Exterior Improvements

UMFK Facilities Management staff work on installing a light pole at a new parking lot on campusAs students return to the University of Maine at Fort Kent campus for the start of the fall semester, they will find a few notable changes that occurred over the summer. Campus personnel have been hard at work updating some of the exterior public spaces to include the addition of a new parking lot and a reimagining of the UMFK Sports Center Quad.

The completion of the south parking lot, located at the intersection of Armory Road and Pleasant Street, is the culmination of a multi-year plan to optimize space utilization. This parking lot will provide parking for events at Nowland Hall, overflow options for events at Fort Kent Community High School, space for flag ceremonies, and more.

“The needs for parking and divestment from residential-style facilities was documented as early as the UMFK Master Plan of 2017. Thanks to funding provided through the University of Maine System (UMS) Space Reduction Initiative, as well as support from the Town of Fort Kent Planning Board, we are now entering the final stages of creating this wonderful space,” said UMFK’s Chief Business Officer Pam Ashby.

The lot will have entrances on both streets and feature a prominent display of flags for the use and enjoyment of the entire community.

“The vast majority of this work was done by our own UMFK staff,” said Director of Facilities Jason Guerrette, “I am incredibly proud of what they do on a day-to-day basis, let alone the herculean effort over the summer to complete projects while still getting the entire campus ready for operations in the fall.”

On the opposite side of campus, the Sports Center Quad has undergone its own transformation. State of Maine Bond funding for the construction of the Enrollment and Advancement Center provided funding for artwork under the guidance of the Maine Arts Commission. The selection of an exterior piece allows UMFK the opportunity to leverage the impact of the UMS Space Reduction Initiative funding obtained as part of a multi-year plan to provide green space between Pleasant Street and the Sports Center. This project brings to fruition the concepts of providing a diagonal walking path for students coming from the Lodge residence hall and uniting the two sides of campus, as recommended in the Master Plan.

The path will be available to students for use in the upcoming fall semester. When complete, the space will also feature an illuminated word sculpture by Maine artist Robert Brochu.

Additional projects have included a renovated gathering space in front of the Lodge residence hall, updated roofing on several buildings, and safety and security features across campus.

Homecoming 2024

A crowd gathers along the sidelines of Michael Simon Field to watch a homecoming soccer game.The University of Maine at Fort Kent will host its annual Homecoming celebration for the weekend of September 6-8, 2024, on the UMFK campus.

Three fun-filled days will feature many events, including a special unveiling of Lowell “Ozzie” Osgood Court; Athletic Hall of Fame; soccer, volleyball, alumni games; and a Homecoming Brunch honoring the recipient of the Alumni Association Outstanding Alumni Award. The public is encouraged to attend all homecoming events held on campus.

Friday, September 6th

The campus store will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Cyr Hall). Shoppers will receive a 15% discount on clothing and novelties.

To kick off the Homecoming weekend is a special dedication and unveiling of Lowell “Ozzie” Osgood Court. The dedication will be held at the UMFK Sports Center at 5:30 p.m., starting with a cash bar social followed by the unveiling at 6:15 p.m. The UMFK Athletic Hall of Fame banquet and awards ceremony begins at 7 p.m. at Nowland Hall.

The Hall of Fame Class of 2024 inductees are the Men’s Basketball Conference Champions Record Setting 1969 Team; Ralph Givens (´78); Oniqueky Samuels (´11 & ´12); and Kayla (Richards) Brown (´16). This year, Rene Cloukey will be honored as the recipient of the Floyd “Red” Powell Award.

Tickets for the Hall of Fame banquet are $40 per person and can be purchased online or through the Athletic Department, located at the Sports Center. The deadline to purchase tickets is Friday, August 23, 2024.

Saturday, September 7th

Check out the petting zoo from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., which features a combination of animals to interact with on the campus quad.

Watch and cheer on the UMFK Bengal women’s doubleheader volleyball game against Thomas College at noon and 2 p.m. in the Sports Center.

There will be bouncy houses, inflatables, and food trucks on the campus at the Sports Center during the volleyball and soccer games. You can purchase your swag at the campus store in Cyr Hall or near the Sports Center grounds. Shoppers will receive a 15% discount on clothing and novelties.

From 4 to 7 p.m., float high above the breathtaking and spectacular scenery of the campus and Fort Kent in a hot air balloon on the quad area.

At 5 p.m., on Michael Simon Field, the Bengal women’s soccer team will take on Fisher College, and the Bengal men’s soccer team will take on Fisher College at 7 p.m.

Sunday, September 8th

The Alumni Association will bestow honors to this year’s Outstanding Alumni Award recipient, Melford Pelletier (Class of 1967), and UMFK alumni in attendance from the classes of 1944, 1954, 1964, 1974, 1984, 1994, 2004, and 2014 will be recognized. The Homecoming Brunch will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will be held at the Sports Center. The event is open to the public. Tickets cost $15 per person and can be purchased online.

