Officials with the University of Maine at Presque Isle hosted a website unveiling at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 17 in the Campus Center to celebrate more than three years of work to create an interactive and searchable web-based map of the Fairmont Cemetery.

This first-of-its-kind project in Maine was conducted by UMPI’s GIS Laboratory and a team of UMPI researchers working in partnership with the Fairmont Cemetery Association and the Presque Isle Historical Society. The new website serves as an important resource for historians, researchers and those conducting family genealogy, and also preserves the historical data that is found at the cemetery for future generations. The Fairmont Cemetery, established in the 19th century, represents one of the oldest and largest graveyards in northern Maine.

Three hundred and ten students at the University of Maine at Presque Isle have been named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester, according to Dr. Michael Sonntag, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Officials with the University of Maine at Presque Isle hosted delegates from Siyuan University, located in in Xi’an, China, on Feb. 7 and 8 during a visit meant to strengthen connections and explore new partnerships between the two institutions.

Mr. Yanbo Zhou, Chairman of the Siyuan University Board, and Mr. Hualong Tong, Deputy Director of International Cooperation and Exchange at Siyuan University, spent two days at UMPI as part of a larger, 2-week visit to the United States to meet with universities and government officials and develop educational connections. In addition to their stop in Presque Isle, their itinerary is expected to include visits in Massachusetts, Minnesota and New Mexico.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.