New York City’s “Bottomless Closet”, helping underprivileged and homeless women re-enter the workforce. Two years ago Derek moved to Los Angeles and continues his charitable and creative work in Hollywood.
Derek often returns home to Milton to visit Bob and Becky, family and friends. In October 2016 he came to Nute to visit his Alma Mater, reconnecting with former teachers and some classmates. In 2017 Derek returned and made a presentation to the entire student population about his life and career since graduation.
Jessica Trout-Haney, 2002 Education
Jessica graduated from Nute High School in 2002. From 2002 – 2006 she attended the University of New Hampshire where she double-majored in German and Zoology, and minored in Music and Dance.
From 2006 – 2009, Jessica attended Villanova University where she received her Master of Science in Biology. For her thesis she conducted research on an island in southeastern Nova Scotia where she studied the mating behavior and breeding biology of a northern songbird, the Boreal Chickadee. During this time, she also worked as a graduate teaching assistant for multiple classes at Villanova, and worked with the Canadian Migratory Monitoring Network conducting annual spring migratory census operations for the Atlantic Bird Observatory.
In 2009-2010, Jessica taught Human Anatomy laboratory classes at the University of New Hampshire. While working, she continued performing in local dance ensembles and worked as a teaching assistant for the aerial dance and trapeze program at UNH.
Jessica is currently attending Dartmouth College where she is pursuing her PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Her thesis research focuses on aquatic organisms that produce toxins and are capable of tolerating extreme environments, such as the polar regions. Specifically, she studies Arctic lakes and ponds located near the rapidly changing ice sheet in Greenland, and in ponds situated in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica. As part of her graduate appointment at Dartmouth she also works as a graduate teaching assistant for undergraduate courses and participates in educational outreach to high schools locally, as well as to high schoolers abroad, as part of the Joint Science Education Program which brings Danish, Greenlandic and American high school students to Greenland to learn about Arctic science, policy, and climate change.
Jessica still loves dance and while at Dartmouth she has been a member of the Dartmouth Dance Ensemble, and currently teaches tap classes at local dance studio in West Lebanon, NH.
She is scheduled to defend her PhD dissertation in December 2016, after which she will continue research at Dartmouth for the winter and will teach a full course at Dartmouth during the spring term. For future plans, she hopes to continue in polar research and education and is currently applying for postdoctoral positions in research and teaching for fall, 2017.
John Parkhurst, Honorary, Education & Community Service
John Parkhurst has had a forty year career in education as a teacher and an administrator in three states. He has made a positive impact on many, both young and old.
John graduated from high school in Manchester in the ‘50’s and went to work. He and some of his buddies decided they would volunteer for the Army so they could stay together during their three year enlistment. The draft was on in those days and if you were drafted you went where you were needed for two years and didn’t have any choices. John ended up in the Germany where he and his buddies spent much time in the field drilling for projected battle of the cold war.
Upon returning to Manchester after his enlistment he returned to his job, as in those days veterans were guaranteed to have their jobs when they were discharged. He had a curiosity in literature and knew he wanted to do more so he enrolled in St. Anselm’s College. He later transferred to Keene State College. While at Keene he met the love of his life, Carol. She graduated first and took a teaching job in Massachusetts. John soon followed and began his teaching career at the middle school in the South Hamilton - Wenham School District.
While at So. Hamilton middle school John was always creating unique ways of creating a classroom where his students were highly engaged. They looked forward to his joke du jour to start class, his hook. Not only did he work hard to engage his students, but he also was a leader in innovative learning strategies. John was an early proponent of discovery learning. This is when students engage in problem solving situations where they must rely on past experiences and prior knowledge. Sort of creating situation where kids can’t figure it out and ask for help; creating the teachable moment!
Also during John’s time at South Hamilton he helped with the transition of the middle school from a traditional junior high school to the newly established middle school model. Most junior highs are structured around content departments (English, math, science, etc.) with a traditional bell schedule and rooms clustered by subject. Most middle schools are more student centered rather than content centered. They are modeled around grade level teams that allow for interdisciplinary learning, flexible scheduling and rooms clustered around grade level teams.
John went on to an administrative position in Connecticut where he continued to be an educational leader. He chaired a statewide math curriculum committee. From there he went on to be the principal of Ware, MA High School. Again John worked with his faculty and staff to implement the latest, at the time, in research about teaching and learning. He facilitated the implementation of block scheduling which allows for longer class periods, more in depth learning of subjects and fewer courses for students to focus on at any one time.
Ware High School at the time had a rich history of athletic excellence. John came to realize that there should be a way to celebrate the successes of many and memorialize their achievements. He led the establishment of an Athletic Hall of Fame that is now a long standing tradition that is celebrated annually in the community. John’s leadership career continued at Pentucket High School in West Newbury, MA. After a long education career in Massachusetts it was time to come back home to New Hampshire.
John started looking for leadership positions and came across this small ad for the Principalship here at Nute in 2001. With John’s rich resume of excellence in leadership he brought stability to Nute as the principal from 2001 through 2007. One of the first things he realized about our school is its rich history and the number of outstanding alumni that came from our small school. Like at Ware High School, he wanted to work with the school and community to celebrate and memorialize those successes. The Nute Wall of Distinction was born and is carried on today.
One of the primary reasons for the Nute Wall of Distinction is to celebrate the achievements of some of our most outstanding Nute Alumni. It is because of John’s excellence in educational leadership and his commitment to the communities he has worked in that John Parkhust is our newest Honorary member to the Nute High School Wall of Distinction.