Watch and cheer on the Bengal Women’s Soccer Game against Maine Maritime Academy at 1 p.m. on the Michael Simon Field.

The annual alumni men’s soccer match against UMFK student-athletes will start at 3 p.m. on the Michael Simon Field. Pre-registration is required. Contact Jermaine West at jermaine.west@maine.edu.

Use the one-stop form to register for all Homecoming 2024 events, select your desired free t-shirt size, and purchase your tickets for the annual Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet and Homecoming Brunch.

The deadline to purchase tickets is Friday, August 23, 2024.

Spectators should wear green, gold, and or tiger prints when watching the games on campus.

To view an updated schedule of the Homecoming festivities, please go to the 2024 Homecoming page of the UMFK website.

For more information on Homecoming or purchasing tickets, please contact Susan Tardie at 207-834-7557 or by email at susan.tardie@maine.edu.

Partons, La Mer Est Belle

The University of Maine at Fort Kent will host an afternoon of an Acadian-inspired classical musical concert featuring Baritone Jared Andrew Michaud, Soprano Melanie Saucier, and Pianist Christina Maria Koti. The concert will be held on the University of Maine at Fort Kent campus in Fox Auditorium on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at 2 p.m.

Headshot of Franco-American baritone Jared Andrew Michaud
Jared Andrew Michaud
Headshot of Canadian-American soprano Melanie Saucier
Melanie Saucier
Headshot of Greek pianist Christina Maria Koti
Christina Maria Koti

Franco-American baritone Jared Andrew Michaud is a 2023-2024 Fulbright/Harriet Hale Woolley Scholar in Paris, where he serves as a musician-in-residence at the Fondation des États-Unis, receives coaching and mentorship from Susan Manoff, and studies with François Le Roux and Pascal Rogé on a song duo course at the École Normale de Musique de Paris.

Melanie Saucier is a multifaceted Canadian-American soprano whose passion for music from the early Baroque to the modern era, combined with her breathtaking musicality, truly sets her apart. She has most recently appeared as Damigella in Opera McGill’s production of Francesca Caccini’s La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina, Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and Rosina in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia with the New England Conservatory Undergraduate Opera Scenes Program.

Greek Pianist Christina Maria Koti is a 2023-2024 musician-in-residence at the Fondation Hellénique in Paris, where she studies privately with Susan Manoff, as well as pursuing an artist diploma in the voice/piano duo course at École Normale de Musique de Paris with Pascal Rogé and François Le Roux.

The performance is an innovative concert blending Acadian folk song and French classical music. The concert highlights this historical connection by showcasing French Baroque music that is infused with stylistic conventions similar to the ones that existed in French folk music of the time, which would then become Acadian folk music. By pairing this with Acadian folk tunes performed in a Baroque style, we can see just how similar Acadian musical traditions are to what would later become French classical music. The real centerpiece of the concert lies in arrangements of Acadian folk songs by Caraquet-native composer Carl Phillipe Gionet.

The performance will also serve as a kick-off fundraising event for improvements to Fox Auditorium beyond what was earmarked in 2023 by the University of Maine System workforce development and innovation funding in the omnibus spending bill secured by the leadership of Maine’s congressional delegation. The auditorium serves the UMFK campus and the community at large with performances, lectures, and meetings.

“Whether hosting a town meeting or a drama production put on by the local high school, this facility is a cornerstone of the community,” said UMFK President Deb Hedeen. “These fundraising efforts will ensure Fox Auditorium can continue to play a leading role in bringing our community together for generations to come.”

The tickets are available on four levels: Performance only: $25 per person and doors open at 1:30 p.m; Prelude: Enjoy a wine and cheese social prior to the performance for $50 and doors open at 12:30 p.m.; Encore: Attend the performance and delight in a champagne and dessert social with the performers following the performance for $50; and a VIP Experience: All in one level to include wine and cheese, performance, followed by the champagne and dessert social for $75. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.

Please join us for an afternoon of great entertainment. You may purchase tickets through the UMFK Development Office, located at the UMFK’s Enrollment and Advancement Center, or online at the UMFK website.

Corporate sponsorship is also available. For more information on purchasing tickets or sponsorship, please contact the UMFK Development office at (207) 834-7800.

2024 Hall of Fame Class

The University of Maine at Fort Kent will host its fifteenth annual Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Ceremony on Friday, September 6th, in the University’s Nowland Hall during the University’s Homecoming weekend.

Following previous very successful classes, whose achievements and contributions exemplify the ideals of good citizenship. These inductees of the UMFK Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2024 are a distinguished group in their own right: The Men’s Basketball Conference Champions Record Setting 1969 Team; Ralph Givins (´78); Oniqueky Samuels (´11 & ´12); and Kayla Richards (´16).

Each of these individuals to be inducted had a big impact on Bengal athletics as an athlete and has contributed to their communities since.

This year, Rene Cloukey will be honored as the recipient of the Floyd “Red” Powell Award.

