May 2016

The Houlton Higher Education Center held a graduation recognition event for its UMPI and University College graduates on Thursday, May 19, at 4:30 p.m. at the Center, 18 Military St., Houlton. Otis Smith, Director of the Houlton/Hodgdon Adult Education program was the guest speaker.  After recognition gifts were presented and a special presentation was made, refreshments were served to the graduates and their guests.

UMPI’s Relay for Life team is pre-selling raffle tickets on a themed basket they have made up to include in the Basket Tent at the Relay for Life walk on June 17 and 18. The basket this year is called “Camping in the County” and has all the goodies one would use for camping, even a gift certificate to Campers Paradise in Westfield. Tickets are available in the Student Financial Services Office and the cost is 1 ticket for $1 or 7 tickets for $5. The drawing will be on Saturday, June 18 at the Relay for Life event in Caribou. FMI, contact Laurie Boucher at 768-9509 or email laurie.boucher@maine.edu.

UMPI will again be offering electronic recycling here on campus. There will be two pallets behind the back entrance of the CIL to put any electronic devices you may have for recycling. A recycling company will pick everything up on Tuesday, June 7. You can leave microwaves, TV’s, all computers and accessories, etc. The only items that you cannot leave are fluorescent bulbs, AC units, or refrigerators unless they have been properly drained of Freon and tagged. This is for personal equipment as well.

UMPI Physical Education students were able to get some hands-on teaching experience with local second graders thanks to a partnership between the University and Pine Street Elementary School. On April 29, Pine Street PE teacher (and UMPI alum) Ron McAtee and teachers brought the entire 2nd grade class to Gentile Hall for an afternoon of physical education activities, from balloon games to basketball skills, with the UMPI students, who are in UMPI professor Chris Standefer’s PHE 267: Teaching Elementary Physical Education. The event, which UMPI and Pine Street have coordinated for the past three years, has been an excellent opportunity for both the college students and the elementary pupils. It gives college students a chance to prepare for a “real-world” PE class and learn skills for managing a large group of young students, and it gives local 2nd graders a chance to get active while having fun. The event has become something of a tradition for the second grade class and is something students look forward to all year.

A group of UMPI students and faculty attended the 43rd Maine Biological and Medical Sciences Symposium held in April at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory. In total, 9 UMPI students participated in the trip and 6 posters were presented. The UMPI group was among 170 registrants statewide who gathered to share research results, exchange ideas, promote collaboration, and network with Maine scientists in a variety of disciplines. Below, the group takes part in a lobster bake the first night of the event and is pictured by the Bay at the conclusion of the symposium.

UMPI faculty member Dave Putnam and student Gannon Pratt conducted field research this spring focused on surveying wood turtles. The work, which will continue this summer, is part of Putnam’s collaborative field research involving wood turtle populations in northern Maine with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Below are two photos from the team’s spring surveying efforts.

Campus community members cleaned, pruned, raked and swept the facilities and grounds on April 29 in honor of the 2nd Annual UMPI Day. The event gives students, faculty and staff a chance to take pride in the University campus while celebrating spring and the end of the academic year. The morning filled with clean-up projects was followed by the annual UMPI Appreciation BBQ.

There’s a new feature on the UMPI website that spotlights students (on being accepted to grad school and  securing jobs post-graduation), as well as alums and their career successes. You can read about these achievements on the Good UMPI News webpage, www.umpi.edu/we-are-owls/good–umpi–news/. To keep this page robust, please send the Community and Media Relations Office any tips you have about exciting UMPI-related news. Items can be sent to umpi@maine.edu with the subject line “Good UMPI News“. Thanks for your help to get the word out!

Aroostook Relay for Life will be held this year on June 17 and 18 at the Caribou High School track. The UMPI Owls team will have a campsite and will have luminary bags for sale, now through June 13 for $10 each. You can stop by and see Laurie Boucher in Student Financial Services if you wish to purchase one. The bags will be lit around the track Friday night to show support for loved ones who have cancer and/or in memory of those who have lost the battle. You can either decorate the bag yourself or Laurie will do it for you. The Opening Ceremony starts at 6 p.m.–organizers are looking for survivors to walk their own lap– and there will be a reception at 7 p.m. If anyone is either a survivor or knows someone who is a survivor, please encourage them to attend. There will be a team lap at 8 p.m. along with other “themed” laps every hour. You can pre-register here www.relayforlife.org/aroostookme so you don’t have to do it at the event. Food and items to purchase will also be available. FMI, contact Laurie Boucher at 768-3512 or email laurie.boucher@maine.edu.

