News at U Maine Machias
Nutcracker Matinee Sold Out, Evening Tickets Still Available
MACHIAS, ME – Tickets to the 7:00 p.m. performance of The Nutcracker on Saturday, November 21 at UMM’s Performing Arts Center are still available. The 3:00 p.m. matinee performance is sold out.
Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $6 for senior citizens over 60 and youth ages 12-18, and $2 for youth under age 12. Community members are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance, by calling 255-1312 or 255-1470. Tickets will also be sold at the door.
The Robinson Ballet Company’s performance of The Nutcracker at UMM is made possible by the generous support of Kelco Industries of Milbridge.
UMM to Host Veterans Day Reception Nov. 11
MACHIAS, ME – The University of Maine at Machias, along with Aramark Dining Services and the Student Senate, will host a Veterans Day Reception on Wednesday, November 11, at 4:00 p.m. in the Portside room of Kimball Hall.
Members of the public are invited to join the campus community in celebrating the dedicated service of our local veterans. There will be a display of photos, news articles, and other memorabilia provided by members of the community.
Refreshments will be served and music will be provided by the UMM Ukulele Club. For more information, please call Rose Mondville at 255-1342.
UMM Announces New Early College Scholarship Opportunities
MACHIAS, ME – Since the University of Maine at Machias established its Early College Program in 2004, students from regional high schools have taken almost 700 college courses through the campus. UMM has offered these Early College opportunities both to encourage Washington County youth to consider college as an option after high school graduation and to help students get a head start on their college careers.
Encouraged by the success of this program, UMaine-Machias is today announcing expanded scholarship opportunities for Early College students. Many Washington County students are already eligible to take one college course per semester at UMM through the Maine Department of Education’s Aspirations Program. This program provides a scholarship covering 50% of tuition, while the University waives the remaining tuition and most fees. Beginning with the Spring 2010 semester, UMM will augment this state program so that area high school students may receive scholarships covering 50% of tuition for up to two courses each semester, including summer sessions. Under the new program, eligible students can finish a full year of college, at a substantially reduced cost, before they even graduate from high school.
Generally, area juniors and seniors may participate in the UMM Early College Program. They must be recommended by their high schools or home-school organizations, and they must meet certain eligibility requirements. The new scholarship program covers all courses offered live on the UMM campus. Early College students who take UMM distance courses will continue to receive the current scholarship covering 25% of tuition.
For more information or to apply for the UMM Early College program, see the guidance counselor in your high school or contact UMM’s Early College Coordinator, Carol Wolf, at 255-1264 or cwolf@maine.edu.
"The Nutcracker" Comes to UMM on Nov. 21
MACHIAS, ME – The Robinson Ballet Company of Bangor will bring Tchaikovsky’s beloved holiday classic, The Nutcracker to Downeast Maine with a pair of performances on Saturday, November 21, 2009, at the University of Maine at Machias.
The enchanting presentations will be offered at UMM’s Performing Arts Center (PAC), with performances at 3:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Peter Tchaikovsky, one of the world’s best-known symphonic composers, wrote the graceful Nutcracker in 1892, near the end of his life. The Robinson Ballet Company has been producing The Nutcracker for more than 20 years, with Machias as one of its repeat venues.
The sponsorship of Kelco Industries, through owner Doug Kell Sr., has been significant to the appearances of the Robinson Ballet in Machias, according to University President Cynthia E. Huggins.
“This is a great cultural contribution to the area, and we are grateful to both Kelco Industries and the Robinson Ballet Company for continuing to make this presentation of The Nutcracker possible,” said Huggins. “The residents of Washington County eagerly anticipate this performance, and UMM is pleased to be able to continue this holiday tradition.”
Kell is an Ellsworth and Milbridge businessman who has many ties with the University. For six years he served on the UMM Board of Visitors, an advisory body to the president, with three of those years as the board’s chair.
As in past years, schools and organized youth groups can make reservations for the 3:00 p.m. matinée performance until November 12. After that, the matinée tickets will be available to the general public. The matinée performance has always filled up early and seats may not be available unless they are reserved in advance. Evening performance tickets are currently available.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for senior citizens over 60 and youth ages 12-18, and $2 for youth under age 12.
For more information or to make matinée group reservations, please call Naida Pennell at 255-1289. To reserve or pay for advance tickets, contact Barbie Holmes at 255-1312 or 255-1470.
UMM Art Gallery to Open Kimball Exhibit Nov. 6
MACHIAS, ME – The Art Galleries at the University of Maine at Machias will feature a textile collection created by history professor Kay Kimball, beginning November 6 and running through the month of December. The exhibit is titled “Appalachian Traces: Landscape Studies in Textiles.”
An associate professor of history at UMM, Kimball created the series of quilted batik panels after a sabbatical in the spring of 2008. She spent the semester conducting a comparative study of southern Appalachian coal mining and northern Appalachian lumbering of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The quilted panels are based on what Kimball learned about those industries and their impact on the environment.
An opening reception will be held on Friday, November 6, from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m., providing an opportunity to meet the artist and hear about her work. Refreshments will be provided.
The UMM Art Galleries are open 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and are located on the first floor of Powers Hall. For more information, please call Art Gallery Director Bernie Vinzani at (207) 255-1279.
UMM Students Plan Disabilities Awareness Night for Nov. 4
MACHIAS, ME – Students in the “Recreation Services for Special Populations” class at the University of Maine at Machias will host a disabilities awareness night on Wednesday, November 4, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Reynolds Center on the UMM campus.
Participants in this program, titled “Your World, My World, Our Diverse World,” will have the opportunity to experience simulated disabilities at 10 different stations, each focused on a specific disability. Stations will include hearing impairments, spinal injuries, visual impairments, temporary disabilities, permanent disabilities, aging, learning disabilities, autism, mobility, and more. Information booths will be available for participants to learn about resources, services, and career opportunities.
Misunderstandings often arise about disabilities and abilities, mobility and how it affects us all, and about barriers that limit participation and communication. The public is invited to join UMM students, faculty, and staff in experiencing firsthand what it is like to live in another’s world. The event promises to be an evening of challenges, learning opportunities, and fun, with drawings and door prizes.
“Your World, My World, Our Diverse World” is sponsored by UMM’s Professional Studies Division, Student Senate, MRPASS and Hall Council. Other contributing groups and organizations include the UMM Student Education Association, UMM Behavioral Studies students, UMM Career Development, UMM Student Support Center, UMM Counseling Services, Maine Autism Society, and Cooperative Extension’s Senior Companion Program.
For further information, contact Jo-Ellen Harvey at 255-1238.
Newman Club Collects $200 and Supplies for Animal Shelter
MACHIAS, ME – Students in the Newman Club at the University of Maine at Machias collected more than $200 and dozens of animal supplies for The Ark Animal Shelter in Cherryfield. The students, from left to right, are: Mallory Ward, Susan Greenburg, William O'Neil, and Allie Boada. Missing from the photo is Angelica Roldan.
UMM-USM to Hold Master's in Counseling Information Session on October 27
The University of Southern Maine (USM), in collaboration with the University of Maine at Machias (UMM), will be offering a 54-credit graduate degree in rehabilitation counseling, beginning in the summer of 2010. The Master of Science in Counseling will be granted through USM and the curriculum will be offered primarily through distance education technologies in the following formats: ITV (interactive television), videoconferencing and online. In addition, selected classes will be taught on-campus at UMM. The USM program is nationally accredited through the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) and students who complete the three and a half year program will be eligible for national certification as a rehabilitation counselor. Students who decide to take an additional 3 classes of targeted coursework will be eligible for state licensure as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC).
The program will be available to a cohort of 10-12 students from the Washington and Hancock counties area. Stephen Murphy, USM professor of counseling, describes the program as “a wonderful opportunity for individuals in the Machias area to remain employed locally and obtain a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling and licensing as an LCPC in Maine.” Meghan Duff, UMM assistant professor of psychology in behavioral science and community studies agrees. “For people who are interested in working with persons with disabilities, substance abuse or mental health issues, this a great opportunity and it fulfills a need within our communities.”
There will be information sessions on Tuesday, October 27 at 12:00 p.m. in the Faculty Dining Room of Kilburn Commons, and on Monday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m. through videoconferencing in Torrey Hall, room 104. No RSVP is required.
The deadline for admissions to the program is February 1, 2010. For additional information about the program, including a schedule of information sessions, please visit: www.usm.maine.edu/cehd/Counselor-Education/Machias.
For more information contact: Stephen Murphy, professor of counseling, USM, smurphy@usm.maine.edu; 207-780-5319; or Meghan W Duff, assistant professor of psychology, behavioral science & community studies, UMM; meghan.duff@maine.edu; 207-255-1227.
UMS Chancellor and Board of Trustees to Hold Public Session at UMM on October 26
MACHIAS, ME – Chancellor Pattenaude and three members of the University of Maine System Board of Trustees - Marjorie Medd, Charles O'Leary, and Eleanor Baker - will host a public comment session at the University of Maine at Machias on Monday, October 26, as they finalize a plan created as part of the System’s New Challenges, New Directions Initiative. The session will take place from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the Portside room of Kimball Hall.
The purpose of this campus visit is to collect feedback on "The Final Report and Implementation Plan of the New Challenges, New Directions Initiative," available on the Web at http://www.maine.edu/chancellor/NCND.php.
Students, faculty, staff, and members of the public are invited to attend and provide comments on the plan.
Individuals who are unable to attend the meeting are encouraged to submit comments by October 30 via e-mail to NCND@maine.edu.
LiBrizzi to Speak at Downeast History Symposium Oct. 17
MACHIAS, ME – University of Maine at Machias English professor Marcus LiBrizzi will be the keynote speaker at the third annual Downeast History Symposium on Saturday, October 17. The symposium takes place at the Holy Name Parish Hall, on Broadway in Machias, from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
LiBrizzi, who will be speaking from 2:10 - 3:00 p.m., will present findings from his new book, Lost Atusville: A Black Settlement from the American Revolution. According to Amazon, the book uncovers "the story of a black settlement known as Atusville near Machias, Maine. The author explores the folklore surrounding the community using documentary and oral history sources. The result is the recovery of a number of remarkable tales involving the participation of slaves in the American Revolution, the outbreak of racial violence, rumors of the Underground Railroad, and encounters with the apparitions of the dead."
The Downeast History Symposium is an annual event organized by the Machias Historical Society. Admission to the symposium is free. More information can be found at www.machiashistory.org.
Fall Sustainability Speaker Series at UMM
MACHIAS, ME – The Green Council at the University of Maine at Machias has announced a fall speaker series that will feature local experts presenting on various topics surrounding sustainability and the environment.
- Thursday, October 15 – William Otto, Associate Professor of Chemistry at UMM, will present the results of UMM’s recent greenhouse gas inventory.
- Thursday, November 5 – Henry Chausse, Director of the Machias Bay Area Transfer Station, will discuss area waste management and new recycling initiatives.
- Thursday, December 3 – Chad Everett will present on home energy audits and how community members can make their homes more energy efficient.
UMM’s Green Council is a student organization whose mission is to promote, encourage, and educate on issues concerning environmentalism and sustainability on the UMM campus and within the community.
All presentations will take place at 5:00 p.m. in the Faculty Dining Room of Kilburn Commons. Audience members are welcome to purchase dinner at the dining commons at a reduced price. For more information, contact Green Council advisor Meghan Duff at (207) 255-1227.
Froese to Give Book Reading Oct. 20
UMM professor to read from latest novel
MACHIAS, ME – The Maine Writers Series at the University of Maine at Machias will host novelist Robert Froese on Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the UMM Art Gallery.
Froese, a professor of English at UMM, will read from his latest book, The Origins of Misgiving. Kirkus Discoveries calls Froese’s new book, “A darkly compelling version of the strangeness of everyday life.”
In addition to The Origins of Misgiving, he has written three other novels – The Hour of Blue (1990), The Forgotten Condition of Things (2001), and A Dark Music (2006).
Froese, who teaches creative writing and film at UMM, is a founding member of the Flatbay Collective, a group of local artists who support and inspire each other’s work. More information can be found at www.flatbaycollective.org. He lives on Flat Bay in the solar-powered home he and his wife, Leonore Hildebrandt, built themselves.