In addition to the induction ceremony, there will be a special dedication and unveiling of Lowell “Ozzie” Osgood Court, with his name added to the gymnasium floor. The unveiling will be held at the UMFK Sports Center at 5:30 p.m., starting with a social followed by the unveiling at 6:15 p.m.  The UMFK Athletic Hall of Fame banquet and awards ceremony will follow and begin at 7 p.m. at Nowland Hall.  The public is encouraged to attend.

Tickets for the banquet are $40 per person and may be purchased online or through the Athletic Department, located at the Sports Center.

The deadline to purchase tickets is Friday, August 23, 2024.

For more information on the induction ceremony or tickets, please contact Susan Tardie at (207) 834-7557 or by email at susan.tardie@maine.edu.

Forest-Based Economy Project

The University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK) will participate in a four-year statewide collaborative project led by the University of Maine to foster resilient forest communities in Maine. The Maine-FOREST, or Forest-based Opportunities for Resilient Economy, Sustainability and Technology project, will be funded through a $7 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

Dr. Kennedy Rubert-Nason, UMFK Assistant Professor of Chemistry, will lead the portion of the project located on the UMFK campus, which will consist of research that explores how different human-environment relationships involving Indigenous peoples shape Maine’s forests.

As part of the grant, each year, over the next four years, an undergraduate student intern will be hired to assist with the research. Interns will learn workforce-relevant technology as well as leadership and multicultural skills through co-productive relationships involving academic and community stakeholders, including a Wabanaki cultural knowledge sharer. Through dialogue, students will explore different perspectives on how the use of science and technology can shape socio-ecological resilience.

“UMFK student interns will use scientific methods to explore how humans’ relationships with forests shapes these ecosystems and the economic and cultural benefits they provide,” said Dr. Rubert-Nason, “In conjunction with UMFK faculty and Wabanaki cultural knowledge sharers, interns will co-develop management practices that increase the resilience of Maine’s forests to climate change, learn to collaborate with Indigenous peoples, and gain a deeper understanding of the role of humans in Earth’s ecosystems from diverse cultural perspectives.”

To learn more about the Maine-FOREST project, please visit the news release on the UMaine website.

Hannaford Tuition Discount

  • Hannaford associates are eligible for 10 percent discount on all University of Maine System courses
  • New partnership expands Hannaford’s Groceries to Grads tuition benefits program
Two male UMFK students sit at a desk together working collaboratively on a laptop
A new partnership between Hannaford Supermarkets and the University of Maine System will offer significant savings to employees of the grocery retailer who wish to pursue postsecondary education through Maine’s public universities, including the University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK).

SCARBOROUGH, Maine – Hannaford Supermarkets and the University of Maine System (UMS) recently announced a new partnership that will offer significant savings to associates of the grocery retailer who wish to pursue postsecondary education and training through Maine’s public universities, including the University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK).

Beginning this summer, qualifying full- and part-time Hannaford associates will receive a 10 percent discount on all undergraduate and graduate courses offered within UMS, including UMFK’s Business Management, Nursing, Behavioral Science, Computer Systems Administration, and Natural Sciences programs.

“Postsecondary education is the most proven pathway to upward mobility, enabling learners of all ages and stages to improve their knowledge, skills, and earning abilities. With expanded online offerings and other flexible degree and certificate pathways that work for busy adults, relevant higher education and opportunity are more accessible than ever through Maine’s public universities,” said Chancellor Dannel Malloy. “I commend Hannaford Supermarkets for their ongoing investment in their associates and look forward to strengthening our System’s partnership with this iconic Maine-based company for the benefit of their employees and our economy and communities.”

The partnership, which is the first-of-its-kind for UMS, expands Hannaford’s Groceries to Grads education reimbursement program, which offers associates up to $5,250 in tuition funds annually at any accredited college or university, with additional discounts available at partner universities within Hannaford’s network.

“We are thrilled to partner with the University of Maine System on such a meaningful benefit for our associates,” said Julie Libby, Vice President of Human Resources for Hannaford and a graduate of the University of Southern Maine. “We have a steadfast commitment to supporting the career growth and development of our associates, and this partnership only bolsters the opportunities available to them. We thank the University of Maine System for their collaboration and encourage our associates to take advantage of this outstanding benefit.”

Maine’s public universities are the most affordable in New England, enabling the Hannaford tuition benefit to go even further toward employees’ door-opening degree or certificate programs. When adjusted for inflation, the cost of tuition and fees within UMS has actually decreased over the past five years.

Introduced in August 2022, the first full year of Hannaford’s Groceries to Grads initiative supported the career growth and development of associates across 78 stores attending more than 50 colleges and universities. Top programs of study for Hannaford associates utilizing the benefit include business/management; finance/accounting; pharmacy/biology; and computer science/information technology/cyber security.

The tuition discount is the most recent development in a long history of partnership between Hannaford and UMS. Since 2020, Hannaford has provided more than $160,000 in funding to initiatives and programs across Maine’s public universities that support student mental health and wellness.