On Monday, April 25, Houlton Higher Education Center welcomed the new president from the University of Maine at Augusta, Dr. James Conneely, to the area. President Conneely has been on a listening tour of the University College centers across Maine to assess the strengths and needs of students and Centers. The visit included a tour of the Houlton Higher Education Center, which houses University College (UC) at Houlton. Both President Schott and President Conneely met with UMPI and UMA students and faculty, staff, and several members of the community and area businesses. Approximately 25 people asked questions of both presidents, as well as provided feedback and insight to questions posed from the presidents.

New Ventures Maine (formerly Maine Centers for Women, Work, and Community) will offer two workshops. One is Business Basics, which will meet on June 14, 21, and 28, 2016 from 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. This workshop covers the business plan, marketing, and cash planning and is suitable for those thinking about or who are in the start-up phase of a new business. Pre-registration is required. The next workshop is Venturing Forth: Business Planning for Entrepreneurs, which meets on Tuesdays, Sept. 6 – Dec. 6, 2016, from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. There will be an orientation session on Sept. 6 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. This is a 12-week, one day a week, business planning course. The following topics are covered in depth: the customer, competition, marketing, record keeping, taxes, financing, and legal considerations. At the end of the class, you will have a completed business plan. There are also three follow-up sessions. There is no fee for this course and class size is limited to 15. An application, attendance at the orientation session, and an interview are required and the application deadline is Aug. 26. To register or FMI, contact Karin Petrin at 768-9468 or email karin.petrin@maine.edu. You may also visit them online at newventuresmaine.org.

The Maine chapter of the International Appalachia Trail held its annual meeting the first weekend of May at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center and dedicated the meeting to William (Bill) H. Forbes, who passed away in 2011 and was a long time member of the IAT. Forbes’ knowledge, expertise and many contacts helped in the concept and trail designation in Maine and the Canadian Maritimes. Forbes was a long-time geology professor at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

Congratulations to Raymond Feliciano-Rodrigues, a junior majoring in Secondary Education: ESL Teaching with a minor in Elementary Education: ESL Teaching and a second minor in English Literature, from Hormigueros, Puerto Rico. He is a National Exchange Student from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, San Germán Campus. Raymond is a member of Puerto Rico’s Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (PRTESOL), a member of SEAM, Page Turners (book club), and the WUPI radio station, where he co-hosts a program. He is a recipient of “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges” for 2016. He serves as a positive role model for other students and is reliable and responsible. He also presented about education in Puerto Rico for University Day. Again, congratulations, Raymond!

Congratulations to Abigail Riitano, a senior majoring in Biology with a minor in both Chemistry and Psychology who hails from Abbott, ME, as the March Student of the Month. Abi is president of the Bio-Med Club and founder and president of the Partners for World Health Club. She is an officer in the Red Cross Club and a member of the UMPI soccer team. She is an excellent student and outstanding role model as well. Abi has spearheaded the establishment of a chapter of Partners for World Health here in Aroostook County. The group collects usable items from local hospitals that would normally go into the landfill and sends them to impoverished countries by container ship from Portland. She has taken on many leadership roles on campus and other students look up to her as one of the “star” students in the department. She is extremely hard working, friendly, and willing to step up to help with any organization, group, or situation. Also, she is set to graduate in only three years! Again, congratulations, Abigail!

Congratulations to Autumn Lynn Poulin, a junior majoring in Athletic Training from Winslow, ME as the February Student of the Month. Autumn has many achievements – she is friendly and always willing to help students, staff and faculty. She is an excellent student and an outstanding role model. Autumn is on the women’s soccer team and volunteers at the soup kitchen in her home town. She took on a new role this spring by volunteering her time for the “Think Pink” fundraiser, which she organized, including marketing, planning, staffing, sales, and onsite facilitation. Her work bringing together Athletics, faculty and students to put this event on not only helped the American Cancer Society but also speaks to her commitment to meaningful campus activities and her superior relationship building and leadership skills. Again, congratulations, Autumn!

Camp Invention is coming to UMPI this summer from August 1 to 5, 2016; camp will run each day from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This camp is for children entering 1st through 6th grade. The curriculum will be directed by Elaine Hendrickson and co-directed by Mary Lawrence. Students will brainstorm product ideas and build original prototypes using real tools and components found in everyday devices. They will also construct and personalize a DIY solar-powered cricket with a habitat, explore the lives of giant insects, colorful animals and their environments and discover the science of slime, demolition, electronic sound, giant squid and coding. The cost is $235 and you can register at campinvention.org. FMI, contact Elaine Hendrickson at elaine.hendrickson@gmail.com or Mary Lawrence at mary.l.lawrence@maine.edu or 768-9502.