The book reading is free and open to the public. For more information, call (207) 255-1334. The UMM Art Gallery is located on the first floor of Powers Hall.
LiBrizzi Presents at Bangor Book Festival
Associate Professor of English Marcus LiBrizzi was quoted in the October 3 Bangor Daily News. LiBrizzi presented at the third annual Bangor Book Festival and discussed his book, Lost Atusville: A Black Settlement from the American Revolution.
Music Professor Nichols Profiled by Bangor Daily News
Read about Associate Professor of Music Gene Nichols’ profile as “Down East Maine’s Music Man” in the October 3 issue of the Bangor Daily News.
UMM Plans Spring Tour of Ireland
Planning sessions scheduled for Oct. 7 & 10
MACHIAS, ME – The University of Maine at Machias has announced that it will offer a nine-day excursion to Ireland in the spring of 2009 for both students and interested community members. The trip will run from March 27 to April 4, 2009, and is being organized by UMM history professor Kay Kimball.
Highlights will include guided sightseeing in Dublin, with a trip to Trinity College to see the "Book of Kells." The group will visit County Kildare, home of Ireland's famous racehorses, and Kilkenny, a formerly bustling medieval town. The trip will also take travelers to Blarney Castle in Cork, and along the Atlantic coast's Ring of Kerry. The tour ends with a visit to Galway and its Bunratty Castle, and a stop at the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher.
According to Kimball, “Ireland offers a wonderful experience for sightseer and student alike. Its development as a modern, industrial nation might be recent, but its rural roots remain evident in towns and villages across the country.”
To prepare for the trip all travelers will meet a number of times as a group and discuss travel plans, cultural expectations, and other essentials. With additional work and planning, students may take the trip to earn credit in art, English, or history.
Two planning and information meetings are scheduled for the following dates and times: Wednesday, October 7 at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 10 at 10:00 a.m. Both meetings will be held in the Portside room of Kimball Hall. Anyone interested in the trip is encouraged to attend one of the meetings.
For travel details, costs, and other information, please contact Kay Kimball at 255-1262 or kkimball@maine.edu.
Betsy Smith of Equality Maine to Speak Oct. 15
MACHIAS, ME – The Omicron Delta Pi (ODP) fraternity at the University of Maine at Machias is pleased to announce that Betsy Smith, executive director of Equality Maine, will be giving an informational and entertaining talk on the topic of Maine’s fight for equal marriage on Thursday, October 15.
Smith’s talk will take place from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., in room 102 of the UMM Science Building. The public is invited to attend.
For more information, contact ODP advisor Meghan Duff at (207) 255-1227.
On Oct. 10, UMM Ukuleles Play to Benefit Themselves
More than 20 members of the UMM Ukulele Club are raising money to fund a four-day trip to play in an international ukulele event in Nova Scotia in late October. They are hosting a public supper and "Uke-Box Performance" on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 5:30 p.m. at the Holy Name Parish Hall on Broadway in Machias.
"We've supported the community, and now we're asking for community support in return," said Gene Nichols, the longtime University of Maine at Machias music professor. "We'll play any tune on the ukulele that anyone wants – just put your money in the jukebox, only this will be a uke-box."
The group will travel Oct. 22-26 to Liverpool, Nova Scotia, to the third Ukulele Ceilidh, organized by a local group of ukulele aficionados there. The event, which draws more than 300 ukulele fans, is held every two years.
The UMM Ukuleles attended the same event in 2007, and were a considerable hit with their unconventional rock-and-roll style. The group were the talk of the festival because of their songbook exceeding more than 1,000 tunes. Two years later, the Ukes work from a songbook of more than 1,400 tunes. They try out tunes new and old every Friday at UMM's music room, and play gigs – sometimes three times in a weekend – between their practices.
The public is enjoyed to join in the fun by enjoying dishes prepared by club members, then trying to stump the club by calling for a song, uke-box style. By getting $5 or $10 or even higher to playing someone's favorite tune, the Ukuleles earned more than $1,200 at a similar fundraising event in 2007, just two weeks before the group traveled to Liverpool.
That event was billed as a "Bring 'Em Back!" show – because club members at that point had enough money to get themselves to the international festival, but needed more to "bring 'em back" from Nova Scotia.
For more information about how to donate to the traveling UMM Ukulele Club, call Gene Nichols at 255-1229.
UMM Celebrates Homecoming & Family Weekend
Alumni, family, and friends return for annual events
MACHIAS, ME – September 26 & 27 marked the annual Homecoming and Family Weekend at the University of Maine at Machias. A strong showing of alumni, parents, students, faculty, and staff turned out for the weekend of events held each fall.
Saturday’s activities kicked off with a book signing in the welcome tent featuring Randall Kindleberger, professor of history at UMM. Kindlberger’s recent book, The University of Maine at Machias, 1909—2009: A History, commemorates the one-hundred year history of the institution. She spent the morning talking with visitors about her work and was more than happy to sign copies.
Another highlight of Saturday was the presentation by President Cynthia Huggins and Bob Farris, director of physical plant, on the Greening of the O’Brien House project. President Huggins and Farris outlined the three-year initiative which will transform the historic President’s House into a showcase home for sustainability. The presentation also included demonstrations of various tools used to measure energy efficiency, many of which homeowners can use to assess the efficiency of their own homes. The Greening the O’Brien House project will begin this fall with the installation of an energy star metal roof and solar hot water system.
In Clipper Athletics action, UMM’s soccer teams captured wins in front of the spirited Homecoming crowd. The women defeated Fisher College 8-1, while the men shutout the Falcons with a score of 4-0. UMM’s volleyball squad played host to a round robin event, with UMaine-Presque Isle, Husson College, and Thomas College traveling to the Reynolds Center. The Lady Clippers fought hard, but lost all three of their match-ups.
Canceled last year due to rain, the Canoe Joust was back in full swing with a large crowd of on-lookers. Individuals daring enough to go head-to-head while standing at the bow of a canoe found the pond water quite cold. Despite the chilly temperature, many took part in the jousting activities and came away victorious.
The campus Mall was the location of several activities and games for kids. An inflatable bounce house and obstacle course, dunk tank, kiddie train, snow cones, and popcorn machine were just some of the attractions that dotted the center of campus.
President Huggins hosted an alumni wine and cheese reception on Saturday afternoon in the O’Brien House. The casual get-together gave alums a chance to reflect on their time at UMM and hear about what’s new on campus.
Other events held throughout the day included an open house at the Reynolds Center with a free swim at the pool, a campus-wide picnic on the Mall, a Book Arts exhibit by professor Bernie Vinzani, Chemistry Magic performed by professors Shallee Page and William Otto, the Nathan Turk Memorial Alumni Basketball Games, a performance by hypnotist Paul Ramsey, and the Green and White Ball.
The alumni soccer games held on Sunday wrapped up the Homecoming festivities for 2009.
Dates and details for Homecoming and Family Weekend 2010 will be announced in the summer. We hope to see you there!
UMM Honors Longtime Employees
MACHIAS, ME – The University of Maine at Machias held its annual Employee Recognition Dinner on Wednesday, September 16. The event was a time to welcome new faces and to recognize employees who have been with the University for many years. Among the employees honored were:
40 Years
Joan Getchell, Human Resources and Assistant to the Vice President of Administration and Finance
30 Years
Penny Foss, Administrative Assistant, President’s Office
25 Years
Rose Mondville, Administrative Assistant, Academic Affairs Office
Jon Reisman, Associate Professor of Economics and Public Policy
Bob Wood, Building & Grounds Mechanic/Trades Worker
20 Years
Mary Stover, Registrar
Wayne Tuell, Building & Grounds Maintenance Worker
10 Years
Ellen Hostert, Associate Professor of Biology
Kay Kimball, Associate Professor of History
Brian Ingalls, Security Guard
Back row, left to right: Kay Kimball, Penny Foss, Ellen Hostert, and Jon Reisman.
Front row, left to right: Joan Getchell, Mary Stover, and Rose Mondville.
UMM-USM to Offer Master's in Rehabilitation Counseling
The University of Southern Maine, in collaboration with the University of Maine at Machias, will offer a 54-credit graduate degree in rehabilitation counseling beginning in the summer of 2010.
The Master of Science in counseling will be granted through USM and the curriculum will be offered primarily through distance education technologies in the following formats: interactive television, videoconferencing, and online.
In addition, selected classes will be taught on-campus at UMM. Students who complete the 3 1/2 year-program will be eligible for national certification as a rehabilitation counselor. Students who decide to take an additional three classes of targeted coursework will be eligible for state licensure as a licensed clinical professional counselor.
Information sessions are scheduled for the fall through videoconferencing at 7pm Monday, Sept. 21, and 7pm Monday, Nov. 16 at Torrey Hall at UMM. No RSVP is required.
For more information contact Stephen Murphy, professor of counseling at USM, smurphy@usm.maine.edu; 780-5319; or Meghan Duff, assistant professor of psychology, behavioral science & community studies, UMM; meghan.duff@maine.edu; 255-1227.
Homecoming & Family Weekend Set for Sept. 25-27
MACHIAS, ME – The University of Maine at Machias will hold its annual Homecoming & Family Weekend Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27.
Headlining Saturday’s events is the return of the annual Homecoming Parade, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Other events on Saturday include an open house at the Reynolds Center, a book signing by Randall Kindleberger of her recent work, The University of Maine at Machias, 1909—2009: A History from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., the Clipper Classic Volleyball Tournament beginning at 10:00 a.m., a presentation about the Greening the O’Brien House project with President Cynthia Huggins at 11:00 a.m., men’s and women’s soccer vs. Fisher College beginning at 11:00 a.m., Canoe Jousting from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the pond, and the Nathan Turk Memorial Alumni Basketball Games beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday’s schedule also includes kids activities, featuring a bounce house, obstacle course, dunk tank, volleyball, snow cones, and popcorn, on the Mall from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
The Alumni and Parents’ Wine and Cheese Reception with President Huggins will take place Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. in the O’Brien House.
Appearing on Saturday evening in the Performing Arts Center will be hypnotist Paul Ramsey. The 8:00 p.m. performance is free to UMM students and $10 for the public.
Sunday’s activities will round out Homecoming & Family Weekend 2009 with the women's and men's alumni soccer games beginning at 11:00 a.m.
A complete schedule of events for Homecoming & Family Weekend can be found on the Web at www.umm.maine.edu/homecoming2009.
For more information, please contact the UMM Student Life Office at 207-255-1305.
First-Year Students Tackle Community Service Projects
MACHIAS, ME – The pouring rain wasn’t enough to stop first-year students at the University of Maine at Machias from tackling a range of community service projects during their first weekend of college.
More than 80 students, along with several student orientation leaders, faculty, and staff, hit the streets on Saturday, August 29 to clean up downtown Machias and the UMM campus.
Among the several projects that the group took on was the prepping of Station 98, the historic Machias train station and future home of the Machias Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, getting it ready for a complete renovation. The students primarily worked on removing the old wooden floor of the station, which is listed on the National Registry of Historic Sites.
Other service projects throughout the day included cleaning up the Machias River waterfront, moving furniture back into Machias Memorial High School, moving and cleaning books at Porter Memorial Library, cleaning at the Burnham Tavern, and fixing up the playground at the Flaherty Childcare Center on the UMM campus.
The service projects were a coordinated effort between UMM, the Town of Machias, and the Machias Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.
UMM to Host Health Care Forum on September 16
MACHIAS, ME – The University of Maine at Machias will host its annual Constitution Day Forum on Wednesday, September 16 at 4:00 p.m.
This year’s forum is titled “Health Care and the Constitution: Is There a Right to Health Care?” Panelists will include Rep. Anne Perry, House Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, Doug Jones, CEO of Down East Community Hospital, Pamela Page, R.N., Hospice Coordinator for Community Health and Counseling Services, and Ron Mosley, Professor of Business Law at UMM. Jon Reisman, Associate Professor of Economics and Public Policy at UMM, will serve as moderator.