The Groceries to Grads program is one element of the comprehensive benefits offerings available to Hannaford associates, including paid time off, medical coverage, mental and physical wellness programs, associate discounts, paid parental leave, and retirement plans with company match.

For more information about the Groceries to Grads program, as well as career opportunities at Hannaford Supermarkets, visit Hannaford.com/Careers.

About Hannaford Supermarkets

Hannaford Supermarkets operates 189 stores in the Northeast, most with full-service pharmacies. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. All are committed to offering great fresh food, convenient experiences, and everyday low prices. Hannaford is also an active and committed community partner—focusing on fighting hunger, supporting youth development, and helping people live healthier lives. Hannaford is an industry leader in sustainability with a strong commitment to reducing waste and protecting the environment. Hannaford diverts or donates all food at risk of going to waste—sending no food to landfills. In 2023, Hannaford donated 26 million pounds of food to hunger relief organizations. Hannaford employs nearly 30,000 associates and is based in Scarborough, Maine. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.

About the University of Maine System

The University of Maine System (UMS) is the state’s largest driver of educational attainment and economic development. Established in 1968, UMS unites the state’s distinctive public universities, including the University of Maine and its regional campus, the University of Maine at Machias, the University of Maine at Augusta, the University of Maine at Farmington, the University of Maine at Fort Kent, the University of Maine at Presque Isle, the University of Southern Maine and the University of Maine School of Law, as well as the University of Maine Graduate and Professional Center. Over the past two decades, the System has awarded 106,362 degrees and spurred and strengthened thousands of small Maine businesses through its world-class research and development activities. Working-age alumni of its flagship, UMaine, earn more than double the state’s average median income. For more information, visit maine.edu.

Spring 2024 Dean’s List

The University of Maine at Fort Kent is proud to announce the Dean’s List for the spring 2024 semester. This list includes full-time and part-time students.

“Congratulations to the students who have made the UMFK Dean’s & Academic Recognition Lists,” said UMFK’s President Deb Hedeen. “The Dean’s List includes full-time students who have earned a 3.2 grade point average, while the Academic Recognition List acknowledges our part-time students who have also earned a 3.2 GPA. Their accomplishments are to be acknowledged and celebrated. We are incredibly proud to have these talented students as members of the UMFK community.”

The University of Maine at Fort Kent is the northernmost campus of the University of Maine System. It is the academic center for Acadian and Franco-American culture for the greater Fort Kent area and beyond. In addition, the diverse campus offers students a close-knit community experience with an international perspective.

UMFK offers multiple degree paths, which lead to associate, bachelor, and master’s degrees. For a complete program listing and more information, please visit the UMFK website.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Please refer to the attached news release for students and their hometowns. (Full-time list Dean’s List and part-time Academic Recognition list.)

FULL-TIME DEAN’S LIST

  • Ajay Chin
  • Janet Peacock
  • Matthew Raymond
  • Cayden Spencer-Thompson

MAINE STUDENTS: ST. JOHN VALLEY

EAGLE LAKE

  • Julia Labbe

FORT KENT

  • Sheyla Aguilar
  • Mirabel Aikhionbare
  • Gianna Babin
  • Edvil Brumer
  • Owen Coopsamy
  • Benjamin Davis
  • Emma Deprey
  • Pearl Ejiogu-Njoku
  • Mika Greaux
  • Caitlyn Green
  • Jordan Guerrero
  • Cady Hebert
  • Marjorie Johnson
  • Asib Khamush
  • Feguy Lindor
  • Nancy Martin
  • Angel Maxwell
  • Rodiat Ogunneye
  • Esther Onifade
  • Lyndsay Ouellette
  • Danielle Pelletier
  • Darci Pelletier
  • Sadie Pelletier
  • Samantha Roy
  • Elly Sirois
  • Kevonnie Smith
  • Andy Theriault
  • Shane Tweedie

FORT KENT MILLS

  • Alexander Churchill
  • Ethan Raymond

FRENCHVILLE

  • Mallory Corriveau
  • Alex Deschaine
  • Ethan Hayes
  • Amber Hebert
  • Alexandra Johnson

MADAWASKA

  • Hannah Albert
  • Nicholas Alpeza
  • Maddix Corriveau
  • Emily Gendreau
  • Breanna Oullette

