Dana Murch Book Talk

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Dana Murch, author of The Ancestors and Descendants of Daniel F. Thibodeau and Rebecca Jandreau
Author Dana Murch at Port-Royal National Historic Site

The Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes at the University of Maine at Fort Kent will host a book talk by Dana Murch, author of The Ancestors and Descendants of Daniel F. Thibodeau and Rebecca Jandreau at the Acadian Archives, on Thursday, November 10th from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

In the presentation, titled “The French Connection,” Murch will discuss the life and times of some of the Acadians and Québécois in his tree and the family connections of his maternal grandparents, St. Francis natives Daniel Frédéric Thibodeau and Rebecca Jandreau.

Written in the vein of Leo Cyr’s classic Madawaskan Heritage, the book is a major addition to the genealogy of the Thibodeau and Jandreau families, which also includes sketches of 160 related families from Albert to Vallière.  Most significant among these sketches are those of the Dubé, Ouellette, Pelletier, Michaud, Nadeau, Paradis, and Miville dit Deschênes families, followed by Ayotte, Cloutier, Gagnon, Jalbert, and Saucier.

The hardcover book includes copies of vital records, synopses of U.S. and Canadian census records, family photos, and photos of gravestones, family memorials, and churches. It also features a selected history of Maine and New France (including Acadia) from 1604 to 1850 and a chronology of the arrival of all immigrant ancestors.

“We are very fortunate to have an opportunity to welcome Dana Murch to campus,” explains Patrick Lacroix, director of the Acadian Archives. “It’s great news for experienced genealogists but also beginners who stand to learn about their roots and make fruitful connections.”

A Caribou native, Dana Murch is a retired state environmental regulator and a 13th-generation “Maine-ah.” He is a descendant of many early settlers of both Acadia and Quebec, as well as a multiple Mayflower descendant. He is now working on the definitive genealogy and history of the entire Murch family of Maine, whose roots have been traced back to 17th-century Devonshire, England. He currently resides in Belfast with his wife, Meredith Jones.

Copies of Murch’s book will be available for purchase at the book talk.

For more information, please contact Acadian Archives Director Patrick Lacroix at (207) 834-7536.

The Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes is the premier center for the study of Acadian history in New England and serves as one of the many cultural hubs in the St. John Valley.

Military Friendly 2022-23

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UMFK President Deborah Hedeen with U.S. Air Force veteran Leroy McKenzie
UMFK President Deborah Hedeen with Leroy McKenzie, who served in the U.S. Air Force and graduated with an associate of arts degree in computer science in May 2022.

A group that advocates for the education of military veterans have awarded the University of Maine at Fort Kent the designation of a 2022-2023 Military Friendly® School.

Viqtory determined ratings with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in higher education through a measurement of the institution’s ability to meet and exceed thresholds for retention, graduation, job placement, repayment, persistence, and loan default rates for all students and specifically, for student veterans. The information was compiled through an institutional survey and government/agency public data sources.

“We are very grateful for the Military Friendly® distinction,” said UMFK President Deb Hedeen. “Our career-focused programs and the supportive culture of the UMFK community makes our campus a great place for veterans to transition to civilian life. Providing accessible education to all of our students is something we aim to do, but being recognized for doing that for those who have served or actively serve our country is particularly meaningful.”

Veterans can find UMFK Assistant Registrar Joyce Plourde, who certifies veterans, in the centrally located Cyr Hall on the university’s campus. All veterans seeking VA funding can receive support to complete the Veterans Request for Certification (obtainable from the registrar) before the beginning of each term.

An education at UMFK can be a gateway to success for armed forces personnel who are seeking certifications, degrees, or pathways while considering their options before plunging into civilian life. The small class sizes and personal one-on-one interaction between students and faculty are key elements in helping veterans move forward after their service in the military ends.

The designation as military-friendly is another accolade to the University’s growing list of achievements. This year, UMFK claimed the title of a Best Northeastern College for the eighteenth-consecutive year among colleges and universities in The Princeton Review. UMFK is one of 224 outstanding colleges and universities that The Princeton Review recommends to college applicants.

The latest U.S. News and World Report rankings put UMFK in the top tier, ranked 34th for the twelfth consecutive year. That ranks UMFK as 18th among public colleges schools list. UMFK first achieved top-tier college status in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 rankings.

Each of these designations originates from nationally recognized and highly respected publications that students use to select an institution of higher learning.

UMFK to Host 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 4, 2022, to give everyone a chance to experience campus life.

Registration and check-in are from 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the University’s award-winning Enrollment and Advancement Center. 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 opening welcome remarks from UMFK’s Admissions staff, followed by a panel presentation by current students who will talk about UMFK’s campus life.