The public is encouraged to attend the forum, which will take place in the Portside room of Kimball Hall. For more information, contact Jon Reisman at (207) 255-1242.
http://www.umm.maine.edu/flu-information.htmlTrustee Professorship Awarded to Lois-Ann Kuntz
MACHIAS, ME – Dr. Lois-Ann Kuntz, associate professor of psychology in the Behavioral Sciences and Community Studies Program at the University of Maine at Machias, has been awarded the 2009-2010 Trustee Professorship from the University of Maine System.
The University of Maine System Board of Trustees established Trustee Professorships in 1998 to reward excellence among faculty members who have completed at least three years of service at one of the seven state campuses in the University of Maine System. Candidates are nominated by the individual campus to the chancellor’s office for final approval. The faculty projects must have broad and or significant institutional impact, contribute to the candidate’s field and to the public service mission of the university, and support the candidate’s personal and professional growth.
The research Dr. Kuntz will undertake supports the UMM MELMAC Educational Foundation grant that focuses on improving student retention. She will be comparing statistical models on factors that may predict student success. Dr. Kuntz will be working with Dr. Alan Meade, assistant professor of psychology at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), on this research effort that includes a genetic algorithm as one of the predictive models.
“Genetic algorithms are commonly used in the areas of computer science and engineering, but may also be quite useful for applications like this in the behavioral and social sciences,” said Dr. Kuntz.
Dr. Kuntz is optimistic that particular factors will emerge as important predictors for graduation of UMM students which may be helpful to Student Success Coordinator, Matthew Holsapple, and UMM, in general, in making decisions regarding student academic support.
While at IIT, Dr. Kuntz will also bring her former graduate and professional training in sensory systems and human factors engineering to bear as a consultant for an engineering class. The students in the class are working to design a mechanism to assist swimmers who are blind use lap lanes in a pool. One of the supervisors for the class is Dr. Frank Lane, assistant professor of rehabilitation psychology at IIT and a part-time professor at UMM, who is an expert on rehabilitation engineering technology (RET) for persons with disabilities.
Dr. Kuntz will return to UMM for the spring 2010 semester and looks forward to discussing the results of her research endeavors with the campus community.
Mac Sennett Lobster Feed a Success!
Reunion Marks Fifty Years for Class of 1959
The Mac Sennett Lobster Feed and Alumni Reunion held Saturday, August 15, was a great success. UMM staff members, faculty, and other friends and family joined more than fifty alums, representing classes ranging from 1937 through 2008, for the reunion. Congratulations go to Elizabeth (DeShon) Tibbetts and Alice (Beal) Parry who were present from the Class of 1937, the oldest class represented, and to the Class of 1965, the class with the most representation.
Following the Alumni Association’s annual meeting, everyone gathered for a wine and cheese reception to honor the fifty-year class. President Cynthia Huggins presented Sandra (Hodgins) Cookson ’59 and Mary (Lund) Campbell ’59 each with a gift. Robert Feeney ’59 was not able to attend the reunion, but sent along a note of best wishes to his classmates and fellow alums. Also honored at the event were Susan Palmer ’72, recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award, and Howard McFadden ’67, recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Service Award. The UMM Ukulele Club performed during the reception, while alums, family, and friends enjoyed good conversation.
After the reception, the Aramark staff served a delicious feast of lobster, steamed clams, corn on the cob, potato salad, and blueberry pie.
Following the lobster dinner, several items donated by alumni and friends were auctioned off to raise money for Alumni Association scholarships.
Stay tuned for details on next year’s reunion. A “Save the Date” postcard will be mailed in late winter. We hope to see you there!
First MESSY Summer Camp a Success
MACHIAS, ME – Twelve middle and high school students spent part of their summer getting messy at the Machias Environmental Summer Session for Youth, which was held at the University of Maine at Machias from July 19 through 24.
The camp, known as MESSY, is a week-long residential summer camp focused on environmental stewardship and sustainability, for students in grades 7–9. The main goals of MESSY are to teach students about 21st century environmental challenges, help them create solutions to real-world problems, and encourage them to become better stewards of the environment.
When the campers arrived at UMM on Sunday afternoon for the first-ever MESSY session, they were eager to get their hands dirty and to take steps toward making the world a better place. The students spent their morning sessions “minoring” in either Creative Writing and Papermaking or Marine Science, and spent their afternoons in the Environmental Stewardship “major”. They found themselves exploring coastal marine life at various local waterways, creating paper from recycled materials, and making a video documentary about the environment. Now that’s not a bad way to spend part of the summer!
Campers worked directly alongside UMM faculty and students, actively participating in important work in the field and in the classroom. Their camp experience mirrored the hands-on, experiential learning that is characteristic of UMM’s degree programs.
MESSY campers also had the chance to explore the unlimited recreational opportunities that the Machias area has to offer. They hiked the recently completed “Rails to Trails”, canoed across Six Mile Lake, and spent an afternoon at Roque Bluffs State Park.
To learn more about MESSY, visit www.umm.maine.edu/messy.
UMM Art Camps Focus on the Environment
MACHIAS, ME – It may seem impossible to turn an empty soda bottle into a piece of art, but children in the Make – Create – Imagine Art Camps at the University of Maine at Machias did just that.
The UMM art camps offer a variety of rich exploratory learning opportunities in the arts that stimulate a child’s natural abilities and creativity. Nearly 30 kids attended this summer’s camp sessions, which were held July 6 through 17.
With the campus as their canvas, students were encouraged to explore beyond the classroom to discover beauty in the natural environment. The camp emphasizes creativity with a focus on the environment, recycling everyday materials allowing the children to explore many different art mediums. Students were encouraged to use their imaginations to creative problem solve and discover confidence in their abilities as image makers and visual communicators.
Paper pulp from brown paper bags, bottles and cans, cardboard boxes, and old onion bags were just some of the materials the students recycled and used in their artwork during the week. Along the way, the students even discussed how their actions were benefiting the environment.
“I wanted to incorporate environmentally sound and sustainable practices in my program,” said camp instructor Michelle Amato. “Having the kids use recycled materials in their projects was a great way to begin those discussions.”
Amato, who is a current student in UMM’s secondary education program, instructed the older group while the younger kids were taught by Dana Lang. Lang is a Montessori preschool teacher and a UMM alum who received her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary fine arts.
The art camps’ focus on the environment even carried over to snack and lunch breaks. Throughout the week the kids saved all of their biodegradable waste and took a trip to the compost bins on the final day to properly dispose of it.
When asked how rewarding the experience was, Amato said, “One of the students told me ‘I’ll see you next year!’ That was a great endorsement.”
Art Galleries to Feature Paintings of Down East Artist
Margaret La Farge to be featured artist for July
MACHIAS, ME – The Art Galleries at the University of Maine at Machias will feature the paintings of Maine artist Margaret La Farge July 3 – 31.
La Farge grew up in a home full of art and began drawing at an early age. She attended two years at Skidmore College before transferring to the Rhode Island School of Design where she graduated in 1974 with a BFA degree in sculpture. In 1994 she received a Masters in Education from the University of Maine.
She has created work in a variety of media, both two and three dimensionally. Her recent two dimensional work includes watercolors and graphite drawings. These images are intimately rendered and share a central focus on personal stories that draw from her spiritual and emotional relationship to family, history, place, and time.
Her works are composed around particular themes. One series explores images from a childhood summer home that has remained an important space for defining her relationship to family and history. Another series seeks to capture her evolving relationship with the natural environment of coastal Maine while other works draw from the places she has traveled and lived.
La Farge lives in Down East Maine with her family where she enjoys exploring the coastal and rural environments for images and ideas to paint.
The UMM Art Galleries are open 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and are located on the first floor of Powers Hall. For more information, please call Art Gallery Director Bernie Vinzani at (207) 255-1279.
UMM Attends National Sustainability Institute
New ideas to drive sustainable building renovation
MACHIAS, ME – Representatives from the University of Maine at Machias attended the second annual Institute on Sustainability at Harvard University, sponsored by the American College Personnel Association (ACPA), on June 11 – 13.
The ACPA Institute on Sustainability brought together students, staff and faculty from colleges and universities across the country who are committed to sustainability.
Those attending from UMM were Kim Page, Director of Student Life; Bob Farris, Director of Physical Plant; Andrea Ednie, Associate Professor of Recreation Management; and Andrew Pelczar, a fourth-year student majoring in Environmental Studies.
According to the ACPA Web site, the goal of the institute is to provide individuals and institutions with a plethora of knowledge about sustainability so that they can return to their campuses prepared to contribute to the development of sustainable policies and practices and the education of campus community members. Session topics included: Renewable Energies Technologies and Funding, Creating Regional Consortiums, Green Building and Renovation, Integrating Sustainability into the Fabric of Campus, Assessing Student Learning, and Sustainability and Student Activism.
The group from UMM won’t be wasting any time putting their new knowledge and ideas into action. The university is currently in the planning stage of its Greening the O’Brien House project, an initiative to transform the historic president’s house into a twenty-first-century showcase home for sustainability. As a collaboration with the Town of Machias, the Machias Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, and UMM’s Board of Visitors, the initiative is aimed at educating students and community members how to renovate an old home with practical, economical steps toward energy efficiency and sustainability.
Greening the O’Brien House will kick-off during the fall 2009 semester, beginning a series of six modules that will update the home’s heating, electrical, and roofing systems. Each module will begin with an educational seminar in the O’Brien House, providing a basic overview of the problem, the solution, and a detailed renovation schedule. Community members will be invited to watch the renovation and learn how to do it themselves.
When the installation of a module is complete, UMM students will go out into the community and help with the actual renovation work at homes throughout Washington County.
Maine State GIS Champions Crowned at UMM
First-annual event showcased real world student projects
MACHIAS, ME – More than 20 students from middle and high schools throughout the state participated in the first-ever Maine State Geographic Information Systems Championship Finals at the University of Maine at Machias on Saturday, June 13th.
The students, who were regional champions from preliminary events held earlier in the spring, convened on the UMM campus to demonstrate their geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) skills, while competing for more than $3,000 in scholarship awards.
GIS and GPS projects presented by the students included mapping snowmobile trails, potential wind power resources, pollution near schools, public utilities, cancer rates and more.
“These students demonstrated how to use computer mapping to identify and address real-world problems,” said Tora Johnson, Director of UMM’s GIS Service Center. “This event served to highlight and reward these students for their extraordinary work.”
Johnson added, “Geospatial technology is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. Even in this economy, people with GIS skills are in demand in the workforce. These remarkable students have a big head start, and they had a great time.”
The Maine State GIS Championships are poster competitions for middle, high school and undergraduate students in Maine learning computer mapping and GPS skills. The events are a fun way to recognize the remarkable computer mapping projects students are doing around the state and to encourage them to delve even more deeply into the field of geospatial technology. To enter the competition, student teams or individuals develop posters on a project they have done using computer mapping software and hardware. Posters are judged by a team of geospatial technology professionals, based on a point system, and winners are selected in each category.
The program is funded, in part, by the National Science Foundation as a component of a three-year project led by the University of Maine at Machias designed to improve and promote geospatial technology education in Maine. Additional support comes from the Maine GIS User Group, Maine Community College System, University of Maine System, Maine Geographic Alliance, Maine 4-H, Maine Learning Technology Initiative, and the Center for Community GIS.
To learn more about the Maine State GIS Championships, click here.
2009 Maine State GIS Championship Finals – Results
High School Individual
1st Place - $400
Cameron Roy (Bangor H.S.)
“The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowing in the Wind”
2nd Place - $300
Parker Michaels (Bangor H.S.)
“Optimizing School Bus Routes”
Honorable Mention – Exceptional Technical Merit
Parker Michaels (Bangor H.S.)
High School Group
1st Place (tie) - $250 each
Caroline Hettermann and Hillary Throckmorton (Bangor H.S.)
“Air Quality Monitoring in Penobscot County, Maine”
1st Place (tie) - $250 each
Josh Bishop and Cote Vanidestine (Bangor H.S.)
“Determining Wireless Signal Using Indoor GIS”
2nd Place - $200 each
Zéa Joles and Monique Laplante (Bangor H.S.)
“Access to Health Care in Rural Maine”
3rd Place - $200 each
Sarah McDonald and Marissa Grandchamp (Bangor H.S.)