SAINT AGATHA

  • Emma Chamberland

SAINT DAVID

  • Livia Bouchard

SAINT FRANCIS

  • Allee Morgan

VAN BUREN

  • Brooke Caron

WALLAGRASS

  • Mackenzie Corriveau
  • Cody Taggett

MAINE STUDENTS: AROOSTOOK COUNTY

BLAINE

  • Tiffany Smith

CARIBOU

  • Sarah Brown
  • Vicki Conley
  • Leslie Curtis
  • Kyle Haney

FORT FAIRFIELD

  • Kristyn Hatfield
  • Chase Griffeth

HOULTON

  • Raegan Perfitt
  • Payton Porter

ISLAND FALLS

  • Paula Sirois

MAPLETON

  • Hailee Currier
  • Andrea Hill
  • James Schaefer

PRESQUE ISLE

  • Justin Buck
  • Seth Jackson
  • Hunter Milliard
  • Caylin Ivy McCubbin

MAINE STUDENTS: NOT AROOSTOOK COUNTY

BANGOR

  • Marietta Briggs

BATH

  • William Dearie

BETHEL

  • HyunJin JooGreene

CALAIS

  • Madyson Lander

CAMBRIDGE

  • Hailee Hartford

CAMDEN

  • Edmund Waters

CAPE ELIZABETH

  • Erika Gildard
  • Brooke Pidhajecky

DIXFIELD

  • Alivia Ellis

DOVER FOXCROFT

  • Tajia Arno
  • Felicia Cleaves

EAST MACHIAS

  • Kenori Simons

FAIRFIELD

  • Molly Hillman

FALMOUTH

  • Zakery Lydick

GRAY

  • Ashely Mazziotti

GREENBUSH

  • Sarah Brown

GREENVILLE

  • Eva Patrick
  • Andrew Pierce

HAMPDEN

  • Mariah Cormier
  • Mackenzie Winchester

HAMPSTEAD

  • Andrew Kooken

HANCOCK

  • Casey Benn

LAMOINE

  • Kasey Jordan

LEBANON

  • Craig Matewski

LEWISTON

  • Scott Littlefield

MACHIAS

  • Abigail Hooper

MEXICO

  • Lindsey Desroches

NORTH WATERBORO

  • Brycelynn Cook

NORWAY

  • Derry Bessette

PLYMOUTH

  • Ryan McAttee

PORTLAND

  • Fredor Bihizi

ROCKLAND

  • Jamie Farris

ROME

  • Gia Francis

SAINT ALBANS

  • Tyler Tozier

SANFORD

  • Tiffany Gagnon

SIDNEY

  • Amy Katende

SOUTH PORTLAND

  • Katherine Rizzo
  • Jordan Stewart

SPRINGVALE

  • Jessica Jackman

STANDISH

  • Jennifer Cole

STETSON

  • Hannah Crocker
  • Alexis Withee

WATERVILLE

  • Molly Carter

WELLS

  • Amy Blanchard

WINDHAM

  • Matthew Bell

WINN

  • Andrew Scott

WINTER HARBOR

  • Elaine Hutchins

WINTERPORT

  • Joshua Kord

U.S. STUDENTS

MERCED, CA

  • Katsuya Sasaki

SALINAS, CA

  • Jayonah Chaboya

SAN DIEGO, CA

  • Sergio Torres

SPRING VALLEY, CA

  • Naylea Beltran-Mendoza

WHITTIER, CA

  • Giselle Trujillo

TOLLAND, CT

  • Jessica Combs

LAUREL, DE

  • Alayzia Johnson
  • Taherra Smith

LAKE WALES, FL

  • Arieyle Baker

PALM CITY, FL

  • Samantha Soucie

YULEE, FL

  • Jennifer Crawford

ZEPHYRHILLS, FL

  • MacKenzie Guerin

HILO, HI

  • Kayla Iwata

GRANGEVILLE, ID

  • Tobie Yocum

FORT WAYNE, IN

  • JoMari Smith

CHICOPEE, MA

  • Michelle Cosme-Serrano

EASTHAMPTON, MA

  • Vadym Malenkyy

BOSTON, MA

  • Erna Fosung

NORFOLK, MA

  • Gianna Gifun

RANDOLPH, MA

  • Jeanette Orji

DERRY, NH

  • Kristin Gile

WHITEFIELD, NH

  • Casey Veilleux

LAS VEGAS, NV

  • Laila Esteban

PORTLAND, OR

  • Aiden Grady

RIVERSIDE, RI

  • Olivia Latham

MEMPHIS, TN

  • Michael Nibley

AUSTIN, TX

  • Kayla Stainthorp

HOUSTON, TX

  • Ogwo Ogwo
  • Kelechi Umechuruba

SAN ANTONIO, TX

  • Melissa Levasseur

LAYTON, UT

  • Souleymane Barro

BRATTLEBORO. VT

  • Rebecca Snow

INTERNATIONAL

PRIMAVERA DO LESTE, MATO GROSSO, BRAZIL

  • Henrique Andrade

BAIRDSVILLE, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA

  • Deborah Jean-Francois

ANDERSON ROAD, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA

  • Rachel Rossignol

GREELY, ONTARIO, CANADA

  • Alessandra Georgostathis

CHELSEA, QUÉBEC, CANADA

  • Anna McLaughlin

GRENVILLE, ST. ANDREW, GRENADA

  • Britney Charles

HAFNARFJORDUR, ICELAND

  • Julia Audunsdottir

CLARENDON, JAMAICA

  • Christina Jones
  • Roualdo Wong

CEDAR VALLEY DISTRICT, WESTMORELAND, JAMAICA

  • Georgia Burton

CHARLES TOWN, ST. ANN’S BAY, JAMAICA

  • Britania Francis

HAVANNA HEIGHTS, CLARENDON, JAMAICA

  • Romeo Daniels

PORTLAND, JAMAICA

  • Donnae Douglas

ST. ELIZABETH, JAMAICA

  • Kimberlee Bernard

SOUTHSIDE KINGSTON, JAMAICA

  • Jahmal Pusey

MOUNT EAGLE, WESTMORELAND, JAMAICA

  • Jahmaly Lewis

MEYLERS AVE CHANTILLY, WESTMORELAND, JAMAICA

  • Rojaun Dixon

KOTOR, MONTENEGRO

  • Maksim Vukcevic

OYO STATE, NIGERIA

  • Bolanie Ajuwon

RUMA, SERBIA

  • Veljko Culibrk

GIJON, SPAIN

  • Carla Rodriguez Medio

PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

  • Stellisha Thomas

PART-TIME ACADEMIC RECOGNITION

  • Anita Abrokwah
  • Ngasu Agborsangaya
  • Tania Cook
  • Aline Dupont
  • Jayme Rec

MAINE STUDENTS: ST. JOHN VALLEY

EAGLE LAKE

  • Ted Martin

FORT KENT

  • Harmony Castonguay
  • Aline Dupont
  • Meagan Eastman
  • Daniel Franz
  • Alex Hart
  • Precious Okechukwu
  • Alex Roy
  • Ruby Shorey
  • Orville Smikle
  • Chelsea Thornburgh

