The University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK) is proud to announce its top academic honorees for the graduating class, celebrating the outstanding accomplishments of Valedictorian Michael Nibley and Salutatorian Krista Coffin.
Being named valedictorian carries personal significance for Nibley.
“The title of valedictorian means a lot to me,” said Nibley. “It is a great reflection of the work that I have done in my four years of college, especially with the challenge of balancing work between several of my classes.”
Nibley credits UMFK’s academic advisors as the cornerstone of his success, noting that their support extended beyond standard course scheduling to actively guiding him toward critical problem-solving resources.
When asked what advice he would pass down to first- and second-year students aiming for similar academic heights, Nibley emphasized resilience.
“My only advice to younger students who hope to achieve similar success is to work hard and never lose sight of their goals,” Nibley shared. “If there is ever work that seems impossible, they should know that by studying, asking for assistance, and working to understand the material, they will be able to finish even the most difficult work in college.”
A major highlight of Nibley’s time at UMFK was his hands-on experiential learning. Over the course of four months, he collaborated with a local community organization to design and build a custom website for the Fort Kent Ecumenical Food Pantry. The extensive project not only solidified his technical web design skills for a future career in web development but also instilled vital real-world lessons in patience, collaboration, and client communication.
Next steps for Nibley include giving back to the community by volunteering at a local museum while preparing to pursue his master’s degree. He credits UMFK with giving him a clear blueprint of what to expect in graduate school through its challenging coursework and career-building projects.
Joining Nibley at the top of the graduating class is Salutatorian Krista Coffin, a nursing graduate whose incredible academic turnaround proves the power of passion and perseverance.
For Coffin, receiving the news was both shocking and deeply validating. Having previously considered herself a traditional “B student” during her first degree program at UMPI in 2015, achieving nearly a 4.0 GPA and the title of salutatorian at UMFK was a hard-fought victory.
“I was pretty shocked when I got the notice because it just shows me that my hard work was noticed,” Coffin shared. “It felt so good to have that!”
Coffin credits Nursing Professor Stacy Thibodeau, NP, as the driving force behind her academic journey. Though intimidating on day one, Thibodeau quickly became a trusted mentor, sounding board, and close friend. “Stacy saw something in me from day one,” Coffin noted. “She always pushed me to be the best I could be. She strives to make sure anyone she teaches leaves feeling prepared, and for me, that’s exactly how I felt when I graduated.”
That preparation has already translated into a rewarding career.
After recently passing the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX), Coffin is currently working as a New Graduate Nurse on the Medical-Surgical (Med-Surg) floor at Northern Light AR Gould Hospital. She credits UMFK’s dedicated faculty and clinical nurses for taking her under their wing and teaching her to maximize every opportunity.
Reflecting on her journey, Coffin urges future students to master time management and pursue what they truly love. She also highly recommends that aspiring nurses work as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) during school—an experience she found invaluable through AR Gould’s Earn and Learn program, where she transitioned from long-term care to the ICU and Med-Surg floors.
“If you have the opportunity to be a CNA while in nursing school… DO IT!” Coffin advised. “This job taught me to treat the whole patient and not just the diagnosis and symptoms. You can’t teach empathy, but you can learn to look at the bigger picture. Being a CNA turned me into a more prepared and well-rounded nurse.”
“We are incredibly proud of both Michael and Krista for their academic excellence and success,” said UMFK President Deb Hedeen. “They embody the characteristics of grit and determination that so many UMFK Bengals are known for.”