“Cancer and Poverty in Maine”
Honorable Mention – Exceptional Public Speaking Skills
Caroline Hettermann (Bangor H.S.)
Hillary Throckmorton (Bangor H.S.)
Honorable Mention – Exceptional Design
Zéa Joles (Bangor H.S.)
Monique Laplante (Bangor H.S.)
Middle/Jr. High Group
1st Place - $80 each
Jesse Stevens, Alexandra Badger, Colton Rier, Amber Renshaw, and Zac Ragot (Washington Academy)
“Snowmobiling in Maine”
2nd Place - $60 each
Klairissa Kern, Haley Smith, Ena Mae Dyer, Jessica Bennett, and Logan Craig (4H)
“Emergency Shelters”
Honorable Mention – Exceptional Teamwork
Klairissa Kern, Haley Smith, Ena Mae Dyer, Jessica Bennett, and Logan Craig (4H)
UMM Receives $900k Grant for Biomedical Research
MACHIAS, ME – The University of Maine at Machias has been awarded more than $900,000 in grant funding from the National Center for Research Resources, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
UMM’s award is part of a five-year, $18.7 million dollar research grant to the Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE). INBRE is a collaborative research network of 12 Maine research laboratories, universities, and colleges led by the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory in Bar Harbor. The grant ensures the continuation of INBRE, which was created in 2001 to enhance the ability of scientists and students in Maine to conduct cutting edge research and improve their ability to compete successfully for federal research dollars.
The funds awarded to UMM will be used to provide research support, student summer internships, an intensive molecular biology course for students at the MDI Biological Laboratory, student travel to professional meetings to present research, equipment to support UMM faculty and student research, and access to core research facilities.
“UMM’s focus on experiential learning is a great fit with INBRE’s goal of enhancing Maine’s workforce through improved training in biomedical research,” said Dr. Ellen Hostert, Associate Professor of Biology. Dr. Hostert’s project will use comparative functional genomics to examine part of the immune system in Atlantic salmon, and compare how the differences in exposure to parasites in different populations affects genetic variation in each population. This approach can be extended to studying human exposure to new parasites, and ways of preventing diseases caused by parasites.
In announcing the award at a ceremony at the State House in Augusta on May 21, Governor John Baldacci said, “Biomedical research is an increasingly important sector of the Maine economy. Thanks in large part to the Maine INBRE, we will continue building a sophisticated, educated workforce to support research in Maine and enhance our capacity to be a leader in science and technology.”
The governor added, “I am particularly pleased that Maine students are learning that they don’t have to leave the state to have a meaningful, rewarding career in science.”
The INBRE program is expected to provide fellowships, training and research opportunities to more than 1,000 Maine high school, undergraduate and graduate students over the next five years.
UMM Art Galleries Featuring Sam Murfitt Photographs
"Maine's Working Waterfont" on Display Through June 30
MACHIAS, ME – The Art Galleries at the University of Maine at Machias will feature the photographs of Kittery Point artist Sam Murfitt in an exhibit titled “Maine’s Working Waterfront” through June 30.
For over 5 years, Murfitt has been documenting Maine’s Working Waterfront, particularly the people including lobstermen, fish and bait dealers, fishermen, boat builders, and the social fabric of lobster boat races, county fairs and parades in photographs.
As the Working Waterfront was rapidly changing and disappearing, Murfitt decided to focus his attention on documenting the disappearing traditions and crafts and the people involved.
He has a background in boatbuilding, having worked for Hood Yachts and Rollins Boat Shop among others. Murfitt is a lifetime photographer and has been an instructor at Parsons New School, as an assistant to a dozen photographers, and has operated his own studio for 16 years. He taught photography at the New York Public Theater and photographed American stories for Der Spiegel and deVelt.
Murfitt is currently working on the documentation of Maine Lobsterboats for the Library of Congress where some of his photographs can be found.
The UMM Art Galleries are open 9:00 – 5:00 Monday through Friday and are located on the first floor of Powers Hall. For more information, please call Art Gallery Director Bernie Vinzani at (207) 255-1279.
UMM to Host State GIS Championships on June 13
MACHIAS, ME – The University of Maine at Machias will host the state finals of the first annual Maine State GIS Championships for middle and high school students on Saturday, June 13th. Winners of the three preliminary rounds have earned an invitation to the finals to compete for scholarships, hunt for prizes in a geocache treasure hunt, and experience college life. Regional champions will present real world GIS and GPS projects, mapping snowmobile trails, pollution near schools, public utilities, cancer rates and more.
Posters will be on display for judges and the public from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday on the second floor of Torrey Hall on the UMM campus. The treasure hunt will take place on campus from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony in Torrey Hall.
The Maine State GIS Championships are poster competitions for middle, high school and undergraduate students in Maine learning computer mapping and GPS skills. These events are a fun way to recognize the remarkable computer mapping projects students are doing around the state and to encourage them to delve even more deeply into the field of geospatial technology. To enter the competition, student teams or individuals develop posters on a project they have done using computer mapping software and hardware. Posters are judged by a team of geospatial technology professionals, based on a point system, and winners are selected in each category.
This program is funded, in part, by the National Science Foundation as a component of a three-year project led by the University of Maine at Machias designed to improve and promote geospatial technology education in Maine. Additional support comes from the Maine GIS User Group, Maine Community College System, University of Maine System, Maine Geographic Alliance, Maine 4-H, Maine Learning Technology Initiative, and the Center for Community GIS.
For more information on the Maine State GIS Championships, click here.
UMM's Stewart Bennett Receives Doctorate
Admissions Director to Teach History at Blue Mountain College
MACHIAS, ME – Stewart Bennett, Director of Admissions at the University of Maine at Machias, was awarded a doctorate degree from the University of Maine on Saturday, May 9.
Serving as UMM’s Director of Admissions since 2004, Bennett has been working towards his doctorate in history and political science for the past three years. He also holds a bachelor of arts degree in behavioral science from Grace College in Indiana and a master of arts degree in history from Youngstown State University in Ohio.
Prior to joining UMM, Bennett served as the Director of Admissions and Recruitment at Washington Bible College in Lanham, Maryland.
The Rainsville, Alabama native has a keen interest in history, having taught American History and edited the book The Struggle for the Life of the Republic, a Civil War narrative written by Brevet Major Charles Dana Miller of the 76th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Bennett’s dissertation for his doctorate is titled A Warfare of Giants: The Battle for Atlanta July 22, 1864.
With his doctorate now in hand, Bennett has accepted a position at Blue Mountain College in Mississippi as the Department Chair of Social Science, and will begin teaching there in the fall.
“Stewart has worked very hard for this degree while balancing his career and family commitments,” said UMM President Cynthia Huggins. “In his five years at UMM, he has done a tremendous job organizing a top-notch admissions team and recruiting students to this campus. We wish him the best of luck as he pursues a new career as a college professor.”
Bennett and his family will relocate to the Blue Mountain, Mississippi area in July.
UMM Releases History Book
Randall Kindleberger writes history of 100-year-old institution
MACHIAS, ME – Hours before the University of Maine at Machias’ 98th Commencement on Saturday, May 16, history professor Randall Kindleberger gave a reading from her new book, The University of Maine at Machias, 1909 –2009, A History.
Kindleberger wrote the book at the suggestion of President Cynthia Huggins to mark the school’s 100th anniversary, which will be celebrated over the next three years.
A crowd of nearly twenty-five faculty, staff, alumni, and community members, gathered in Portside to hear the author read from her new book and provide insight into how the history of the 100-year-old institution came together.
“I’ve been working on this project for more than two years,” said Kindleberger. “I’ve been affiliated with UMM for nearly half of my life, and the opportunity to explore its history and now to see the finished product has been very rewarding.”
In addition to reading and discussing several excerpts from her book, the author spoke about the challenges she faced putting the pieces together.
“I couldn’t possibly survey all the sources or interview everyone involved,” said Kindleberger. “So many people in Washington County have some connection to UMM.”
Kindleberger said that she tried to balance the celebratory and the analytical and hopes that the book will appeal to readers interested in higher education and Washington County as well those associated with UMM. There are forty-plus photos in addition to the text.
Copies of the book are available for $10 at UMM’s Murdock Bookstore or by calling (207) 255-1210.
UMM Graduates 74 at 98th Commencement
MACHIAS, ME – More than 70 graduates received degrees at the 98th Commencement of the University of Maine at Machias, held Saturday afternoon at the Frederic A. Reynolds Center.
President Cynthia Huggins presided over the ceremony at which 5 students were presented with Associate in Science degrees, and 69 students received Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of College Studies degrees.
In her charge to the graduates, Huggins urged the class of 2009 to “seek a newer world.” Referencing the Elvis Presley song “True Love Travels on a Gravel Road,” exchanging the word “life” for “love” in its title, she told the graduates that “traveling on a gravel road suggests an adventure, something fun, going somewhere that most people don’t go.”
“Some of you will spend more time on gravel roads than others,” said Huggins. “The important thing is that you keep traveling, keep moving, keep growing and learning and exploring – just as you’ve been doing over the past few years here at UMM.”
The Honorable Mary Cathcart, Senior Policy Associate at the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, and former state senator, delivered the Commencement Address. In her address she provided advice to the graduates who will soon enter the workforce.
“Most of us have to reinvent ourselves many times over, learn new skills, try new jobs,” said Cathcart. “The key is to have an entrepreneurial spirit, work hard, and have the courage to walk through whatever doors open as you go through life.”
The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Howard McFadden, a 1967 graduate of UMM, who is currently serving his third term in the Maine State House of Representatives. A U.S. Army veteran and member of the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame, McFadden began his long career in education as a teacher, and served as principal of the Edmunds Consolidated School for more than 30 years.
UMM’s ceremony included musical performances by several of the graduating seniors. Anneliese Behrman, a recreation and tourism management graduate, opened the ceremony with the National Anthem. Noach Tangeras, a marine biology graduate, performed “Is It All For Love?,” an original piece. Michael Lachance, an environmental studies graduate, reflected on his experience at UMM through an original song he called “Untitled.”
The UMM Ukulele Club, under the direction of music professor Gene Nichols, closed the ceremony by performing Dale Evans’ “Happy Trails”, a tribute to former University President John Joseph.
On Friday night at the University’s Senior Dinner, Susan Palmer, a 1972 graduate of UMM, received the Distinguished Alumni Award. Palmer worked at her alma mater for 32 years serving as Assistant to the President and in public relations, art galleries and development. She currently serves as Development Officer at the University of Southern Maine.
To view photos from Commencement 2009, visit the UMM Facebook page here.
UMM Announces Alumni Association Executive Board
MACHIAS, ME – The University of Maine at Machias is pleased to announce the members of its newly formed Alumni Association Executive Board:
Mary McFadden ‘65
Mary graduated in 1965, majoring in Junior High Education. She loved
her four years at UMM, 1961 to 1965, when it was Washington State
Teacher's College. Her education prepared her for a 35-year career of
teaching in Maine's public schools, and for her present time of
enjoying retirement. Mary and her husband, State Representative Howard
McFadden, have one son and a daughter-in-law, Chuck and Gail, and four
grandchildren, Howie, Samantha, Mallorie, and Matt.
Jerry White ‘67
Jerry earned his BS in Business Education and graduated in 1967. He
and his wife Jean, a graduate of UMFK, live on North Haven Island.
Jerry is Superintendent of Schools at MSAD #31. He was Maine's
Superintendent of the Year in 1989, the recipient of the AASA/Apple
President's Technology Innovator Award in 2003, and is a rural
education advocate. Jerry thoroughly enjoyed his time as an
undergraduate at UMM.
Laurel Carroll ‘84
Laurel majored in Business Administration at UMM and graduated in
1984. She is an elementary school teacher and this is her 21st year
teaching at Milbridge Elementary School. To date, she has taught 4th
through 8th grades. Laurel has two sons, Everett Carroll, who
graduated from UMM in 2008, and Colby Carroll, who will graduate from
high school in spring 2009.
Melissa Tenney ‘96
Melissa earned her BA in History from UMM in 1996 and obtained her
M.Ed. from the University of Maine in 2004. She has been teaching a
total of 12 years, and currently teaches English at Narraguagus High
School in Harrington, Maine. Melissa is married and has two grown
children.