FRENCHVILLE

  • Lilian Howe
  • Raya Ringuette

MADAWASKA

  • Riley Lausier

WALLAGRASS

  • Rachel Dumas
  • Lea Pelletier

MAINE STUDENTS: AROOSTOOK COUNTY

BLAINE

  • Danielle Guerrette

CARIBOU

  • Deanna Long
  • Alyssa St. Peter

CASTLE HILL

  • Alexis-Angelique Michaud

CHAPMAN

  • Kristen Orkins
  • Kori Vitolo

EASTON

  • Taylor Young

FORT FAIRFIELD

  • Grace Thibeau

HOULTON

  • Corina Phillips

LINNEUS

  • Rudi Carton

PRESQUE ISLE

  • Elsa Collins
  • Carly Murray
  • Gregory Palm
  • Jessica Smith

SMYRNA MILLS

  • Hannah Landry

WASHBURN

  • Tyra Shaw

WOODLAND

  • Mollie Cummings
  • Kathryn Doody

MAINE STUDENTS: NOT AROOSTOOK COUNTY

ADDISON

  • Amanda Cirone

ALBION

  • Kasey Paquette

ARUNDEL

  • Kelly Romagnoli

ATHENS

  • Jaime Avery

AUGUSTA

  • Karen Gallant

BANGOR

  • Derek Dubay
  • Autumn Edwards
  • Lauren Shorey

BELFAST

  • Jordan King

BELMONT

  • Desiree MacArthur

BENTON

  • Deanna Turlo

BRADLEY

  • Kristy Smart

BREWER

  • Lisa Mooers

BROWNFIELD

  • Jennifer Gillis

BRUNSWICK

  • Evan Goodrich
  • Charles Sifton

BRYANT POND

  • Bronwen Wiggin

BUCKSPORT

  • Kari Gray

BUXTON

  • Joseph Martin

CARMEL

  • Ronni Pelletier

CASCO

  • Nina Morrison

CHELSEA

  • Brittany Look

COOPER

  • Rachel Ackley

CORINTH

  • Amanda Beyenberg

CUMBERLAND FORESIDE

  • Erin Fitzpatrick

DOVER FOXCROFT

  • Amanda Maddocks

DURHAM

  • Rebecca Cornish
  • Sadie Werner

EAST MILLINOCKET

  • Denise Crandall

EDDINGTON

  • Lindsey Shedd

EDGECOMB

  • Kate Riser

EDMUNDS TOWNSHIP

  • Kristin Seeley

ELLSWORTH

  • Arianne Tolentino

ETNA

  • Nicole D’Elia

FARMINGDALE

  • Sadie Libby

FREEPORT

  • Mikala Lorenzo

GARDINER

  • Elizabeth Hanley

GLENBURN

  • Angela Olsson

GORHAM

  • Joseph Wright

GRAY

  • Carrie-Anne Prescott

HALLOWELL

  • Sara Campbell

HARMONY

  • Heather Lourie

HARPSWELL

  • Ann Valli

HERMON

  • Justine Anderson

HOLLIS CENTER

  • Michael Lahr

JEFFERSON

  • Rachel Heath

KENDUSKEAG

  • Anna Wing

LEBANON

  • Summer Cavallaro

LEE

  • Tracy Smith

LEWISTON

  • Adam Dalton
  • Whitney Marquis
  • Samantha Wilder

LIMERICK

  • Melissa Stubbs

LIMINGTON

  • Katie Howard

LINCOLN

  • Shellie Dill

MACHIASPORT

  • Nancy Hankins

MILBRIDGE

  • Lauren Rolfe
  • Breanna Smith

MILLINOCKET

  • Shawn Cyr

MINOT

  • Jane Washburn

MONMOUTH

  • Abby Ferland

MOUNT VERNON

  • Ronda Wilson

NEW GLOUCESTER

  • Tracey Ross

NEWPORT

  • Carolynn Raye
  • Rhonda Smith

NORRIDGEWOCK

  • Emily Lyman

NORWAY

  • Emilie Helmer

OLD TOWN

  • Matthew Pinkham

ORONO

  • Orianna Green

ORRINGTON

  • Kate Hutchins
  • Elizabeth Read
  • Heather Soule

PALMYRA

  • Patricia Norris

PERRY

  • Orlin Flores-Vargas

PORTLAND

  • Jodi Freedman
  • Noel Johnston
  • Kaela O’Malley
  • Theodore Thanas

RICHMOND

  • Holly Giannelli
  • Meranda Martin

SACO

  • Catherine Bean Kelley
  • Ryan Campbell
  • Abbey Mahan
  • Caitlin-Jesse Salas

