One hundred and seventy-four students graduated from the University of Maine at Presque Isle on Saturday, May 16, during the 2015 Commencement Exercises – the University’s 106th Commencement ceremony. President Linda Schott conferred degrees for the 2014-2015 academic year upon 122 students who participated in the ceremony held in Wieden Gymnasium.
If you’ve stopped by the President’s Office at the University of Maine at Presque Isle in the last two decades, then you were probably greeted with a smile and a friendly welcome by Ethelyn Boyd, the President’s Assistant. Boyd has been the heart of the office—a consistent and calming presence, and the one who keeps things humming smoothly—for the past 21 years. But this May will ring in the end of an era when Boyd retires after 44 years of service to the University.
The University of Maine at Presque Isle is known as the Home of the Owls, but right now it’s playing host to a mother duck waiting for her nestful of eggs to hatch.
Of all the places the mallard hen could have selected for her nesting spot, she chose the flower box in front of the University’s Center for Innovative Learning [CIL]. University Library staffer Michelle Greene discovered the duck and her nest on May 1, when faculty, staff, and students were celebrating “UMPI Day” by cleaning up around campus.
Claudette LaBonte Kane laughingly says that the story of her life is that she starts things but never finishes them. But more than four decades after taking her first class at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, she will be completing her undergraduate experience by marching in UMPI’s Commencement Exercises on May 16 and receiving her Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree.
The University of Maine at Presque Isle will be offering two courses this spring beginning Tuesday, May 19, and Wednesday, May 20, respectively, as part of its American Management Association’s certificate programs. The course registration deadline is May 18.
Anderson Giles, retired University of Maine at Presque Isle professor, has made many trips to the Pacific focused on preserving the history of World War II. Recently, Giles had the honor of leading a select group on visits to two of WWII’s most deadly Pacific battlefields. The group participated in the special 70th commemoration ceremonies on Iwo Jima and then traveled on to explore battle sites on the island of Peleliu in Palau.
Kevin McCartney, Professor of Geology at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, has had two scientific articles published in international journals this spring. These publications represent his 50th and 51st major articles with international distribution and include co-authors from Poland, Russia and Japan.
President Linda Schott has announced that J. Duke Albanese—a national leader in the effort to redesign public education and learning for all students—will deliver the commencement address during the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s 106th Commencement Ceremony, to be held on Saturday, May 16, 2015. During the event, an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree will be presented to Albanese.
The University of Maine at Presque will host the 3rd Annual Safe Homes Aroostook “Move to End Homelessness” fundraiser on Sunday, May 3, 2015, from 12-3 p.m. The 5K fun run/walk, which will be held rain or shine, will start at 1 p.m. and end at Gentile Hall and wind along the city’s sidewalks and bike path.
The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Social Sciences will host Jason Grass for an evening presentation on Monday, May 4 at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center. Grass’ talk, titled The People of the Hill: Then and Now, will focus on Pagan culture, history and contemporary practice, and is free and open to the public.