Following the panel presentation, prospective students will learn more about the academic programs at UMFK.  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 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Nowland Hall, the newly renovated dining hall. UMFK student Admissions Ambassadors will lead campus tours during this time to see the campus and meet with staff.

People can register online at https://www.umfk.edu/admissions/open-house/

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

Landscapes Exhibit

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The University of Maine at Fort Kent Library gallery will host a collection of photographs entitled “Landscapes” by UMFK alumnus Darrell McBreairty through the month of October.

“Landscapes” is a collection of color prints from transparencies and negatives shot by McBreairty over several decades.

McBreairty completed classes in portraiture and commercial photography at the New York Institute of Photography in Manhattan in 1970 and has had a number of exhibits in different locations over the years.

Since his last exhibit at the library in 2007, McBreairty has published a number of books available at Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing online and at Bogan Books in downtown Fort Kent.

“Landscapes” 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 834-7527.

Students Assist in Rescue

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UMFK Conservation Law Enforcement students assist a team during a live search and rescue operation
On August 30, 2022, The Maine Warden Service mobilized UMFK Conservation Law Enforcement students, trained in search and rescue to help locate an elderly man who went missing in the Fort Kent area. The man was successfully found.

When Will Pols enrolled in the Conservation Law program at The University of Maine at Fort Kent in 2020, he didn’t expect to be on an active search and rescue as a student. Earlier this summer, Pols joined eight other UMFK students in an emergency search and rescue mission in the Fort Kent area. Their knowledge and expertise were put into mobilization by the Maine Warden Service when an elderly citizen went missing.

“Being part of a live search impacted my experience as a student in a very positive way,” said Pols, “It gave me the opportunity to connect with many different game wardens and agencies. The real-world experience has increased my drive to enter the field of conservation law enforcement even more.”

The northernmost university has long been known for its hands-on learning opportunities. Several of UMFK’s programs, including Conservation Law Enforcement, prepare students with certifications required by professional employers, in addition to the awarded degrees that attract students to the campus. Conservation Law Enforcement students have the opportunity to earn their Incident Qualifications Card (Red Card) certification, qualifying them for wildland firefighting operations. At the completion of their search and rescue course, students have the opportunity to become certified to respond to search and rescue events in the state.

Kale O’Leary, a Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife game warden, is an adjunct professor at UMFK. He specializes in preparing students with the skills necessary to be successful during an active search and rescue.

“When I initially started teaching at UMFK, I knew there would be many positive takeaways from this involvement. I always hoped that in the future we would be able to use these students as highly trained volunteers, but their knowledge and assistance were extremely valuable to our recent search,” said O’Leary, “Without their help, we would have been limited to grid teams made up of only Wardens. This would have significantly slowed our progress and very likely led to a very different outcome, as time was critical in locating this man.”

UMFK’s Conservation Law Enforcement program is one of very few in the eastern United States. Located in the midst of thousands of acres of wilderness, the natural resources available to the northern Maine campus are unparalleled. Students can easily practice their professional skills in the environments they hope to work in and enjoy outdoor recreation interests such as hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling that may have influenced their career paths.

The program is interdisciplinary, working closely with forestry and environmental sciences to ensure that students receive a well-rounded, multi-faceted education that allows them to choose from a variety of pathways upon graduation.

“The Maine Warden Service expects to lose 50% of its workforce over the coming years, so the demand for wardens is great for the foreseeable future,” said Marilyn Epp, UMFK Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Public Safety. “Maine Forest service is in dire need of forest rangers. The education and skills that our program imparts makes applicants highly competitive in these high-demand professions.”

Conservation Law students develop skills in investigative techniques such as interviewing, writing reports and affidavits, and evidence collection.

As far as what he thinks about the UMFK program, Pols says the certifications he has obtained have greatly increased his satisfaction with his degree path. He is grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the active search.

“Overall, it impacted my experience as a student at UMFK in a very positive way, and I am very excited about what the future holds.”

For more information about UMFK’s Conservation Law program, visit the Conservation Law Enforcement page on the UMFK website.

2023 U.S. News Rankings

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UMFK photo with students holding UMFK swag at the Sports Center
The University of Maine at Fort Kent has been named among the top tier of all north region colleges for the twelfth consecutive year, according to the U.S. News & World Report 2023 rankings. UMFK first achieved top-tier college status in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 rankings.

The latest U.S. News & World Report ranked UMFK 34th on the Regional Colleges North list and 18th on the Top Public Schools list. This is an improvement for the university in both categories. UMFK is also ranked on the Regional Colleges list as a top performer in social mobility, which means UMFK has great success in helping economically disadvantaged students graduate on time.

“These rankings are very meaningful to our university and show that we are continually looking at ways to improve the student experience,” said UMFK President Deb Hedeen, “Our campus is very safe, it’s situated in an inviting community, and it has a wealth of natural resources all around us. These unique qualities offer a wonderful foundation for the quality education that we continue to deliver.”