SANFORD

  • Kristofer Bodding
  • Morgan Vanasse

SHAWMUT

  • Christine Tibbetts

SOUTH PORTLAND

  • Kimberly Couillard
  • Brianna Drew
  • Michelle Muniz
  • Kaitlin Shriner

SAINT ALBANS

  • Adrianna Sinclair

STANDISH

  • Heather Mazerolle

SUMNER

  • Sarah Szott

THOMASTON

  • Sara Adams

TRENTON

  • Katie Prior

VEAZIE

  • Melissa Brautigam
  • Joseph McCloskey

WALES

  • Rebekah Kropp
  • Tomisyn Sylvester

WESTBROOK

  • Zoe Anderson
  • Erin Smithson

WILTON

  • Samantha Madore

WINDHAM

  • Kathleen Denslow
  • Katherine Lydon

WINN

  • Alan Sullivan

WINSLOW

  • Brianne Blaschke
  • Cortney Rossignol
  • Jamie Shaw

WINTHROP

  • Katelyn Picard

YARMOUTH

  • Caroline Huntress

U.S. STUDENTS

FAIRBANKS, AK

  • Karina Huffaker

TUCSON, AZ

  • Nora Van Leuvan

CHULA VISTA, CA

  • Alexis Salzwedel

VICTORVILLE, CA

  • Ranika Guyton

LOVELAND, CO

  • Chelsea Thornburgh

STAMFORD, CT

  • Kellie Raggi

ATLANTIC, IA

  • Anthony Abdallah

ATTLEBORO, MA

  • Kelsey Briggs

BOSTON, MA

  • Vianessa Sobrecarey

BOURNE, MA

  • Barbara Gordon

HANOVER, MA

  • Suzanne Twomey

MALDEN, MA

  • Ashleigh Inman

PEABODY, MA

  • Emily Shippee

RANDOLPH

  • Yvelande Donis

REVERE, MA

TEMPLETON, MA

  • Michael Culver

DETROIT, MI

  • Coreeahn Yharbrough

ALBUQUERQUE.MN

  • Lauren Willette

MINNEAPOLIS, MN

  • Mohamed Yousuf

EAST HAMPSTEAD, NH

  • Michele Wintle-Newell

MANCHESTER, NH

  • Meredith Burks

LODI, NJ

  • Jessica Carulli

AIRMONT, NY

  • Chaya Weldler

COXSACKIE, NY

  • Shannon Hoose

LYNBROOK

  • Nadyne Boucard Raymond

MONROE, NY

  • Lourdes Lucien

SAINT ALBANS, NY

  • Rolanda Jean Francois

STONY POINT, NY

  • Cheyenne Birman

TARRYTOWN, NY

  • Natalie Lyle

WARWICK, RI

  • Sarah Brousseau

INTERNATIONAL

KINCARDINE, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA

  • Cynthia Paddock

2024 Co-ed Soccer Camps

The University of Maine at Fort Kent Athletic Department will offer two action-packed Bengal co-ed soccer camps, the first one held from Monday, June 24th through Thursday, June 27th and the second one on Monday, July 22nd through Thursday, July 25th at the UMFK Michael Simon soccer field. Registration is open to all students entering pre-K through grade 12.

Daily times for both soccer sessions for pre-K through grade eight will be from 9 AM to 11 AM. The session for grades nine through twelve will be held from 5 PM to 7 PM.

The cost is $70 per camper for one camp or $100 per camper if they sign up for both the June and July camps.

The camps will feature experienced UMFK coaches and UMFK college soccer players who will develop and improve players’ soccer skills through an environment that is fun and conducive to learning. We will accommodate all skill levels through a week of intense and enjoyable training. We focus on small-sided games to allow players to apply lessons learned in-game situation scenarios and to develop a better awareness of the game.

