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.
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.
UMS Rural Issues Symposium
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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/.
Fall 2024 Business Breakfast
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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?
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.
2024 Open House
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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.
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.
“A Retrospective” Exhibit
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The University of Maine at Fort Kent Blake Library Galley will host the current art exhibit “A Retrospective” by artist Elizabeth Parker through the month of November 2024.
Artist Elizabeth Parker creates artwork for the enjoyment of seeing what develops after the first mark by brush, pencil, or pen makes its appearance on canvas or paper. Parker, who is enjoying retirement in Enfield, Connecticut, spends her time exploring various mediums such as watercolors, pencils, pastels, and acrylics. Her extensive travels have provided unique subjects, while familiar items offer endless materials for her still-life paintings.
Parker attended many workshops and classes which featured a variety of techniques and mediums. Among the classes were watercolors with John Ashton, director of the Connecticut School of Fine Arts and the Connecticut School of Art & Design, and pastels with Greg Maichek at the Quadrangle, a cluster of museums and cultural institutions in Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts. At Asnuntuck College, she completed credited classes in drawing, color theory, illustration, and printmaking with Tony Cirone.
Elizabeth Parker’s paintings have been accepted into juried shows and exhibits throughout Connecticut. She has won awards and sold her work, both on-site and commissioned. At the Wadsworth Mansion juried show, Parker was awarded a plaque, and one drawing was selected to be used for their notecards. Her work has been included in private collections in the states of New York, Maine, Connecticut, Louisiana, and Florida.
The exhibit may be viewed during UMFK’s Blake Library hours. For more information on the exhibit or library hours, please contact Gallery Curator Sofia Birden at sbirden@maine.edu or 207-834-7527.
In celebration of literacy, the University of Maine at Fort Kent English faculty will once again facilitate a series of events designed to share a love for literature with people of all ages in the local area. The series of events will run from October 17 to 20, 2024.
The events will launch on Harry Potter Book Day, a day originally intended to help increase literacy, on Thursday, October 17th. Professor of English and Creative Writing, Geraldine Cannon Becker will read to first-graders at Fort Kent Elementary School, as an end of the school day treat.
Then, on Friday, October 18th, at 2:00 p.m., the English Faculty will be at the Blake Library, located on the UMFK campus, to share highlights from the recent trip to Boston and Professor Cannon Becker’s lecture on “Literacy Through Poetry.”
“Readings by English faculty from recently published work of their own and various other “spooky” selections, such as Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven,’ may be expected,” said Dr. Joseph Becker, “Faculty, staff, students, and members of the community are encouraged to join us.”
Attendees are also invited to bring and read selections of their own choosing.
On Saturday, October 19th, at 11:00 a.m., the events continue at Fort Kent Public Library. Once again, English faculty will read a selection of “spooky” works that will be appropriate for children. Anyone may attend. Costumes are not required, but Professor Cannon Becker says that she will probably be dressed as one of her favorite characters from the Harry Potter series, Professor Minerva McGonagall. She advises, “Wear your favorite house colors if you wish. Wands ready!”
Then, on Sunday, October 20th, they will make a final stop on the train of events at First Mile Brewing Company at 1:00 p.m.
“Come see what is brewing and bubbling up at First Mile,” Professor Cannon Becker said, “Anyone may join us for continuing the conversation about these events, and more, as we share adventures in literature and language. This is where our Writers of the First Mile community writing group first got started. Let us know if you’d like to participate in that group, too!”
The group has been meeting at the Fort Kent Public Library.
University of Maine at Fort Kent Professor of English and Creative Writing Geraldine Cannon Becker has been invited to be the lecturer for the official opening of the annual Poetry Downtown Festival on September 27th in Boston, MA.
In its fourth year, Poetry Downtown will pay tribute to Edgar Allan Poe by starting the multi-city festival in the place of the renowned poet’s birth.
Professor Cannon Becker’s lecture is titled “Literacy Through Poetry” and will be held at the Boston Public Library on September 27th from 1 pm to 2 pm.
According to the Poetry Downtown Festival website, “Professor Becker will delve into the vital role poetry can play in combating illiteracy. Drawing on her extensive experience as both an educator and a poet, she will share her insights into how the rhythm, structure, and emotional resonance of poetry can engage learners of all ages, fostering a love for reading and writing that transcends traditional educational barriers.”
In addition to the lecture, UMFK faculty were among those selected by a panel of judges to be published in a limited-edition anthology of works that will be presented at the end of each day of the festival. Their works include “The Cat’s Meow” by Geraldine Cannon and “A Broken Wing Casts a Dark Shadow” by Jessica Boynton, English adjunct at UMFK.
The day in Boston will end with poetry readings of the poems included in the anthology, and if time allows, the poets may read other selections of their work. Professor of English Dr. Joseph Becker has also been invited to perform a reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven.”
The series will continue September 28 through 29 in New York, Philadelphia, and it will appropriately end in Baltimore, Poe’s final resting place.
Eighteen current University of Maine at Fort Kent nursing students were inducted into the UMFK Nursing Honor Society, and eleven December 2024 nurse graduates were recognized at a special ceremony held on Thursday, August 15, 2024, in the UMFK Sports Center.
Faculty, staff, and students, along with family members and friends, gathered to honor the nursing honor society inductees and December 2024 nurse graduates. University President and Provost Dr. Deb Hedeen welcomed attendees and extended congratulations to the students.
