The University of Maine at Presque Isle will broadcast a talk by Silicon Valley celebrity Steve Blank via video conference on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. in the Library Conference Room, located on the first floor of the UMPI Library. The University is one of several Maine libraries and University campuses throughout the state participating in the event, presented by the Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development as part of Maine Entrepreneurship Week. The public is invited to attend this free event. For more information about the venue, contact UMPI’s Office of Community and Media Relations at 207-768-9452. For more information about the event, see the links below or contact Susan Ruhlin with the MCED at 207-774-8111.
Press Releases
UMPI project provides free, high-tech tools for local municipalities
The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s GIS Laboratory has provided 15 central Aroostook County cities and towns with technologically advanced tools that are helping them to better manage their land parcels and create efficiencies in their tax assessing, planning and development, and land and forest management efforts.
The GIS Laboratory was able to complete this project at no cost to the municipalities thanks to a $12,000 grant it received from the Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems [MEGIS]. The project, “Central Aroostook Parcel GIS Mapping Project”, was headed by Dr. Chunzeng Wang, UMPI Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Science. It is the area’s first large-scale land parcel GIS mapping project.
University to host experts for journalism seminar
The University of Maine at Presque Isle will host three media experts for a journalism seminar entitled Information Overload: How Do You Find the Truth? at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15 in Wieden Auditorium. The public is invited to attend this free evening seminar, which will feature award-winning journalist and documentary film-maker Darrell Dorgan of North Dakota and local media experts Shawn Cunningham of WAGM-TV and Jen Lynds of the Bangor Daily News. This event is sponsored by the Maine Association of Broadcasters and the Maine Press Association.
UMPI BioMedical Club focuses on community service
One of the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s newest student clubs has taken community service to heart, working to help several local groups as it increases members’ awareness for careers in the biomedical and health sciences fields. The University’s BioMedical Club has had a busy year so far, participating in everything from volunteer activities to fundraisers for the community to educational activities with local school children.
VITA Tax Assistance program available at UMPI this spring
Area volunteers with the AARP Tax-Aide Program will be available on Saturdays at the University of Maine at Presque Isle during the next two months to help members of the community prepare their tax returns.
This free service will be provided by volunteers every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Feb. 4 to April 14 in Room 118 of UMPI’s Campus Center. The work these volunteers are doing is connected to the VITA [Volunteer Income Tax Assistance] and TCE [Tax Counseling for the Elderly] programs.
UMPI hosts management courses for the spring semester
The University of Maine at Presque Isle will be offering two courses this spring starting on Monday, Feb. 27 as part of its American Management Association’s certificate programs. The deadline for registration is Wednesday, Feb. 22.
These spring courses, part of a multi-course curriculum leading to Certificates in Management and Human Resources Management, are specifically created to meet the unique needs of working professionals who want to be more effective in their current positions and better prepared for future advancement, according to Keith Madore, campus AMA coordinator.
University announces new Director of Facilities Management
The University of Maine at Presque Isle has hired an experienced facilities and construction leader, planner and manager – who has worked in commercial, industrial and institutional environments – to serve as its new Director of Facilities Management.
Robert Aughinbaugh, who comes to Maine from Mentor, Ohio, and has 21 years of experience in facilities management, replaces outgoing Director of Facilities Management David St. Peter, who officially retired Jan. 20 after 24 years with the University. He and his wife Victoria will split their time between Madawaska Lake and Florida as they enjoy their retirement.
Planet Head Day to raise funds for C-A-N-C-E-R
Officials raised $15,000 last year, hoping to double that amount this year
Aroostook County’s 6th annual Planet Head Day will take place on Saturday, Feb. 18, during the 82th “birthday” of the discovery of Pluto. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Wieden Gymnasium. This unique event celebrates space science while also serving as a fundraiser for C-A-N-C-E-R [Caring Area Neighbors for Cancer Education and Recovery]. To do this, participants raise money to have their heads shaved and painted as planets, dwarf planets and moons.
Staff of Upcountry, UMPI’s online literary journal, to host launch party
The staff of the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s online literary journal is celebrating the publication of its latest issue with an official Upcountry Reading and Launch Party at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9 in the Normal Hall Faculty Lounge.
The celebration will serve as the official launch of Upcountry’s Fall/Winter issue. The journal’s student editors Mika Ouellette and Barat Qualey will be on hand, as will journal advisor Dr. Melissa Crowe. Several of this issue’s 18 contributors also will be in attendance to read from their work. Paper copies of the issue will be available and refreshments will be provided. The reading and launch party is free and open to the public.
University hosts spring semester blood drive
The University of Maine at Presque Isle will host its annual spring semester American Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday, Feb. 1. This blood drive is sponsored by the UMPI Residence Life Office, the Brothers of Kappa Delta Phi and the Sisters of Kappa Delta Phi NAS.
The blood drive is scheduled from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. in the Campus Center’s Multi-Purpose Room. If donors wish to reserve a time to make their donation, they should call 1-800-RED-CROSS or 768-9585 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can sign up at the new online appointment scheduler at www.redcrossblood.org.
