UMFK News Releases

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.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent is pleased to announce that author Kathryn Olmstead will be the Commencement speaker for the 142nd commencement ceremony held at the UMFK Sports Center on May 4, 2024.

Kathryn was presented with the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters at UMFK’s 139th Commencement Ceremony on May 8, 2021.

“We are honored to have Ms. Olmstead speak at our celebration,” said UMFK President and Provost Dr. Deb Hedeen. Due to the pandemic, the 2021 commencement ceremony was online, and so was Kathryn’s commencement speech. We are pleased that she will serve as the commencement speaker this year and will have the opportunity to address the graduates in person.”

Kathryn Olmstead, Associate Professor Emerita of Communication and Journalism at the University of Maine, served 25 years on their journalism faculty, the last six as associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She is currently a writer and editor living in Caribou, Maine. A native of Battle Creek, Michigan, she earned a BA in English from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and an MA in English and Education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

She moved to an abandoned farm in Westmanland in 1974 after teaching high school English in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and Concord, New Hampshire, where she and her husband directed a residential college preparatory program for minority students. In 1988, she co-founded Echoes: Rediscovering Community, a quarterly magazine celebrating the quality of life in Aroostook County, which she later published from her home in Caribou until 2017.

She is the author of True North: Finding the Essence of Aroostook and the editor of Stories of Aroostook: The Best of Echoes Magazine, both published in 2020. She also wrote a biweekly column about northern Maine for the Bangor Daily News and co-authored a WWII memoir, Flight to Freedom: World War II Through the Eyes of a Child, with Philomena Baker, who began her career as a photographer in Fort Kent, Maine, in the 1950s.

Before joining the UMaine faculty in 1984, she served as regional representative for Senator Bill Cohen in Presque Isle, edited the weekly Aroostook Republican and News in Caribou, and was a correspondent for the Bangor Daily News and two agricultural newspapers based in Vermont and Kansas. She also taught journalism and photography at UMS campuses in Fort Kent and Presque Isle.

Founder of the Maine Center for Student Journalism for high school journalists in 1993, she received the UMaine Presidential Public Service Award in 2009 and was inducted into the Maine Press Association Hall of Fame in 2018.

She serves on boards of the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, the Natural Resources Council of Maine, the Penobscot Theatre Company, and the Caribou Public Library. She lives, writes, and skis in Caribou, Maine.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is seeking nominations of individual student-athletes, teams, coaches, and administrators for induction into the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Nominations will be accepted through Friday, April 19, 2024. The induction ceremony will be held during UMFK’s Homecoming weekend in September.

The UMFK Athletic Hall of Fame was established to recognize the men and women who have distinguished themselves in the field of athletics by their performance on UMFK athletic teams, through their achievements after graduation from the University, or by their efforts on behalf of UMFK Athletics.

Nominations will be accepted in the following categories: athlete, team, coach/administrator, and special inductee.

Any alumni or friend of UMFK may submit a nomination for consideration by a 15-member selection committee, which consists of students, athletes, coaches, faculty, administrators, and alums of the University. Nominees must receive at least 70 percent of the selection committee’s vote to be eligible for induction into the UMFK Athletic Hall of Fame.

A complete list of the eligibility requirements, the selection process for inclusion in the Athletic Hall of Fame, and an online official nomination form are located on the UMFK Athletics website.

Nomination forms may be obtained on the UMFK campus at the Athletics Department (Sports Center).

For more information, please contact Carly Flowers at (207) 834-7571.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent Blake Library Gallery is currently 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 March.

The course introduces students to the basic concepts of drawing. The class also encourages students to think about and come to understand two major things; first, there are so many different drawing styles when you consider the thousands of famous artists who created drawings that there has to be at least one style that you could successfully use, and second, that drawing is a form of creating, expressing, and communicating where form follows function; what are you trying to do when you draw? Are you trying to capture visually something that interests you? Are you making a plan for a more elaborate artwork? Are you trying to create a finished, stand-alone work of art using some drawing medium?