The summer camps continue to be popular with local residents, as well as visitors who spend their summer in the Valley.

To reserve a spot, register online through the UMFK Athletics website.

For more information on the soccer camp, contact Dru Bogden at (207) 834-7805 or steven.bodgen@maine.edu.

LIFE Review Volume Four

The University of Maine at Fort Kent gladly announces the publication of the ENG 100 Writing Project “Composition Series: LIFE Review, Volume Four.”

In a Zoom book launch event to be scheduled in early June and hosted by UMFK English faculty members Dr. Joseph Becker and Professor Geraldine Cannon Becker, the fourth book of the series will be unveiled. Twenty-five students are published in this volume.

These student interview essays went through a peer review process and were evaluated before being nominated for publication by their teachers. The selected essays were finally read by a panel of objective judges to select for the awards.

Winners of the awards are: first place, AJ Theriault (Fort Kent); second place, Sadie Plummer (Casco. ME); and third place, Madeline Getchell (South Berwick. ME); as well as two honorable mentions: Georgia Burton (Darlison P.O., Westmoreland, Jamaica), and Kalen George (Mesa, AZ).

The Old Sylvain House Press Awards are funded by Dr. Joseph E. Becker and Professor Geraldine Cannon Becker. “English studies and publication opportunities are important in all fields. English and communication courses give students tools and techniques for LIFE,” said Dr. Joseph E. Becker.

All money from book sales goes into the Old Sylvain House Press Award Fund. This fund was put in place by Dr. Becker and Professor Cannon Becker to benefit the education of students at UMFK and to honor their commitment to the importance of education for young people, specifically in the area of English Language Arts.

Professor Geraldine Cannon Becker said, “Students could select to earn a certificate by completing six courses or take a minor in Nature and Environmental Writing (NEW). Compatible with many majors, students could choose to minor in English at UMFK, and we would be happy to help them succeed. Come grow with us!”

Depending entirely upon funding, an annual scholarship may be awarded to a student who has had an essay published and is pursuing a degree in an area of study that is compatible with English at UMFK.

Anyone interested in donating toward the publication or scholarship award could give online and designate Old Sylvain House Press Award Fund in the memo.

Copies of this volume and earlier volumes of the “Composition Series: LIFE Review” are available for purchase. Please contact Dr. Joseph Becker at joseph.becker@maine.edu or Professor Cannon Becker at geraldine.becker@maine.edu for details.

2024 Scholars’ Symposium

The University of Maine at Fort Kent will host its twelfth annual Scholars’ Symposium on Wednesday, April 24th, on the UMFK campus. The theme of this year’s event is “One Health.” The symposium is open to the public.

“The UMFK Scholars’ Symposium (April 24, 8:30 am to 4 pm) is an annual celebration of student achievement and engagement where students have an opportunity to share their academic research through poster projects and presentations. At 11 am, invited keynote presenter Tristan Burgess (Center for Wildlife Studies) will speak to the One Health theme of the Symposium through his talk titled Spillover: How do we REALLY prevent pandemics?” said Dr. Kennedy “Ned” Rubert-Nason, UMFK assistant professor of chemistry and the Scholars’ Symposium chair.

Wednesday morning, the symposium will begin with a welcome from UMFK President Dr. Deb Hedeen at 8:30 a.m. in Fox Auditorium, followed by the undergraduate awards presented by Dr. Hedeen.

You will hear from UMFK faculty members, who will speak on “What is One Health and how can AI inform it?” Then, at 9 a.m., we will hear UMFK students’ research presentations.

Beginning at 11 a.m., keynote speaker Dr. Tristan Burgess will speak to the UMFK campus community at 11 a.m. in Fox.

Dr. Burgess is a co-founder, vice president for Science and Education, and assistant professor of Wildlife Health and Epidemiology at the Center for Wildlife Studies. He specializes in wildlife veterinary medicine and epidemiology, focusing on marine mammal health and emerging pandemic threats. He received his Bachelor of Veterinary Science from Massey University and a Ph.D. in Wildlife Epidemiology from UC Davis. Widely published, Dr. Burgess’ research interests concern the impacts of environmental health and disease on wildlife conservation efforts, the effects of disease on ecosystems, and the intersection of behavioral/foraging ecology and wildlife health. A question and answer session will follow his presentation.

The afternoon continues to highlight students’ research with poster sessions and presentations, and the students will answer questions about their methodologies and findings at the Sports Center from 1:00 pm to 4 p.m.

UMFK offers multiple degree paths, which lead to associate, bachelor, and master’s degrees. For a complete program listing and more information, please visit the UMFK website at umfk.edu.

If you’re interested in attending the symposium, please register at the UMFK Symposium webpage.

For more information on the Scholars’ Symposium, please contact Dr. Rubert-Nason at kennedy.rubertnason@maine.edu.