U.S. News & World Report bases the U.S. ranking on key measures that education experts have proposed as reliable indicators of academic quality. The indices include peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, and alumni giving.

The U.S. News rating system rests on two pillars. The formula relies on quantitative measures that education experts have proposed as reliable indicators of academic quality that are based on the U.S. News’ researched view of what matters in education.

The North region includes the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland.

For prospective students and their families, the 2023 U.S. News rankings provide an excellent starting point to help identify colleges and universities that are right for them because they offer the opportunity to judge the relative quality of institutions based on widely accepted indicators of excellence.

Poetry Express at UMFK

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headshot of poet Valerie Lawson
Poet Valerie Lawson will lead Poetry Express events at UMFK on September 21 & 22.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent’s Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes will host Poetry Express, a collaborative poetry performance program, Wednesday, September 21st, and Thursday, September 22nd, on the University campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The theme surrounding the Poetry Express event will encompass Acadian Heritage.

On September 21st, the poetry workshop will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Acadian Archives. Program participants select Maine poems with support from Maine State Library and learn to perform those poems in a workshop taught by guest Poet Valerie Lawson.

Valerie Lawson’s work has been published in Café Review, About Place Journal, The Catch, Maine Farms, and others. Most recently, Lawson participated in the Writing the Land project, connecting protected spaces with poets. She wrote about Reversing Falls in Pembroke, conserved by the Downeast Coastal Conservancy, and with the help of the Maine Arts Commission, created a video of one of the poems. You may view the video at valerie-lawson.com.

At the Archives, on September 22nd, the poetry workshop will continue with a rehearsal of participants’ poetry presentations to be held from 3 to 4 p.m.

The Poetry Express event will conclude with a community poetry reading and conversation event for the public to come together and celebrate Maine poetry will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the UMFK Bengal Lair.

If you would like to participate in the Poetry Express, please contact Assistant Professor of Business Michael Curran at (412) 200-0978.

Poetry Express is a collaborative poetry performance program in partnership with the Maine Humanities Council and the Maine State Library to bring poetry to UMFK.

Welcome Reception to be held September 9 for UMFK’s twelfth president, Dr. Deborah Hedeen

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UMFK president Dr. Deborah Hedeen, UMFK 12th presidentThe University of Maine at Fort Kent will officially welcome its twelfth president, Dr. Deborah Hedeen, at a Welcome Reception on Friday, September 9, between 4:00 – 7:00 pm in the campus’ newest building, the Enrollment and Advancement Center.

President Hedeen was appointed UMFK’s twelfth president and provost on July 1, 2020. Due to COVID-19 restrictions over the past few years, her official welcome was postponed until now. The reception is part of a weekend of activities planned for the university’s Homecoming celebrations.

Prior to joining UMFK, Hedeen served as the provost and vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at the University of Montana Western. Prior to that, she served at Idaho State University for 23 years as dean of the college of education for ten years, associate dean and assistant dean of teacher education, and professor of special education.

A proven leader in higher education, Hedeen’s extensive experience developing instructional delivery models for students in remote and rural areas has already impacted the northern Maine campus. In the last year, UMFK has implemented several new programs with certain ideas in mind: capitalizing on the natural resources that the campus is well-known for, providing more opportunities for nontraditional students to earn their degrees, and expanding technology and health-related programs.

“Our students are our number one priority,” said President Hedeen, “When the faculty approached me about some of these new possibilities, I felt that they were deserving to be added to our academic portfolio. Arctic Studies, Business Management Online Completion, Computer Systems Administration, Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician Certification, and the Master of Science in Nursing all build on strengths that UMFK already offers and allow us to make these certificates and degrees more accessible.”

As a first-generation student, Dr. Hedeen understands the importance of a student-centered campus community. In addition to well-rounded support through the pandemic, a new strategic plan, opportunities for expanded scholarships, completion of the Enrollment and Advancement Center, and a new branding strategy have been noted as areas that have benefited from her leadership.

Her vision includes continuing to foster the partnership between the university and the greater community of Fort Kent — an attribute long celebrated.

“I love that UMFK has always had a special relationship with the community of Fort Kent. With a strong volunteer population and a lot of grit and determination, Fort Kent has done some really amazing things. UMFK couldn’t be in a better community to enhance the college experience by involving interested students in this way,” said President Hedeen.

On a personal level, the new president looks forward to more university events.

“Even though we had a few events last year that allowed for public attendance, this year’s Homecoming celebrations will allow us to welcome the community back to campus. I am really excited about that.”

The public is invited to the President’s Welcome Reception to attend at their leisure to meet and speak with President Hedeen while visiting the award-winning Enrollment and Advancement Center. Refreshments will be served.