With those ideas in place, the class work consisted of learning something about a specific artist or group of artists and how, what, and why they drew, exploring different drawing mediums and their strengths and weaknesses.

“Students that chose to take the course were reminded that, as an intro course, no prior skill at drawing was necessary and that success would depend on their individual growth, not on some perceived standard of drawing skill,” said Clapp. “When Sophia Birden approached me about an exhibition of student work in Blake Library, I enthusiastically agreed that it was a great idea. I planned for it to represent a sampling of work from all of them and from across the semester’s work.”

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’s Foundation will host its 17th annual UMFK Foundation Gala dinner and entertainment fundraiser on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at the UMFK Sports Center. The Denim and Diamonds-themed event will feature a social hour with the talented Taylor Martin, a seven-course dinner, and club dancing until the stars fade. Guests are encouraged, but not required, to show off their finest denim and sparkling diamonds for a night of celebration.

“We at the UMFK Foundation Board are pleased to invite community members near and far to our annual Foundation Gala. Our theme this year is Denim and Diamonds, and we are excited to see everyone’s creative styles shine through! We are proud to share that the funds raised from this event stay right here in the valley and support scholarships for our very own UMFK students (Go Bengals!),” said Foundation president Stephanie Chick. “Whether you attend every year or this will be your first Gala, please join us at UMFK on April 6th for a night of spectacular food, local entertainment, and a special tribute to a beloved community member. We can’t wait to see you there!”

The event kicks off at 6 p.m. at the Sports Center with a social hour with light appetizers and a cash bar. At 7 p.m., a seven-course dinner that is sure to exceed your expectations to be catered by Sodexo, followed by an evening of dancing with music provided by Pulse Entertainment at the Club Denim and Diamonds. A dessert station and cash bar will remain open during the evening.

“I am looking forward to another amazing night with our local community to benefit our Bengal community,” said event chairperson and Foundation vice president, Nichole Jandreau. “This night is imperative to the success of our students, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone. Seeing our students forge relationships with people and businesses in a fun, unique way is special for everyone.”

The UMFK Foundation financially supports scholarships, special academic projects, and more that are not budgeted in the University’s annual operating budget. This important work assists the University in providing students access to opportunities to ensure they reach their full potential.

The Gala is the Foundation’s primary fundraising event of the year. The celebration brings together businesses and organizations; the UMFK community – including staff, faculty, and students; and community friends. Attendees include supporters from the local area and beyond who recognize the important contributions of the UMFK Foundation.

If you are interested in attending this great event and supporting the UMFK Foundation, platinum, gold, silver, and bronze sponsorship levels are available. The deadline to sponsor a table is Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Individual tickets are also for sale.

Tickets are also available for purchase for $10 per person to attend only a night of dancing at the Club Denim and Diamonds, which begins at 9 p.m. at the Sports Center.

To reserve your spot or for more information, please contact the UMFK Development Office by calling Shannon Lugdon at 207-834-7800.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent men’s and women’s basketball teams have qualified to compete in the USCAA National Tournament for the first time since the 2019-2020 season. The tournament will take place March 10th-14th in Richmond, VA, and is hosted by Richard Bland College and Virginia State University.

The women’s team qualifies as the #3 seed in the tournament with a 12-9 overall record. The Bengals improved by 11 wins this season under first-year head coach Michael Mader and are led on the court by senior captains Coreeahn Yharbrough and Hannah Jones. The UMFK women will play #6 seed Salem University (WV) in the first round on Sunday, March 10th, at 3:00 p.m. at Richard Bland College.

The UMFK men will compete as the #8 seed with an 11-13 record. Head Coach Carly Flowers oversaw a nine-game improvement in her second season. Sophomore Aiden Grady (16.8 ppg) and junior Jordan Guerrero (12.2 ppg) lead the Bengals in scoring. They will play #1 seed The Apprentice School (Newport News, VA) in the first round on Sunday, March 10th at 5:00 pm at Virginia State University.

More information on the tournament, including game schedules and ticketing, can be found on the USCAA website.

