UMFK News Releases

The University of Maine at Fort Kent will host a performance by The Mallett Brothers Band on Saturday, January 25th from 6 to 9 p.m. in Fox Auditorium.

The Mallett Brothers Band is an independent rock and roll Americana country band from Maine. Their busy tour schedule since forming in 2009 has helped them to build a dedicated fan base across the U.S. and beyond while still calling the state of Maine their home. With a style that ranges from alt-country to Americana, country, jam and roots rock, theirs is a musical melting pot that’s influenced equally by the singer/songwriter tradition as by harder rock, classic country and psychedelic sounds.

The performance is open to the general public. Tickets are on sale for $25 per person. UMFK students may attend for free.

To purchase your tickets or for more information, please contact Stacey Martin, UMFK Student Life Coordinator, at stacy.martin@maine.edu or 834-7540.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent will host the second annual Indoor Biathlon Competition on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at the UMFK Sports Center. The event is free and open to the public.

The competition is for ages 12 and up. Have fun and discover what the sport of biathlon is like. A typical biathlon is Nordic skiing and shooting; the indoor biathlon will be running and shooting.

Practice begins at 1:00 p.m., and the event will begin at 2 p.m. Participants need to bring sneakers.

Prizes will be awarded.

Sign-up online at https://www.umfk.edu/umfk-indoor-biathlon-competition/.

For more information, please contact Shannon Lugdon at 207-834-7665.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent TRIO/ Student Support Services held its First-Generation Celebration Week from Monday, November 4th through Friday, November 8th.

Being a first-gen student means that your parent (s) did not complete a four-year college. Being a first-generation student often comes with unique challenges, such as navigating the complexities of higher education, including financial aid, academic expectations, and campus resources, without having parents who have gone through the process. UMFK supports programs like TRIO, providing resources to help first-generation students achieve academic and personal success.

In a letter to campus, UMFK President Deb Hedeen said, “I am proud to be a first-generation student. I have so much gratitude that I have had the opportunity to advance my education which has led to a very rich and meaningful career in higher education. Congratulations to the first-generation students who are students, faculty, and staff on our campus.”

UMFK celebrated the success of first-generation college students by hosting various events during the week. Nikki Vachon, a college access counselor at the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME), was on campus to assist students with their FAFSA and all the FAFSA changes. There was a panel of First-Gen staff, alumni, and students who shared their college experiences from challenges and triumphs with current first-gen students.

“TRIO directed a First-Gen Week initiative to deepen the understanding among UMFK staff, faculty, and students. This included a series of engaging activities, along with a personal letter from UMFK President Deb Hedeen, sharing insights on what it means to be a first-generation student,” said Susan Dubay, director of Student Support Services and TRIO. “These activities involved informational sessions, financial literacy, and all the resources that TRIO has for these students at UMFK in order to thrive, succeed, and eventually graduate with a degree. Being a college student in a four-year institution is something to celebrate as they transition from being in a first-generation home to their own home with a college degree.”

Current first-gen students gathered at the Student Support Center for a session that provided tips for developing good study habits and note-taking skills. Later that day, there was a First-Gen informational table to promote the TRIO program, and UMFK first-gen pins were given out to wear with pride.

The University Credit Union’s branch manager on the UMPI campus, Jen Deschaine, was invited to discuss First-Gen scams and how to avoid them. The week-long festivities ended with free coffee, donuts, and a photo booth.

For more information on the TRIO Program at UMFK, please contact Susan Dubay, director of Student Support Services, at susan.dubay@maine.edu or by calling 207-834-7869.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent Student-Athlete Advisory Committee invites individuals to participate in its first Thanksgiving “Turkey Trot,” a 2K and 5K run or walk fundraiser on Saturday, November 23, 2024.

Registration starts at 9 a.m. at the Sports Center.  The 5K begins at 9:30 a.m. followed by the 2K that will begin at 10 am. You may choose to run or walk.

The cost of the event is $20 per person and is free for UMFK students.

This fundraiser is dedicated to combating food insecurity during the holiday season. Proceeds benefit the UMFK Bengal Food Pantry.

For more information, please contact Anna McLaughlin at anna.mclaughlin@maine.edu.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent will host its Veterans Day Ceremony at the University’s newly built Veterans Square on Friday, November 8, 2024, at 11 a.m. The ceremony is open to the general public.

The event will include a welcome from Stacy Martin, UMFK Student Life Coordinator; UMFK President Deb Hedeen to recognize and honor Veterans; and the singing of the National Anthem by UMFK nursing student Rebekah Sanchez. American Legion Legionnaires Post 133 Fort Kent Commander Richard Dominikoski will call to order the color guard; then, a prayer will be read by UMFK Director of Facilities and Veteran Jason Guerrette.

Leroy McKenzie, 1st Vice Commander of the American Legion Department of Maine, will be the ceremony’s keynote speaker followed by the presenting of colors, a moment of silence, and Veteran George Dumond will play taps. The ceremony will end with closing remarks from Deb Hedeen.