For more information on the Welcome Reception, please contact Lisa Roy at 834-7504.

UMFK Professor Paul Buck Presents Webster Ashburton Treaty for Maine Speaks

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Paul BuckThe University of Maine at Fort Kent Associate Professor of History and Education Dr. Paul Buck II will present on the “Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842) and Maine’s Northern Border” on Thursday, August 18th at 7 p.m. at Musée culturel du Mont-Carmel in Lille, Maine. The event is free and open to the public.

The presentation is funded by the Maine Humanities Council, Maine Speaks program.

In his presentation, Dr. Buck examines the different perspectives of Maine statehood and Maine culture as seen through the prism of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842, which definitively established the boundary between British North America and the United States. Many forget that the treaty also formally established a new mechanism for collaboration between London and Washington to combat the continued international trade of enslaved peoples, which technically was outlawed in the United States in 1808.

Dr. Buck explores the treaty itself and its impact on the singular Acadian and Francophone community of the St. John Valley, which found itself split into two countries. He gives historical context as well, most certainly commencing with the long-standing Maliseet and Mi’kmaq communities of the region, along with Scots-Irish and, by the 1820s, Maine Yankee residents.

Dr. Buck is proficient in five languages (English, French, Spanish, German, and Russian) and is conversant in a sixth language, Wolof, spoken widely in Senegal. He arrived in the St. John Valley in July 2008. He taught French at Wisdom Middle/High School for one year. In the fall of 2009, he began teaching at UMFK as an adjunct professor of history, French, and Spanish. He began teaching full-time in the fall of 2010.

The study of the French language and culture, as well as the history of French speakers throughout North America, has been Dr. Buck’s academic passion since he was a teenager.

Dr. Buck holds a bachelor’s degree in Canadian Studies/Multilanguage (French, German, and Russian) from Saint Lawrence University in Canton, New York, and spent two years during that period of his life studying abroad at Université Laval in Québec City and Voronezh State University in southern Russia. Thereafter, while teaching middle/high school French and Spanish for six years in Maryland, Dr. Buck earned a master’s degree in Spanish at Middlebury College in Vermont. Finally, in May 2008, he earned his doctorate in American and Canadian history at the University of Maine, where his area of focus was the expression of identity and otherness in Canadian history textbooks used in Québec’s French Catholic secondary schools from 1955 to 1967.

Dr. Buck completed his dissertation in French. Two of its eight chapters are devoted to analyzing the Acadian deportation from 1755 to 1763 (Le Grand dérangement) and the mass migrations of French Canadians and Acadians to the United States from 1840 to 1930, respectively.

Dr. Buck was a Fulbright Exchange Teacher in French-speaking Dakar, Senegal, West Africa, during the 1997-1998 school year and later was named a Canada-U.S. Fulbright Scholar in 2006-2007 to continue his doctoral research again in Québec City at Université Laval and the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.

Currently, Dr. Buck serves on the Maine Humanities Council board; as a UMFK campus liaison for the Fulbright Scholar program; and as the University of Maine System representative on the Maine Acadian Heritage Council.
For more information on the presentation, please contact Don Cyr at (207) 895-3339 or by email at: doncyr@gmail.com.

Maine Speaks program supports individuals and organizations that bring people in their community together to learn from a gifted speaker who shares their expertise and life experience in engaging ways.

UMFK Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Scheduled for September 10

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photo taken in 2021 of the UMFK Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Photo taken in 2021 of the UMFK Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent will host its annual Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Ceremony on Saturday, September 10th in the University’s Sports Center. This event is open to the public.

The Class of 2022 inductees are a distinguished group: Katherine Ferland (’16); Benjamin Kluvers (’17), Ed McKay (’82); and Eric Werntgen (’99) (inducted posthumously).

In addition to the induction ceremony, Susan Tardie will be honored as the recipient of the Floyd “Red” Powell Award.

The Hall of Fame ceremony begins at 5 p.m. with a social followed by a banquet and awards ceremony. Tickets for the banquet are $35 per person and may be purchased online at: https://athletics.umfk.edu/hof/

You may also purchase your tickets through the Athletic Department or please contact Matt Dyer at 834-8637 or matthew.dyer@maine.edu

Deadline to purchase tickets is Tuesday, August 30, 2022.

Due to COVID-19, all attendees must show proof of vaccination or negative COVID test results within the prior 48 hours to gain admittance to the event. These may be shown at the door or emailed in advance to Coach Matt Dyer. Attendees are currently not required to wear a mask when in buildings on the UMFK campus. Guidance on COVID-19 is subject to change in accordance with the evolving circumstances of COVID-19 at the time of the event.

For more information, contact the University Relations office at 834-7557 or visit us at www.umfk.edu.