Each year, the University of Maine at Fort Kent Alumni Association recognizes a UMFK alumnus or alumna for their outstanding character, professional achievement, distinguished leadership, service to UMFK, and service to the community. Without your input, we are unable to present a deserving individual with the appropriate recognition.

The Alumni Association Board appreciates all of the nominations that are received. If you know someone who has demonstrated success in their career and/or personal life, please take the time to nominate them online through the UMFK website’s Alumni and Giving section.

The deadline for submission is Friday, March 29, 2024. The recipient of the award will be honored during the University’s annual Homecoming weekend, which will be held in September.

If you would like to request a hard copy of the nomination form or for more information, please contact Susan Tardie at susan.tardie@maine.edu or by phone at (207) 834-7557.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent has recently launched the Bengal Executives initiative, designed to help students direct their futures through experiential learning opportunities such as micro internships with employer partners, pre-professional trainings, career exposure, student support and leadership, and network development.

The program is funded through the University of Maine System TRANSFORMS Student Success and Retention Initiative — Pathways to Careers and the Maine Recovery & Jobs Plan.

According to Tammy Delisle, the Career Services Coordinator at UMFK, “Building this program has been so much fun, and I am very passionate about it. These students are amazing and one hundred percent invested.”

Participating in the Bengal Executives program is a competitive process. The first four Bengal Executives — Daniel Franz, Anna Mclaughlin, Georgia Burton, and Alexis Violette — were selected from a group who applied and interviewed for their positions.

Alexis Violette is a Behavioral Science major with a minor in Criminal Justice and is slated to graduate in 2025. She has been able to participate in and be a part of the Momentum Aroostook conference, which allowed her to network with many business owners and company organizations across the county. She was also able to work with Fish River Rural Health on a survey of the local community.

“The Bengal Executives program has enhanced my knowledge in professionalism while stepping outside of my comfort zone and has allowed me to meet new people,” said Violette, “Since starting with the Bengal Executives program, I have both grown my resume and expanded my skills.”

Daniel Franz, an international student from Germany, has enjoyed the additional exposure to marketing professionals that the program has provided. He has worked with the Fort Kent Outdoor Center and the United States Biathlon Association to develop a promotional video to promote U.S. Biathlon National Championships and the inaugural U.S. Biathlon Collegiate National Championships that will take place in Fort Kent March 21-24.

“I would say the biggest enhancement to my education that the Bengal Executives program has given me is exposure to leadership and teamwork,” said Franz, “In working closely with the U.S. Biathlon Association marketing team, I have had a deeper look into the world of marketing and how things are being approached. This is huge, and I’m so proud to be part of it.”

As to the future of the program, funding has been secured for three years, but organizers are hopeful.

“I have been working with a UMS steering committee and we will be working on gathering assessment data to highlight the impact of the project,” Delisle said.

Currently, the four current Bengal Executives have planned and are conducting a Career Boot Camp for eight participating students. From this group, four more executives will be selected.

“This program helped me understand how the world works after college,” said Franz, “It’s like a preview for the work ahead.”

For more information about the University of Maine at Fort Kent, please visit the UMFK website.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent will host its annual “Sucrerie” on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Nowland Hall.

The “maple sugar recreation” has drawn more than 200 community members to campus in years past. The event features a traditional maple taffy pull on the snow, an Acadian meal, and live entertainment.

The on-site maple taffy pull and taste testing, served over the snow for community members to enjoy, are free to the public. The public is encouraged to attend the “Sucrerie.”

All ployes will be served by UMFK employees wearing Acadian attire.

A nominal fee of $15 per plate will be charged for the Acadian meal and entertainment. The committee has worked with Sodexo dining services to create the perfect menu for the event.

Specific areas will be designated parking for community members.

UMFK continues to preserve and foster an appreciation of the Acadian and Franco-American heritage and culture by hosting annual events such as the “Sucrerie.”

For more information, contact the University Relations office at 834-7557 or by e-mail at susan.tardie@maine.edu.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent is proud to announce the Dean’s List for the Fall 2023 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 that lead to associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. For a complete program listing and more information, please visit umfk.edu.