From social media and wage equity to food scarcity and the power of persuasion, students at the University of Maine at Presque Isle will showcase their academic research, scholarly work and community service on Wednesday, April 15, during University Day. The theme of this year’s event is Transformers: Students Changing The World.
University Day is an event that heightens students’ awareness of the work being done by peers in all of the disciplines represented on campus. The annual campus event allows students to better understand how disciplines interrelate and how the academic work they do applies to the local and global community. It is also an opportunity for students to experience a professional conference format. No regular classes are held during University Day, but in their stead, students are encouraged to attend student-led presentations and talks held during six sessions throughout the day.
University Day officially kicks-off on Tuesday, April 14, with a Distinguished Lecturer Series presentation by Byron Hurt, a documentary filmmaker whose work has premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and has been broadcast on the PBS seriesIndependent Lens. Hurt will speak at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center on his documentary film Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, tackling issues of masculinity, sexism, violence and homophobia in today’s hip-hop culture. His talk is free and open to the public.
The next day, approximately 100 students will offer nearly 40 talks and presentations, covering areas of study as wide ranging as art, athletic training, biology, criminal justice, education, environmental studies, history, psychology, professional communication and social work.
The very successful morning poster session, which has been a part of University Day for the past three years, returns again this year. The poster session, taking place in the Wieden Hall Gymnasium from 8 to 9 a.m., will feature more than a dozen posters by UMPI students, showcasing the research they have done in environmental studies, biology, genetics, science, geographic information systems, education, and social work. Students will be present to discuss their posters and answer questions. Beverages and snacks will be available. The posters will remain on display throughout the day for public viewing.
To add to the community spirit of the day, the University will open its doors to the public. The University Day committee has invited students from local high schools, and community members are welcome to attend all sessions.
During lunch, Robert “Bob” Tarpey will be presented with the Distinguished Recent Alumni Award. Tarpey, a member of UMPI’s Class of 2003, graduated from the University with a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training. He went on to receive his Master’s degree in Athletic Training from California University of Pennsylvania in 2005, before beginning his career in baseball with the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 2006. For the past five seasons, he has served as an Athletic Trainer for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. In August 2014, he was honored with the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society [PBATS] Eastern League Athletic Trainer of the Year Award, and in December 2014, he was named the 2014 Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year by PBATS.
The day will culminate with a closing reception and awards ceremony to be held in Wieden Gym from 4:30-5 p.m. A complete schedule of University Day activities can be found at www.umpi.edu/uday.
