The University of Maine at Presque Isle is pleased to present Dr. Donna M. Beegle, a nationally renowned public speaker, author, and national poverty expert as the last speaker in its 2016-2017 Distinguished Lecturer Series. Her talk, which will also serve as the keynote address for UMPI’s 16th Annual University Day, focuses on nationwide poverty and her experiences with the issue. This event will take place on Tuesday, April 11, at 7 p.m., in the Campus Center. This event is free and the public is invited to be a part of this special evening.

From multicultural experiences to mindfulness in athletic rehabilitation to connecting classroom and clinical wisdom, students at the University of Maine at Presque Isle will showcase their academic research, scholarly work and community service on Wednesday, April 12, during University Day. The theme of this year’s event is Meet in the Middle.

Stand-up comedian Ryan Reiss won’t just make you laugh, he’ll show you how it’s done when the University Players present him for a workshop and performance on Thursday, April 13, at 7 p.m. in the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Auditorium at Wieden Hall. Both the workshop and the performance, rated PG-13, are free and open to the public.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle and the Presque Isle Community Players are pleased to present the northern Maine debut of John Cariani’s play Last Gas this spring, bringing the Presque Isle native’s “hilarious and heartbreaking” tale to the stage for its hometown premiere. Last Gas performances will take place on Fridays and Saturdays, March 31, April 1, 7 and 8 at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium in Wieden Hall; doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s very own Ben White will serve as the next speaker in the 2016-2017 Distinguished Lecturer Series on Wednesday, March 22, at 7 p.m., in the Campus Center. White, who is the fourth UMPI student ever to serve as a student Distinguished Lecturer, will deliver his talk Transitioning: Finding My Way to Me. His talk is free and the public is encouraged to attend the event.

Experience a whole new level of improv when the agents of MISSION IMPROVable Comedy Team head to the University of Maine at Presque Isle for a performance on Wednesday, March 15, at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center. This free event, sponsored by UMPI’s Student Activities Office, is rated PG-13 and the public is invited to attend.

Looking for an innovative way to explore the world of science? The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Environmental Science and Sustainability program and Biology program offer up their 7th semi-annual Science Lunchtime Seminar Series this spring and invite campus and community members to take part. The series provides a forum to present scientific research conducted by UMPI students, faculty, and other local and regional scientists, as well as experts in management, medicine, and applied science.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle will host Shakespeare LIVE!, a theater troupe that has performed for more than half a million students since its inception in 1997, for a performance of one of the Bard’s great comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, on Thursday, March 9 at 7 p.m., in the Auditorium at Wieden Hall. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s most beloved and most performed works and is best experienced as the playwright intended–live on stage. The public is invited to attend this special event; donations will be accepted at the door to go toward future cultural arts programming.

Are area healthcare providers keeping pace with the needs of our culturally diverse region? Medical ethics expert Dr. Kenji Saito, M.D., J.D., and a panel of experts will discuss this issue when the University of Maine at Presque Isle and TAMC offer a joint Distinguished Lecturer Series and Storer W. Boone, M.D. Memorial Lecture presentation titled Ethics of Care in the County on Monday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. in UMPI’s Campus Center. This presentation is free and the public is invited to be a part of this special evening.

Local veterans will get a one-stop opportunity to learn about all the veterans benefits and programs available to them on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. in the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Campus Center when the members of the newly-organized UMPI Student Veterans Club host a Veterans Information Night. This free event is open to all veterans in Aroostook County.