Mardi (Marjorie) Byers Gay ‘01
After completing her Associate's Degree in Human Services and working
at Acadia Hospital in Bangor, Mardi was one of the first students to
enter UMM's Bachelor of Behavioral Sciences External Degree Program
(BEX), designed for non-traditional students. She completed her BEX
degree in 2001. In 2002 Mardi accepted a position as an administrative
coordinator responsible for implementation and oversight of a substance
abuse treatment program designed for addicted people involved in the
criminal justice program; this position also included implementation
and coordination of the state-wide adult drug treatment court program.
Mardi served as a consultant in the development of the Hancock County
Deferred Sentence Project (now Hancock County Adult Drug Treatment
Court), is a member of its steering committee, and was recently
appointed to the Maine State Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors.
Jessica Libby ‘08
Jessica majored in History and graduated in May of 2008. She is
employed as Regional Parent Involvement Coordinator for the Maine
Parent Federation's Parent Information and Resource Project (PIRC). In
an effort to increase the academic success of students, the Center
coordinates with schools to boost parent involvement through the use of
workshops, parent resource centers, Title IA policy, compact technical
assistance, and information dissemination. Jessica serves an area that
covers Aroostook, Washington, Hancock, Waldo, and Knox Counties.
Evan Dodge ’08
History major and 2008 graduate, Evan Dodge, is presently working
toward the Master of Divinity degree at Drew Theological School in
Madison, New Jersey. His goal is to become ordained in the United
Methodist Church. Evan was born and raised in Downeast Maine and looks
forward to maintaining close ties with UMM.
To learn more about the Alumni Association Executive Board and to contact the members, click here.
UMM History Book to Be Unveiled at Commencement
MACHIAS, ME – A new paperback history of the University of Maine at Machias will be unveiled during the University’s 98th Commencement exercises on Saturday.
The University of Maine at Machias, 1909–2009: A History was written by Dr. Randall Kindleberger, associate professor of history, to commemorate the University’s Centennial celebration. The book takes a look back at what started with the Washington State Normal School and the 100-year transformation into our present-day UMM.
On Saturday, May 16, Kindleberger will read from her book and be available to sign copies at 10:00 a.m. in the Portside room of Kimball Hall. Copies of the book will also be available for purchase at the Murdock Bookstore.
UMM Holds Annual Honors Convocation
Senior Michelle Buckley Presented Annual Ivy Oration
MACHIAS, ME – More than fifty University of Maine at Machias students were honored with awards or scholarships at the University’s annual Honors Convocation, held Wednesday, April 29, at UMM’s Performing Arts Center.
Headlining the event was the Ivy Oration, presented by Michelle Buckley, a senior from Becker, Minnesota.
The Ivy Oration is presented by a graduating senior, selected by his or her peers in the senior class, to speak about their experiences at the University of Maine at Machias. Buckley, who will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Behavioral Science with a concentration in Applied Psychology, has been involved in various theater productions, tutoring fellow students, and working at the Murdock Bookstore during her four years on the UMM campus. In the fall, she will be attending the University of St. Thomas in their Master’s of Counseling Psychology program.
Senior Watch Awards, presented annually to two graduating seniors selected by the faculty for their citizenship, leadership, and service to the UMM community, were awarded to Michael Lachance of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, and Betsy Barber of Blair, Nebraska.
Brenda Frey, Career Development Coordinator, was selected by the senior class to receive the Unsung Hero Staff Award. The seniors also presented the Frederic A. Reynolds Faculty Award to Dr. Lois-Ann Kuntz, Assistant Professor of Psychology, and named Dr. Brian Beal, Professor of Marine Ecology, as Senior Class Marshall at the May 16 Commencement Ceremony.
Endowed scholarship recipients announced for 2009-2010 were:
Connie Maxwell Scholarship – Lacie Pottle and Jordan Gilletti
Amy Pinkham Scholarship – Kiley Jones
Vonetta C. Smith Scholarship – Heather Alley and Vanessa MacLean
Gladys Wilbur Scholarship – Joshua Spencer, Elisaabeth Beal, and Ellen Nicholas
Edna Higgins Scholarship – Joseph Di Donato, Melissa Dilorenzo, and Mark Jochem
Percy & Francis Allen Scholarship – Nathaniel Woodward
Rebecca H. Perry Scholarship – Hilary Lisee
W. Allan McCracken Scholarship – Ashley Murphy and Michael Debertin
Frederic A. & Norma P. Reynolds Scholarship – Danielle Tarbell
Lighthouse Keepers Memorial Scholarship – Acadia Tripp
Dr. Philmore & Dorothy Wass Education Scholarship – Donald McCallum
Jack Armstrong Behavioral Science Award – Kristina Knabenshue
Elsie A. & Richard C. Larson Scholarship – Valerie Sargent and Nathaniel Case
Bath Iron Works Scholarship – Colleen Coffey, Hillary Savage, Katelyn Parks, Amanda Brown, Vijay Reddy, and Kelsey Kurz
UMM Alumni Association Scholarship – Clarissa Arsenault, Lynda Barnes-Dolley, Ellen Farnsworth, Dawn Fickett, Heather Fugger, Valerie Knights, and Cynthia Preston
Other award recipients announced at the Honors Convocation included:
Greek Awards – Spring 2008: Kappa Delta Phi and Kappa Alpha Kappa
Fall 2009: Kappa Delta Phi and Phi Tau Phi
Student Organization of the Year Award – WUMM Radio Station
Senior Honors wards in the Visual Arts – Gwen Carter, Jessica Francis, Nick Sanborn, Anna Mather, Josey Carey, Michelle Amato, Ellen Nicholas, Randi Smith, Connie Harter-Bagley, Maeve Perry, Alessandra Boada, Abeni Clements, and Hillary Savage
Interdisciplinary Fine Arts Award – Gwen Carter, Anna Mather, Stephanie Francis, Adam Brown, Dan Rolfe, Hannah Seibenhaar, Joshua Luman, Matt Ganong, Meghan Lampher, Sam Tannenbaum, Michelle Buckley, Sean Mcermott, Andy Choeffel, and Melissa Murphy
Outstanding Senior Applied Psychology Award – Michelle Buckley
Excellence in Biological Science Award – Stephanie Mathias and Summer Meredith
General Chemistry Award – Adam Bedard
Penobscot County Conservation Association Award – Anna Adams, Shawn Goggin, and Michael Prenier
Recreation Freshman of the Year Award – Acadia Tripp
Outstanding Business Administration Student Award – Adam Pearce
Outstanding Secondary Education Award – Donald McCallum
Maine Policy Scholar – Susan Sexton
AFUM Scholarships – Ashley Couture, Summer Meredith, and Nathanial Jillette
George Mitchell Scholarships (Honorable Mention) – Vanessa Flood, Mallory Johnson, Tyra Lyons, Vanessa MacLean, and Nicholas Shults
UMM Receives Grant to Help Prepare Maine's Teachers
Grant Award will Help Prepare Teachers for State-wide Laptop Program
MACHIAS, ME – Thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), teachers graduating from the University of Maine at Machias will soon be better prepared to teach within the state.
The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Service Center at UMM has been awarded a $25,000 supplemental grant from the NSF to purchase Apple laptops for the school’s education program.
Since 2002, the Maine Department of Education’s Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) has provided all 7th and 8th graders and all high school teachers in the state with Apple laptops. Soon the initiative will provide laptops to all high school students as well.
Currently, the Teacher Education Program at UMM has no Apple computers to use in training teachers, which means that they are graduating from the program with little to no experience with the equipment their students are using.
The new machines purchased with the grant award will be used in the education program’s learning technology course and in modules in other education courses, focusing on a wide range of computer applications, and addressing the theory and practice of technology education.
The supplemental award is part of the project “A Collaborative Model for Geospatial Technology Education in a Rural Region”, in which higher education partners have been collaborating with the Maine Department of Education’s MLTI. Project partners, including the University of Maine at Machias, University of Southern Maine, and University of Maine at Farmington, have committed to helping to promote and improve GIS education through the state’s laptop program.
UMM to Hold 98th Commencement Ceremony on May 16
MACHIAS, ME – The University of Maine at Machias will hold its 98th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 16.
Delivering the keynote address at commencement will be Mary Cathcart, senior policy associate at the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, who will also receive the university’s Distinguished Achievement Award.
Cathcart served in the Maine House of Representatives from 1988 until 1994, and in the Maine Senate from 1996 to 2004. She also chaired the U.S. Commission on Child & Family Welfare, at the appointment of former U.S. Senator George Mitchell. She is the 2006 recipient of the Maryann Hartman Award from the University of Maine, in recognition for her volunteer and political work on behalf of women and children.
Cathcart currently serves as a delegate to the New England Board of Higher Education, as a member of the Maine Compact for Higher Education and as a Trustee of Eastern Maine Medical Center.
Two alumni will also receive distinguished awards as part of the ceremony.
Susan Palmer, a 1972 alumnus of the University of Maine at Machias, will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award. Palmer's career spanned 32 years at her alma mater serving as Assistant to the President and in public relations, art galleries and development. She currently serves as Development Officer at the University of Southern Maine.
Howard McFadden will receive the Distinguished Service Award. A resident of Dennysville, McFadden is a 1967 alumnus of the University of Maine at Machias. He is a retired educational administrator and is serving in his third term in the Maine State Legislature representing District 30.
Prior to the commencement ceremony, UMM will unveil a new paperback history, The University of Maine at Machias, A History: 1909—2009, written by Associate Professor of History Randall Kindleberger. At 10:00 a.m. Kindleberger will read from her work and be available for book signings in the Portside room of Kimball Hall. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.
UMM’s commencement ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the Frederic A. Reynolds Center. For more information about commencement activities, please contact Penny Foss at (207) 255-1210 or click here.
UMM Theatre to Present Almost, Maine April 30 - May 2
MACHIAS, ME – The University of Maine at Machias Theatre will present their spring production of Almost, Maine, April 30th through May 2nd at the Performing Arts Center.
Written by Tony Award-winning actor and Presque Isle native, John Cariani, Almost, Maine is a romantic comedy delivered in a series of 10-minute vignettes.
Set in the backwoods of northern Maine under the glimmering Northern Lights, Almost, Maine tells us tales of love in a cold climate. After falling in and out of love, the characters re-discover it in the most unsuspecting places. Sporting flannel shirts, snowmobile jackets, and speaking with sometimes thick Maine accents, the cast of UMM students and community members portray the eccentric Mainers with perfection.
Almost, Maine opens on Thursday, April 30th at 7:00 p.m. at UMM’s Performing Arts Center. The show will also run Saturday and Sunday, May 1st and 2nd at 7:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the door, and are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, and free for UMM students.
For more information, please call Arthur Hill at 255-1311.
UMM Students Organize East Machias River Race
Machias, ME – Students in the recreation and tourism management program at the University of Maine at Machias have been busy planning an exciting race down the East Machias River.
The East Machias River Challenge, organized by the Recreation Program Planning class, will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 25th.
Part of the MaCKRO (Maine Canoe and Kayak Race Organization) race series, it is a six-mile canoe race down the East Machias river. The final leg of the race is a challenging set of rapids through Mill Park in East Machias. Registration is at 10:00 a.m. at Palmer Landing on Hadley Lake.
The East Machias River Challenge is also an excellent event for spectators. There will be live musical entertainment (Alan Cook & others), great food (provided by the East Machias River Day Festival Committee), family games in the park, and a raffle for a kayak, PFD, and paddle (thanks to Coca-Cola of New England and Sunrise Canoe and Kayak). Come out to race or to enjoy a fun event in the park!
For more information, please contact Andrea Ednie at (207) 255-1303 or aednie@maine.edu.
UMM Student Receives Heart and Soul Award for Civic Engagement
Machias, ME – The Maine Campus Compact has announced that Ryan Martin, a sophomore at the University of Maine at Machias, is one of four students receiving the organization's Heart and Soul Award for civic engagement.