Following the ceremony, Veterans will be invited to a free lunch to include one guest, for the cost of $5 at UMFK’s Nowland Hall dining room. All who attend the ceremony will receive a voucher for lunch at the dining room for a cost of $5 per person.

UMFK will honor all who served, and located in the dining room will be a table set to represent fallen soldiers, also known as a Missing Man Table or Fallen Comrade Table, which is a memorial and ceremony that honors U.S. military members who are missing, imprisoned, or have fallen.

For more information on the event, please contact the University Relations Office at 207-834-7557.

University of Maine at Fort Kent Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Kennedy Rubert-Nason will present at the University of Maine System’s inaugural Rural Issues Symposium on Friday, November 1, 2024, at the Wells Conference Center in Orono, Maine.

Dr. Rubert-Nason will present on how UMFK faculty are collaborating to overcome challenges and create opportunities for people in Aroostook County. Over the next four years, Dr. Rubert-Nason, along with Assistant Professors of Forestry Drs. Stephanie Landry and Libin Louis will engage more than twenty undergraduate students of forestry, biology, and environmental studies in hands-on research experiences that empower them for ecologically conscious STEM careers.

With ongoing support from the Maine Economic Improvement Fund, National Science Foundation, and Harold Alfond Foundation grants, a cohort of students will work alongside these faculty on various projects exploring the impacts of land management and climate change on Maine’s forests. In addition to the obvious academic benefits these students will obtain, the opportunity provides the added benefit for students to be paid for the research work they complete.

The presentation will showcase new research on the possibilities for using biochar to increase soil carbon storage and create resilient forests, prior work on forest health, and opportunities for future research exploring the interactions among trees, soils, and people. Woven throughout these initiatives is a mentoring philosophy that embraces the unique cultural and historical perspectives of Maine’s Franco-American and Indigenous peoples.

The overall aims of this initiative are to address relevant challenges in Maine’s forests through research while empowering participants with the scientific knowledge, leadership, dialogical, intercultural and technological skills to increase the resilience of local communities to global change threats.
You may view the symposium website at https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/rural_issues/.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent Board of Visitors is encouraging the public to attend a Business Breakfast that will take place on Friday, November 15, at 7:30 a.m. in the Nadeau Hall conference room on the UMFK campus.

The topic of discussion for the breakfast will be “Untapped Resource – Hiring International Students.”

The presenters will include Marcus Jaynes, Immigration Attorney for the University of Maine System; Leslie Kelly, UMFK Student and Exchange Visitor Program Principal Designated School Official; Justin Dubois, former UMFK Board of Visitor President; and Taurian Coopsamy, a recent UMFK international student graduate.

UMFK has the highest percentage of international students per student body population than any other UMS campus. Based on how many alumni stay in the area, UMFK is also a major contributor in providing a solution to an aging and declining population in Northern Maine.

A major barrier to sponsorship of international students is navigating the process and the high cost to secure employment.  What can we do as a community to help alleviate that burden?

Tickets for the breakfast are $15.00 and can be purchased by credit card at the UMFK website.

The deadline for registration is Friday, November 1, 2024.

Please contact Lisa Roy at 207-834-7504 or email at roylisa@maine.edu for more information.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent will host its annual fall Open House for prospective college-bound students on Friday, November 1, 2024, to give everyone a chance to experience campus life.

“Choosing where to go to college is a really big decision, but it helps when students have an opportunity to get a feel for the campus before attending,” said Executive Director of Marketing and Brand Management Heidi Carter. “Beyond the award-winning education that UMFK offers, the friendly campus community and diverse student body are some of the traits that set UMFK apart.

Registration and a Student Fair will be held from 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Bengal’s Lair in Cyr Hall. A light breakfast and refreshments will be served. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the student services that UMFK has to offer. Representatives from various offices will be available to answer questions on topics ranging from residential life, career planning and placement, to financial aid.

At 9 a.m. in Fox Auditorium, the morning session will begin with an opening welcome and remarks from UMFK’s Admissions staff, followed by a panel presentation by current students who will talk about UMFK’s campus life.

Prospective students will learn more about the academic programs held at various classrooms on campus from 10 to 11 a.m. The talented faculty, who foster academic excellence in the learning environment, will show students and families how learning comes alive at UMFK. There also will be an opportunity for participants to ask questions that can assist them in their educational goals.

Sodexo will serve lunch from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Nowland Hall dining room. UMFK student Admissions Ambassadors will lead campus tours during this time to see the campus and meet with staff.

At 1 p.m. in Fox Auditorium, there will be a question and answer session. Raffle prizes will be awarded.

People can register online on the UMFK Open House page.

Please R.S.V.P. by Thursday, October 25th. For more information on the UMFK Open House, please contact UMFK’s Admissions office at 207-834-7600 or send an email to umfklife@maine.edu.