NHS group photo: (l to r, 1st row) Leslie A. Curtis; Precious O. Okechukwu; Darci R. Pelletier; Hannah M. Albert; and Hailee J. Currier (l to r, 2nd row) Rodiat Ogunneye; Sergio A. Torres; Nancy J. Martin; Kevonnie Smith; Ngasu B. Agborsangaya; Bolanle Victoria Ajuwon; James C. Schaefer; and Esther M. Onifade.
Officially welcomed into the nursing honor society: Ngasu B. Agborsangaya (Fort Kent); Hannah M. Albert (Madawaska); Bolanle Victoria Ajuwon (Oyo State, Nigeria); Hailee J. Currier (Mapleton, ME); Leslie A. Curtis (Caribou, ME); Nancy J. Martin (Fort Kent); Rodiat Ogunneye (Dallas, TX); Precious O. Okechukwu (Huston, TX); Esther M. Onifade (Fort Kent) Darci R. Pelletier (Fort Kent); James C. Schaefer (Mapleton, ME); Kevonnie Smith (Portland, Jamaica); and Sergio A. Torres (San Diego, CA).
Officially welcomed into the nursing honor society, in absentia: Sara M. Adams (Thomaston, ME); Hannah P. Crocker (Stetson, ME); Molly K. Hillman (Fairfield, ME); Emily E. Shippee (Peabody, MA); and Michele Wintle-Newell (East Hampstead, NH).
All students have excelled in the four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at UMFK and are very active in campus activities.
The UMFK Nursing Honor Society was formed in the spring of 1998 for the purpose of recognizing and fostering academic excellence and scholarship among students, alumni, and community leaders in nursing.
Students with a grade point average of 3.0 or above, in the top 35% of their graduating class, and who represent the attributes of scholarship leadership, community service, and character. These are the attributes that the UMFK Nursing Honor Society recognizes upon request of induction.
December 2024 Nurse Graduates: (l to r, 1st row) Casey E. Veilleux; Precious O. Okechukwu; Angel R. Maxwell; Ngasu B. Agborsangaya; and Hailee J. Currier (l to r, 2nd row) Sergio A. Torres; Rodiat Ogunneye; Bolanle Victoria Ajuwon; James C. Schaefer; Esther M. Onifade; and Ogwo Ogwo.
The recognition of December 2024 nurse graduates: Ngasu B. Agborsangaya; Bolanle Victoria Ajuwon; Hailee J. Currier; Angel R. Maxwell (Campden Park, St. Vincent and the Grenadines); Rodiat Ogunneye; Ogwo Ogwo (Eagle Lake); Precious O. Okechukwu; Esther M. Onifade; James C. Schaefer; Sergio A. Torres; and Casey E. Veilleux (Whitefield, NH).
This fall, the UMFK Nursing Honor Society will join the University of Maine (Orono campus), the University of Maine at Augusta campus, and Husson University to become part of their Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society chapter at large. Some of the benefits for members include grant-offering partners, education and research conferences, online nursing continuing professional development, an online digital service that collects, preserves, and disseminates digital materials in both abstract and full-text format, career development, and leadership programs.
“Our current members are eligible to apply for membership to Sigma Theta Tau; they will demonstrate that they meet eligibility criteria easily because we tailored our honor society based upon Sigma’s criteria. Starting this fall, we will become a member school,” said Director of Nursing Dr. Erin Soucy.
UMFK Gratitude Project
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UMFK Behavioral Science students prepare to hang ribbons as part of the UMFK Gratitude Project.
Traditions are important to college campuses. They help instill a sense of unity throughout the campus community and across the generations of classes as they pass through the doors. The University of Maine at Fort Kent community hopes to instill a new tradition for the campus through a project that was incorporated into this year’s Homecoming celebration.
The UMFK Gratitude Project is an effort to build community among students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, businesses, and Fort Kent residents. The focal point of the project consists of hand-written sentiments of gratitude on colorful ribbons that now hang on the campus’ trees. The visual installation provides a reminder that gratitude creates a more vibrant space and life.
“Service learning is an important aspect of the Behavioral Science curriculum. When I brought the concept of the Gratitude Project to other members of campus, I also knew it would provide an excellent opportunity for students to bridge the connection with the Fort Kent community,” said Dr. Shawn Graham, UMFK Associate Professor of Counseling, Behavioral Science Unit Chair, and Faculty Assembly Chair, “The response has been outstanding. It has been well received.”
Behavioral Science students Ryan McAtee and Andrew Pierce have supported the project by connecting with interested community members prior to Homecoming weekend to have them participate by writing their statements on the ribbons and collecting them when they were completed.
”It is so important for a small college to be involved in the community,” Pierce said, “And I absolutely think it will look pretty awesome.”
McAtee added, “I wish we would have had this when I was a new student. It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed when you first go to school. There’s a lot of changes to get used to. The Gratitude Project is a way of grounding, as a reminder of what is most important to you.”
Participants were able to choose the color of ribbon that they wrote their sentiment on and had the opportunity to do multiple ribbons. Children at MSAD#27 and business owners were some of the groups that were included in the project.
Visit the UMFK website for more information on the Behavioral Science program at UMFK.
The University of Maine at Fort Kent Blake Library Galley will host the current art exhibit “A Retrospective” by artist Elizabeth Parker through the month of November 2024.