Each year Maine Campus Compact recognizes up to four college students for exemplary civic engagement. These students demonstrate 1) An innovative approach to building or enhancing campus-based efforts to address community issues and needs; 2) Use of diverse strategies of engagement (service, service-learning, policy work, advocacy, etc); 3) Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire and engage other students and/or members of the institution; 4) Efforts to sustain their engagement through the institution by developing strategies to build their work into the institution's structure.
Martin, an Ellsworth native who is enrolled in the environmental studies program at UMM, is responsible for co-founding the University's first student-run environmental group. Along with Eilea Wagner, he started what is now called the Green Council. The Green Council ran Recycle Mania, a ten week long competition between colleges across the nation to see who can recycle the most per capita. Without any funding, the Green Council established a recycling program on campus, using decorated cardboard boxes as recycle bins, a borrowed pick-up truck from the Physical Plant, and a borrowed scale to monitor the recycling system. Martin and Wagner garnered support from Dining Services, Physical Plant, Academic Affairs, and other offices on campus, as well as from many, many students. During the ten weeks of Recycle Mania, the Green Council rallied enough support to win the state competition and come in tenth nationally.
The Heart and Soul Award Ceremony will take place in the Atrium of the Maine State Museum in Augusta at noon on Thursday, April 16th, and will include remarks by Maine Speaker of the House, Hannah Pingree. For more information, contact Joel Biron at Maine Campus Compact, jbiron@bates.edu, 207-786-8392.
Mary Cathcart to Deliver UMM Commencement Address
Machias, Maine – The University of Maine at Machias is pleased to announce that Mary Cathcart, senior policy associate at the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, will deliver the keynote address at the University’s 98th Commencement ceremony in May.
Cathcart served in the Maine House of Representatives from 1988 until 1994, and in the Maine Senate from 1996 to 2004. During her time in the Maine statehouse, she served on a number of legislative committees, including Education and Cultural Affairs, Labor, Judiciary, and Appropriations and Financial Affairs. She chaired the Joint Select Committee on Research and Development and the Children’s Mental Health Oversight Committee.
Outside of state government, Cathcart chaired the U.S. Commission on Child & Family Welfare, at the appointment of former U.S. Senator George Mitchell.
She currently serves as a delegate to the New England Board of Higher Education, as a member of the Maine Compact for Higher Education and as a Trustee of Eastern Maine Medical Center.
Cathcart received her B.A. with Distinction in English from Rhodes College. In recognition for her volunteer and political work on behalf of women and children, she received the 2006 Maryann Hartman Award from the University of Maine.
Cathcart will receive the Distinguished Achievement Award at UMM’s commencement, which will take place on Saturday, May 16, at 2:00 p.m. in the Frederic A. Reynolds Center.
For more information about commencement activities at the University of Maine at Machias, please contact Penny Foss at (207) 255-1210.
UMM to Host Libra Speaker David Marcouiller April 22nd
Machias, Maine – The University of Maine at Machias will host guest speaker Dr. David Marcouiller on Wednesday, April 22nd at 4:00 p.m. as part of its Libra Distinguished Lecture Series. Dr. Marcouiller will give a lecture entitled Rural Multi-functional Landscapes in Remote Places.
Dr. Marcouiller is a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning and Extension Specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A resource economist by training, his work focuses on the linkages between natural resources and community economic development in remote rural areas. He has published 3 books and over 150 manuscripts bridging the topics of recreation and tourism, land use planning, natural amenities, forestry, and economic development.
Dr. Marcouiller’s lecture will take place on Wednesday, April 22nd at 4:00 p.m. in the Portside room of Kimball Hall. A question and answer session will follow. The public is invited to attend.
The Libra Distinguished Lecture Series at UMM was designed to offer a unique opportunity for the community to hear outside experts and engage in structured philosophical discussions with important repercussions for society. Each lecture is followed by a question-and-answer session that encourages audience participation. The acclaimed series is funded by the Libra Foundation, a Portland-based philanthropic organization. The late philanthropist Elizabeth P. Noyce created the Libra Professorships in 1989 to recognize and sustain academic programs of excellence at the seven campuses of the University of Maine System.
For more information call 255-1327 or visit www.umm.maine.edu/libra.
UMM Launches Environmental Summer Camp
Machias, Maine – This summer, the University of Maine at Machias is encouraging kids to get messy!
UMM has launched the Machias Environmental Summer Session for Youth (MESSY) for the summer of 2009. Focused on environmental stewardship, MESSY is a week-long residential camp for students entering grades 7 through 9.
MESSY is designed to promote awareness, build knowledge, and stimulate active and creative approaches to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Campers will have the opportunity to work alongside University faculty, actively participating in important work in the field and in the classroom.
Campers will spend their afternoons “majoring” in Environmental Stewardship. In the major, they will adopt a local river, lake or bay and will spend the week making a short video documentary about it. They will also collect samples of marine life, make high-tech maps, and much more! During morning sessions, campers will “minor” in either Creative Writing and Papermaking or Marine Science.
When campers aren’t engaged in their major or minor sessions, they will have the opportunity to take part in a variety of recreational and sports activities including: hiking, canoeing, swimming, basketball, and “Capture the Flag!”
At the end of each session, campers will leave MESSY with the knowledge and tools to create solutions to 21st century environmental challenges.
MESSY is located in Downeast Maine on the campus of the University of Maine at Machias, New England’s only public Environmental Liberal Arts college.
Camp sessions will take place July 19th – 24th and July 26th – 31st.
To learn more about MESSY or to apply, call Naida Pennell at (207) 255-1289 or visit www.umm.maine.edu/messy.
UMM to Host 8th Annual "Bad Little Pride Week" April 7-12
Machias, Maine – The 100% Society at the University of Maine at Machias is proud to announce the 8th Annual "Bad Little Pride Week" to be held April 7 - 12, 2009. To view a schedule of events, click here.
As part of "Bad Little Pride Week", the 2nd Annual Rainbow Ball will take place on Saturday, April 11th from 7:00 – 11:00 p.m. at the Pellon Center in Machias.
The Rainbow Ball is an open and affirming prom evening that includes dancing, pictures, food, and friends. The theme of this year’s event is “Life is a Cabaret” and will feature professional drag queens, belly dancers, mask decorating, contests, mocktails, and live music. All associated high school, college, youth groups, and community members are invited to attend.
Tickets for the Rainbow Ball are $15 for one and $20 for two. Admission for high school students, youth groups, and their chaperones is free. Included in the admission charge are room fees (if you choose to stay Friday and/or Saturday night), prom tickets, and all meals. Tickets are available at the door or in advance at the Bookstore and First Stop on the UMM campus.
Transportation will be available between the Pellon Center and the UMM campus.
The Rainbow Ball is sponsored by The 100% Society, UMM Student Senate, The Bridge Alliance, UMM Diversity Committee, Omicron Delta Pi (New England’s only all-inclusive GLBTQ fraternity), UMM President Dr. Cynthia Huggins, UMM Residence Life, Joe Higdon & Ellen Sudow, and The Maine Community Foundation.
To RSVP for the Rainbow Ball or for more information, please contact Betty Kelley at bkelley@maine.edu or 255-1211. To learn more about the 100% Society, click here.
UMM's Center for Lifelong Learning Now Offering Fundamental Mat Pilates
Machias, Maine – The Center for Lifelong Learning at the University of Maine at Machias is now offering Fundamental Mat Pilates as part of its Group Fitness classes.
The late Joseph H. Pilates developed the Pilates method of training over 90 years ago. He referred to his method of training as “The Art of Contrology” or the ability of the mind to master the muscles. Pilates training includes twisting, stretching, pushing, pulling, and rolling movements on the floor or other types of apparatuses while focusing on the quality of the movement not the quantity.
Fundamental Mat Pilates utilizes a progression of floor/mat exercises focusing on the development and strengthening of the body’s core. The body’s core is known as the power center of the body and determines the ability of your body to perform life related activities, such as walking, sitting, bending, running or other activities. The benefits of performing Mat Pilates include the minimizing of injuries, more efficient movements, and an overall improved quality of life.
The Fundamental Mat Pilates class at UMM takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. All Group Fitness classes are complimentary to CLL members and available to non-members for a fee of $6 per class, payable at the membership desk.
For more information, please contact Rich Fabri at 255-1404.
UMM to Host Gordon Donaldson on March 23
Machias, Maine – The University of Maine at Machias will host Gordon Donaldson on Monday, March 23rd at 6:30 p.m. Dr. Donaldson will be the last speaker in a series of education policy talks marking the University’s one-hundredth year of teacher education. His topic will be: “What Difference Do School Districts Really Make in Student Learning?”
Dr. Donaldson is a professor of Education at the University of Maine where he teaches graduate courses on educational leadership and research. He has been active in statewide efforts in Maine to develop leadership at the school level, and more recently, in advocating for community schools. Prior to joining the University, Dr. Donaldson was principal of Ellsworth High School, a teacher on North Haven, and in Boston and Philadelphia.
Gordon Donaldson’s talk will take place in the Portside room of Kimball Hall. There will be a question and answer session and discussion of education policy issues following his talk.
Originally planned for February, this event was rescheduled due to inclement weather. For more information contact Jon Reisman at 255-1242.
UMM President Attends Clinton Global Initiative University
Machias, Maine – Dr. Cynthia E. Huggins, from the University of Maine at Machias, was one of only two Maine college presidents who accepted invitations to attend the second annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) on February 13-15. Held this year at the University of Texas at Austin, CGI U is a yearly gathering of approximately 1,000 college students, university presidents, and youth leaders who come together to address some of the world’s most pressing issues.
Each CGI U attendee is required to make a “Commitment to Action” in one of four targeted areas: energy and climate change, human rights and peace, global health, or poverty alleviation. “Greening the O’Brien House,” UMM’s Commitment to Action, was featured on-stage at the CGI U as an exemplary approach to addressing a specific global challenge.
The University’s commitment is a three-year initiative to transform the historic O’Brien House, which is the traditional residence of the president, into a demonstration model to educate students and community members about how to renovate an old home with practical, economical steps toward energy efficiency and sustainability. Furthermore, UMM commits to helping local community members apply these same energy-efficient renovation strategies to their own homes, by assisting in identifying funding sources and in-kind professional labor contributions, as well as coordinating volunteer work with its students, faculty, and staff.
“To be recognized by the Clinton Global Initiative University for our focus on the environmental liberal arts is an honor,” said Huggins. “Greening the O’Brien House is an initiative that will do great things for the community and our students.”
According to their Website, CGI U builds on the successful model of the Clinton Global Initiative, which brings together world leaders to take action on global challenges. President Clinton launched the Clinton Global Initiative University in 2007 to engage the next generation of leaders on college campuses around the world.
To learn more about the Clinton Global Initiative University, visit www.cgiu.org.
UMM to Host Machias Area Job Fair
Machias, Maine – The University of Maine at Machias will give job seekers and prospective employers a chance to meet when it hosts the Machias Area Job Fair on Tuesday, March 17.
The Job Fair will take place from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Reynolds Athletic Center on the UMM campus. The event is sponsored by UMM and the Machias CareerCenter/MDOL, with support from The Employment Times.
Among the employers tentatively scheduled to attend are: Arbonne International; Avon; Axiom Technologies; Bumble Bee Foods, LLC; Child & Family Opportunities; Cobscook Community Learning Center; Downeast LNG; Great Pond Outdoor Adventure Center; Gulf of Maine, Inc; Hannaford of Machias; MAC Tools; Machias Career Center; Machias Savings Bank; Machias Valley News Observer; Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; Maine Department of Labor; Maine Forest Service; Maine Medical Center; Regional Medical Center at Lubec; R.H. Foster Energy, LLC; Send Out Cards; Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; Stantec Consulting; The Summer Camp; University of Maine at Machias; U.S. Army; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Washington County Community College.
Click here for an updated list of employers who will be attending.
Representatives from graduate programs at the University of Southern Maine and the University of Maine will also be on hand to discuss graduate school options. The two schools will be hosting a Graduate School Information Session on Monday, March 16, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. in the Murdock Conference Room for all who are interested.
For more information about the Job Fair, contact Brenda Frey, UMM’s Career Development Coordinator, at 255-1439.
