UMFK News Releases

The University of Maine at Fort Kent Board of Visitors invites the public to attend its annual Business Breakfast Series that will take place on Friday, March 21st, at 7:30 a.m. in the Nadeau Hall conference room on the UMFK campus.

The presenters will include Deborah Hedeen, UMFK President and Provost; Pamela Ashby, UMFK Chief Business Officer; and Heidi Carter, UMFK Executive Director of Marketing and Brand Management.

The topic of discussion is “University Updates and Future Initiatives.”

The presenters will share key highlights from the past year, including advancements in academic programs, campus initiatives, and enrollment management.

Join us for an in-depth discussion on the future direction of our institution and how we are preparing for the opportunities and challenges in supporting student success and meeting workforce needs.

Tickets for the breakfast are $15 and can be purchased online.

Deadline for registration is Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

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

The University of Maine at Fort Kent is proud to announce the Dean’s List for the fall 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 and the Academic Recognition List acknowledges our part-time students. 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.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent Blake Library Gallery is featuring the works of students in Doug Clapp’s ART 200 Fundamentals of Art – Drawing class. The exhibit will be on display during the month of February.

The course introduces students to the basic concepts of drawing. Assignments ranged from nature abstractions, imaginative charcoal works, artworks in a series, and pen and inks of downtown Fort Kent.

The class work represents diverse forays into drawing by students who for the most part, have never drawn very much. The class tries to steer them away from safe areas, things they have already drawn perhaps, and into some of the categories common to artist, landscape, and still life.

“The students were free to choose their subject for their final works. After so many years as an art teacher it is no surprise that most students are amazed at what they accomplish, after starting the course telling me, ‘Professor, I really can’t draw,’” said Doug Clapp.

The exhibition can be viewed during library hours. For further information, please contact Gallery Curator Sofia Birden at (207) 834-7527.

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.