UMM Art Galleries to Feature Local Artist Jaap Helder
Machias, Maine – Original works by Maine artists Jaap Helder and Diana Young will be on display at the University of Maine at Machias Art Galleries during the month of March.
Jaap Helder, a resident of Machias, was born in the Netherlands. After completing his education, Helder spent time traveling throughout Europe and Asia before moving to Maine. In 1998 he settled in Eastern Maine, where the unspoiled, raw beauty of the Down East landscape is a strong source of inspiration for his work. His paintings can be found in numerous private and corporate collections.
Diana Young is a resident of Bangor and has painted in many media as an artist. Young attributes much of the influence in her work to the seasons in Maine, spending the summer drawing and painting outdoors. Recently, Young has been experimenting with a scroll saw to create a series of raised wood figures.
An opening reception will be held on Friday, March 6 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. UMM's Art Galleries are located on the first floor of Powers Hall. The exhibits are free and open to the public and will be on display through March 31.
For gallery hours, please call UMM Art Gallery Director Bernie Vinzani at 255-1279. To learn more about Jaap Helder, visit www.helderart.com.
UMM to Host Libra Speaker Daniel Wildcat on March 18th
Machias, Maine – The University of Maine at Machias will host guest speaker Dr. Daniel Wildcat on Wednesday, March 18th at 4:00 p.m. as part of its Libra Distinguished Lecture Series. Dr. Wildcat will give a lecture called Red Alert: Saving the Planet with Indigenous Knowledges, based on his recent book.
Dr. Wildcat is director of the Haskell Environmental Research Studies (HERS) Center and American Indian Studies faculty member at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas. He frequently speaks to community groups and organizations on the issue of cultural diversity. His recent activities have revolved around forming the American Indian and Alaska Native Climate Change Working Group: a network of individuals and organizations working on climate change issues. He is also the author of several books, including Red Alert: Saving the Planet with Indigenous Knowledge.
Dr. Wildcat received B.A. and M.A. degrees in sociology from the University of Kansas and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He is a Yuchi member of the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma.
Dr. Wildcat’s lecture will take place on Wednesday, March 18th at 4:00 p.m. in the Portside room of Kimball Hall. A question and answer session will follow. The public is invited to attend.
The Libra Distinguished Lecture Series at UMM was designed to offer a unique opportunity for the community to hear outside experts and engage in structured philosophical discussions with important repercussions for society. Each lecture is followed by a question-and-answer session that encourages audience participation. The acclaimed series is funded by the Libra Foundation, a Portland-based philanthropic organization. The late philanthropist Elizabeth P. Noyce created the Libra Professorships in 1989 to recognize and sustain academic programs of excellence at the seven campuses of the University of Maine System.
For more information call 255-1327 or visit www.umm.maine.edu/libra.
Building a Sustainable Future for UMM
Machias, Maine – The University of Maine at Machias is in the midst of an academic turnaround in response to ongoing enrollment struggles and the current economic recession. It is no secret that over the past decade, this campus has struggled with the same budget and enrollment problems that plague all small public universities.
UMM's academic turnaround was launched during the summer of 2007, starting with elimination of significant budget overruns in auxiliary operations and the launch of a new brand and niche for the University. Academic turnarounds tend to occur sequentially in three overlapping areas: financial stability, marketing and branding, and academic revitalization. Eighteen months into its turnaround, UMM is heavily engaged in all three of these areas.
(1) Financial Stability — UMM's budgeted deficit for 2008-09 is the smallest in several years. A balanced budget is projected for 2009-10 although that has required significant reductions in personnel and other expenses. University budgets can no longer be built on the expectation of significant increases in enrollment, tuition revenue, and State funding. If UMM were to do nothing to reduce base operating expenses, which are almost 80% in personnel, the school would face a cumulative gap of $4 million over the next four years. In order to help address that problem, several personnel changes will take place in the coming weeks. These changes, along with others made over the past year, will save the University approximately $1 million annually. UMM also will continue to pursue new and expanded revenue streams.
(2) Marketing and Branding — In September 2007, UMM launched a new Environmental Liberal Arts (ELA) brand, blending its liberal arts heritage with the environmental emphasis explicit in the University's mission and rural, coastal location. As New England's only public ELA college, and as one of only four public residential baccalaureate institutions in the entire country with fewer than 1,000 students, UMM is now well positioned to take full advantage of this unique niche.
(3) Academic Revitalization — UMM is also engaged in substantive, transformational change to the curriculum that takes full advantage of the growing financial stability and newly emerging brand of the institution. Some of UMM's curriculum is already evolving to better fit its ELA brand and environmental mission. For example, the faculty recently approved renaming the recreation degree program as Environmental Recreation and Tourism Management because of the program's new emphasis on environmental stewardship and sustainability. Development of the "Machias Experience", including an updated general education curriculum, will further reinforce the University's environmental focus.
Initial results indicate that the University is on the right track. From the 2006-07 academic year to 2008-09, UMM decreased its budget deficit from $482,000 to $123,000. During that time, the number of full-time students and degree-seeking students each increased by 4%, while 1st-year out-of-state students climbed by 38%.
"We are becoming more academically focused, more financially efficient, and more attractive to prospective students," said President Cynthia Huggins. "We have remarkably dedicated faculty, staff, alumni, and students who care deeply about the future of this university."
The University of Maine at Machias looks forward to its next hundred years as New England's only public Environmental Liberal Arts college.
Celebrate UMM's Birthday March 3rd
Machias, Maine - The University of Maine at Machias will host a Dessert Tea on Tuesday, March 3rd at 12:30 p.m. to celebrate the founding of the present-day University.
Founded in 1909 as the Washington State Normal School, UMM is celebrating 100 years of education. Through the spring of 2012, the University will be hosting various events as part of its Centennial Celebration. Check back soon for a complete schedule of events and a brief history of the institution.
The Dessert Tea will take place in Kilburn Commons. Members of the community are invited to attend.
UMM Sponsors Writing Competition
The Binnacle's Sixth Annual International Ultra-Short Competition
Machias, Maine – The Binnacle, the literary and arts magazine of the University of Maine at Machias, is sponsoring its Sixth Annual Ultra-Short Competition, open to writers in Washington County and around the globe. Interested writers of short narrative under 150 words and poetry of sixteen lines or fewer are welcome to submit their works.
Prizes will be awarded in May for both categories, with the total of prizes amounting to no less than $300. The top fifty-two entries will be included in the contest edition. Writers should submit their works by e-mail to ummbinnacle@maine.edu by March 15, 2009.
The sixth edition is already off to a great start. According to The Binnacle advisor, Professor of English Gerard NeCastro, submissions have come from twenty-one states, nine countries, and four continents, as well as the students on campus. Last year, there were 725 submissions; and this year there are already over 500.
The Fifth Edition, published in late December, included works of New England writers, Jane Christensen, Carol Dannhauser, Mike DeCarteret, Toni Giarnesi, Ellen LaFleche, and Tessa Smith McGovern, as well as Alaskan writer Barry Dearborn who has family ties in Washington County, Calais High School senior Susan Ames, and UMM student winner Mike Lachance.
"The Ultra-Short Competition has gained a large following in the writing community," says NeCastro. "There are hundreds of Web sites and blogs that feature the contest, and writers all over the world write to tell us how much they enjoy the edition."
Writers who can not e-mail their entries can mail them to The Binnacle, 19 Kimball Hall, University of Maine at Machias, 9 O'Brien Avenue, Machias, ME 04654. For more information, please visit The Binnacle on the Web at www.umm.maine.edu/binnacle or call NeCastro at 255-1293.
WUMM Radio Expands Signal
Machias, Maine - The University of Maine at Machias is making noise from Milbridge to Eastport thanks to a recent upgrade to its campus radio station.
WUMM-FM 91.7, the student radio station at UMM, was recently upgraded with a 100 watt transmitter. The new transmitter gives the station the ability to broadcast within at least a 30 mile radius of campus.
The expansion was made possible with the support of UMM's Student Senate and their decision to pay for all of the expansion costs upfront in the fall of 2007. In addition to the new transmitter, WUMM received funding from the Maine Broadcasters Foundation to purchase new recording and production equipment. The new equipment will enable the station to be more flexible in program content and to pre-record interviews.
Established in 1997, WUMM has been broadcasting for nearly 12 years on a small one watt signal. Since its inception, the station has been a well kept secret that only campus residents were able to pick-up.
WUMM is an entirely student-run operation, funded by the Student Activity Fee Fund. Daniel Swain, a third-year history major from Canaan, Maine, serves as the station's general manager. In addition to Swain, there is an assistant manager and more than 20 students, faculty, and community members hosting radio shows on a weekly basis.
"With this upgrade, WUMM hopes to increase the connection between the University and the surrounding community," says Swain. "More than anything, the station will give the community an alternative format to listen to."
According to Swain, WUMM plays a wide range of music, from mainstream rock to local acoustic artists.
So, what's in the future for WUMM? The station hopes to begin broadcasting UMM Athletics and other events on campus. An after school program for students at Machias Memorial High School and Washington Academy, where they can learn about working in radio, is also being explored. In addition, the station will begin broadcasting public service announcements and bulletins of interest to the campus and community.
WUMM can be found on your radio dial at 91.7 FM. You can also listen live from anywhere in the world by visiting www.umm.maine.edu/wumm. For more information about WUMM or if interested in hosting a show, call 255-1371 or e-mail wumm@maine.edu.
UMM Theatre Performance to Benefit Food Pantries
U Maine Machias Alum to Perform One-Man Play
Machias, Maine - The University of Maine at Machias Theatre will present a special performance of Clarence Darrow on Saturday, March 7th. This one-night only performance is a benefit for Washington County's food pantries.
Clarence Darrow is a one-man play about America's greatest lawyer of the 20th century. Written by David W. Rintels, the play is based on the popular Irving Stone biography Clarence Darrow for the Defense.
Born just before the Civil War, Darrow is perhaps best known today for defending high-school teacher John Scopes in the celebrated Tennessee "Monkey Trial" of the 1920's, upon which the popular movie Inherit the Wind was based. In his fifty-plus-year career Darrow tackled many of society's problems, usually, in his words, "on the side of the weak".
In telling the story of his life, Darrow often shows that the more things change, the more they stay the same. He speaks about big business, big government, unions, intolerance, women's suffrage, marriage and infidelity, evolution, religion, Prohibition, the dangers in choosing a jury, who can be president, and whether life is worth living.
Professional actor Scott Sortman, a 2004 graduate of the UMM Interdisciplinary Fine Arts program, and former Cutler lobster fisherman, returns to Machias to play Darrow, under the direction of UMM associate professor Arthur Hill, for this single performance.
Clarence Darrow is being presented as a benefit for Washington County's food pantries on Saturday, March 7th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. There is no charge for admission, but cash donations will be accepted at the door.
For more information contact Arthur Hill at 255-1311.
UMM to Host Education Policy Speaker on Feb. 23
Machias, Maine – The University of Maine at Machias will host Gordon Donaldson on Monday, February 23rd at 6:30 p.m. Dr. Donaldson will be the last speaker in a series of education policy talks marking the University's one-hundredth year of teacher education. His topic will be: "What Difference Do School Districts Really Make in Student Learning?"
Dr. Donaldson is a professor of Education at the University of Maine where he teaches graduate courses on educational leadership and research. He has been active in statewide efforts in Maine to develop leadership at the school level, and more recently, in advocating for community schools. Prior to joining the University, Dr. Donaldson was principal of Ellsworth High School, a teacher on North Haven, and in Boston and Philadelphia.
Gordon Donaldson's talk will take place in the Portside room of Kimball Hall. There will be a question and answer session and discussion of education policy issues following his talk.
For more information contact Jon Reisman at 255-1242.
UMM Provides Update on Enrollment
Machias, Maine - With increases in new student enrollment, first-to-second year retention, and residence hall numbers, the University of Maine at Machias has seen positive changes in recent years.
Over the past four years the number of new students on campus has climbed steadily, rising from 87 in the fall of 2004 to 164 last fall. In that same time period, out-of-state students have climbed from 32 to 51, and the number of students who transfer to UMM from out-of-state colleges has doubled.
"These numbers are very encouraging," said President Cynthia Huggins. "Students from across Maine and New England realize that UMM is affordable and that we offer a personalized education grounded in the environmental liberal arts."
Although the number of degree-seeking students climbed from 510 last year to 565 this year, UMM is seeing a decline in the number of part-time and commuter students. This is attributable primarily to the economic recession and the rapidly escalating cost of energy.
"Many of our part-time students also work and have families to support,” said Huggins. “These economic times certainly make it more difficult for them to continue their education."
More good news is that students are staying at UMM after their first year. First-to-second year retention of new students has climbed steadily over the past 5 years, rising 13 percentage points since 2003. UMM now has the second highest student retention rate in the entire University of Maine System, slightly behind the Orono campus. When it comes to retaining out-of-state students, UMM leads the System with an 83% average.
In the residence halls, the number of students living on campus has increased by 28% over the past two years. Campus housing incentives include an expanded array of amenities – two-bedroom suites with private bath, cable television, wireless Internet access, a gender-neutral housing option, and a growing emphasis on recycling and energy conservation that appeals to many college students. Also, Aramark has expanded its affordable healthy eating options at Kilburn Commons and the Galley Snack Bar.
UMM to Hold Domestic Violence Fundraiser Feb. 12
Machias, Maine – The University of Maine at Machias will host "Divas and Desserts: A Celebration of Survivors' Strength and Courage" on Thursday, February 12 at 6:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.
Divas and Desserts began five years ago as a means to educate our community about the issues of Domestic and Sexual Violence. This unique event is meant to celebrate the strength and courage of those who have survived, to support those who are still struggling to survive and to honor those we have lost. It was just over a year ago that Washington County experienced a shocking realization of the price of domestic violence in the loss of Katie Cabana and Aaron Settipani. Our community was not alone. In 2008, Maine experienced the loss of 31 citizens to homicide, the highest number in nearly 20 years. Of those homicides, 60% were related to domestic violence. The organizers of Divas and Desserts hope to raise awareness and funds that will work to reduce future tragedies in our community.
This year's event will include an array of musical talent and personal stories of courage along with decadent desserts provided by area businesses. The public is encouraged to attend and tickets will be available at the door for a suggested donation of $5. All proceeds will benefit The Next Step Domestic Violence Project. In the event of inclement weather, a snow date has been set for Thursday, February 26th.
"We the Kings" to Perform at UMM on Feb. 7
Machias, Maine – The University of Maine at Machias is pleased to present We the Kings, with special guest Nichole Cote, on Saturday, February 7 at 8:00 p.m. The concert is part of the university’s Winter Carnival celebration.
Known for their hit songs "Check Yes Juliet" and "Secret Valentine", We the Kings are quickly proving themselves on the national music scene. In addition to touring the country, the band has been featured on many well-known television and radio shows, including CBS's The Early Show, MTV's Spring Break '08, and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
According to MTV.com, We the Kings are an unapologetically commercial pop-punk band from Bradenton, FL, a small town on the west coast of the state notable primarily for being the home of Tropicana orange juice. Friends since childhood (the band name refers to the name of their junior high mascot), the foursome -- singer and guitarist Travis Clark, guitarist Hunter Thomsen, his bassist brother Drew Thomsen, and drummer Danny Duncan -- formed the band while still attending high school. In 2007, under the guidance of manager Bret Disend, the still-teenage quartet placed a number of tracks on the social-networking site Purevolume to build their online buzz as an unsigned band while pursuing a deal with EMI's revived faux-indie imprint S-Curve Records (Joss Stone, Fountains of Wayne, the Baha Men). Their self-titled debut album was produced by Sam Hollander and mixed by Lou Giordano, who had each done the same for then-current chart favorites Gym Class Heroes and the Plain White T's, respectively.-AMG.
The concert will take place in the Performing Arts Center and doors open at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free for UMM students and $10 for the public. Tickets are available by visiting the UMM First Stop Office in Powers Hall, or by calling 255-1470.
UMM to Host Poets "The Salt Coast Sages"
Machias, Maine – The Maine Writers Series at the University of Maine at Machias will host The Salt Coast Sages on Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the UMM Art Gallery, located in Powers Hall.
The Salt Coast Sages, a group of local poets from Down East Maine, first came together in a poetry class in the Sunrise Senior College, an education program for learners over the age of fifty at UMM. Members of the group include: Sharon Bray, Donald Crane, Gerald George, Philip Rose, and Grace Sheridan. All have published poetry in literary journals and other periodicals, but each has a different writing style, background, and personality. The Sages will read from their new book, A Rump-Sprung Chair and a One-Eyed Cat: A Collection of Poems by The Salt Coast Sages.
To learn more about The Salt Coast Sages, visit their Website at www.saltcoastsages.com.
This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call Robert Froese at 255-1334.
UMM Theatre Announces Open Auditions for Almost, Maine
Machias, ME - The University of Maine at Machias Theatre announces open auditions for their spring production of Almost, Maine. Auditions will be held on February 3 & 4, 2009 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Both auditions are open to the public.
Almost, Maine is by Tony Award-winning actor, John Cariani, who is a native of Presque Isle. The play is a romantic comedy that tells us tales of love in a cold climate through a series of 10-minute vignettes. The characters are eccentric Mainers and there are plenty of parts for both men and women.
Rehearsals will begin on Monday, March 9th and will take place Monday - Friday from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. The show will open on Thursday, April 30th. Please note: UMM will be on break from Monday, March 30th through Sunday, April 4th, during which time there will be no rehearsals.
For more information, please call Arthur Hill at 255-1311.
Reisman to Provide Economic Outlook for 2009
Machias, ME - University of Maine at Machias professor Jon Reisman, along with two other economists from around the state, will provide his outlook on Maine's economy on an upcoming television program. "MaineBiz Sunday", a weekly business program aired on NBC affiliates WCSH-TV 6 and WLBZ-TV 2, will feature the panel of three economists as they provide their predictions and analysis for Maine's economy in 2009.
Reisman, an associate professor of economics and public policy and chair of the Division of Professional Studies at UMM, will share the stage with Charles Colgan, professor of public policy and management at the University of Southern Maine, and Scott Moody, chief economist at the Maine Heritage Policy Center.
The show will air on WLBZ-TV 2 at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 1st.
Spring Semester Begins January 21
There's Still Time to Register for Classes
The spring semester at UMM begins January 21. Students may register now through January 28 for classes. Click here to search for classes and for information on how to register.
UMM Holiday Celebration December 22
Machias, ME – The University of Maine at Machias invites all members of the community to attend the annual UMM Holiday Celebration on Monday, December 22.
The holiday celebration is free to all and will take place between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. in the Kilburn Commons dining hall. Bring everyone you know, and enjoy food, music, and games as we celebrate the Holiday season!
Student Film Premiere on December 16
Machias, ME - The 3rd Annual UMM Downeast Documentary Productions Film Premiere will take place on Tuesday, December 16th in the Science Building room 102. There will be two showings, one at 12:00 noon and the other at 5:30 p.m.
Three student groups produced the three short films, which have a combined running time of approximately 2 hours. Below is a brief description of each film:
"TEENS"
Students examine the challenges
facing Machias youth and explore
possible solutions.
"Music Culture of Machias"
This documentary explores the importance of
music on the local downeast culture and
community.
"PWN3D: GAMING 101"
This film examines the myths of gaming and
explores the effects of the gaming culture.
The film premiere is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Lisa Athearn at 255-1361.
UMM Student Receives Scholarship from Maine Higher Education Assistance Foundation
Machias, ME – The trustees of the Maine Higher Education Assistance Foundation are pleased to announce that a scholarship in the amount of $1,000 has been awarded to Beverly Weaver, a student at the University of Maine at Machias. Ms. Weaver is majoring in Business and Entrepreneurial Studies, and is a graduate of Machias Memorial High School.
The Maine Higher Education Assistance Foundation was established in the 1950’s to support a guarantee fund for student loans. The founders included a wide range of banks, businesses, community organizations, and individuals. In 1990, the MeHEAF trustees, the Maine Bankers Association’s Board of Directors, seeking to continue the original intent of the founding members, began a scholarship program funded by the return of the original loan guarantee funds.
This year the MeHEAF trustees have selected eleven Maine colleges and universities to receive scholarships. The participating school chooses student scholarship recipients. All student scholarship recipients must be in the second, third, or fourth year, must be a Maine high school graduate, must be majoring in a business related subject, must have good academic standing, and must have financial need. All scholarships are awarded for second semester expenses.
Since 1990, a total of $237,400 in scholarships has been awarded by MeHEAF. In 2008, an additional $11,000 will be awarded.
The Maine Higher Education Assistance Foundation is administered by the Maine Bankers Association and is located in Augusta at 132 State Street. Kathy Keneborus, Education and Compliance Manager, from the Maine Association of Community Banks made the presentation at UMM on December 8, 2008.
UMM Shows Support for Local Fishermen
Machias, ME – Students at the University of Maine at Machias knew they were in for a special treat when they saw what was on the dinner menu: Lobster.
On November 20th, students received a special feast, while UMM helped support a local industry. When Matthew Cormier, Food Service Director, began planning “Lobster Night”, the decision was made to buy the lobsters locally. Increasing costs for fishermen and a decrease in demand for lobsters, leading to rock bottom prices, have hit the local fishermen hard. UMM had an opportunity to help the local fishermen, while providing students with an enjoyable meal.
“We purchased 154 lobsters from the Jonesport-Beals Co-Op, right here in Washington County,” said Cormier. Many students expressed their gratitude that the University purchased the lobsters locally.
Students Clean-up Campus and Community
Machias, ME – On Sunday, November 9th, a group of students from the University of Maine at Machias led a clean-up around the campus and throughout the Machias community. In an effort spear-headed by UMM’s Green Council and the Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority, fourteen students turned out on the damp fall morning to lend a helping hand.
An estimated 10-15 bags of trash were filled within a 1 1/2 mile radius of the campus. After spending 2 hours on the clean-up, the group gathered in the Portside room of Kimball Hall to enjoy refreshments, which were donated by the Whole Life Natural Market.
Merrill Library to Hold Book Reading
Machias, ME – The University of Maine at Machias’ Merrill Library will hold a book reception and reading on Friday, December 5th at 6:00 p.m. in the Main Room of Merrill Library for Stephanie Francis and Donald Soctomah. Together they have updated the booklet, Baskets of the Dawnland People, originally produced by Ms. Francis’ grandfather, the late Joseph A. Nicholas.
Stephanie Francis, a senior Fine Arts student at the University of Maine at Machias, began working about a year ago to help her terminally ill grandfather update the booklet, which describes the process and provides a history of Passamaquoddy basket making. The booklet features the craftsmanship and art of not only the Passamaquoddy, but also of the Penobscot, Micmac and Maliseet tribes.
Stephanie received help on the project from her brother Scott Francis, and from Donald Soctomah, historian and Passamaquoddy tribal state representative. Together they were able to have a draft ready for tribal elder Joseph “Cozy” Nicholas to review shortly before his death.
The event is free and open to the public. Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase and a selection of Passamaquoddy baskets will be on display. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact Marianne Thibodeau, Associate Librarian, at 255-1256 or mthibod@maine.edu.
UMM to Host Maine Poet Richard Miles
Machias, ME – The Maine Writers Series at the University of Maine at Machias will host Poet Richard Miles on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the UMM Art Gallery, located in Powers Hall. Miles will read from his new collection of poems, Boat of Two Shores.
Poet Richard Miles earned an MFA from the Iowa Writers Workshop. He works as a stonemason and lives with his family in Harrington, Maine. His poems have appeared in The New Yorker, Harper’s Bazaar and American Poetry Review. In 2007 the University of Maine at Machias Press published his collection of poetry, Boat of Two Shores.
Baron Wormser, former poet laureate of Maine, calls Miles’ poetry “full of quiet, spell-binding rapture,” and “musical in the root sense of the word: it honors the harmony of the muse, the soul-giving and soul-rending anima that haunts our fragile lives.”
Miles’ book, Boat of Two Shores, is available at UMM’s Murdock Bookstore.
For more information, please call Robert Froese at 255-1334.