Melody Joliat
Hello, Class of 2018!
Hope you all had a great summer and fall. Let me introduce myself. I am your class correspondent for 2018 graduates. I graduated from the UMaine School of Social Work and received my BSW in 2018; then in May 2019, received my master’s in social work.
I invite all of you to send me any information about yourselves and what exciting things have taken place for you since graduation. Feel free to also send me any photos you may want to have published in the alumni magazine.
Parise Rossignol, former UMaine women’s basketball student-athlete and now assistant women’s basketball coach, was nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. Parise graduated from UMaine with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 2018 and is currently enrolled in the masters of education program.
Emily Craig has been chosen as a Fulbright Scholarship finalist. She was offered a grant, along with another student and alumna, for their individually designed research projects. Emily, a member of the Honors College, earned her Bachelor of Marine Science with a concentration in marine biology and a minor in chemistry. She plans to examine environmental sources of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) with P. Mangala C.S. De Silva, a professor at the University of Ruhuna in Matara, Sri Lanka.
Drew Belcher signed an undrafted free agent deal with the National Football League’s Arizona Cardinals. He was the team’s third-leading receiver and made the transition to tight end after spending two seasons as a quarterback. The 6’3” 255-pound Belcher was a graduate student and was a member of one of the first UMaine teams to ever reach the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals.
Oscar “Ozzy” Degnan was selected by the Society for Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) as an outstanding future professional. Ozzy earned a degree in kinesiology and physical education. He will represent the United States’ Eastern District at this year’s SHAPE convention. He is the third UMaine student during the last 40 years to be given this honor.
Jamil Demby, former UMaine All-American offensive tackle, is now a Detroit Lion. Jamil joins former Black Bear teammate Trevor Bates ’15 in Detroit.
Jeffrey Weeks has joined the CES team. CES is a Maine-based firm consisting of engineers, environmental scientists, and land surveyors. Jeffrey has a BA in survey engineering technology and a minor in construction.
Cody Lyons, a native of Glenburn, has also joined CES. Cody has a BS in civil engineering with a concentration in structural engineering. He will assist in designing framing foundations for buildings and bridges.
Nolan Vesey, of North Reading, MA, was a dynamic left-winger for UMaine’s hockey team who was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and then was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. He has signed a two-year, two-way contract and will pave the way toward a more secure position with the NHL.
Josephine Roussell, formerly of Long Beach, CA, is a research technician on a team designing a sorter for small-scale oyster growers. The team is affiliated with Maine’s Georgetown Aquaculture collaborative, which has been funded by SEANET (Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture Network). Her degree is in marine science with a minor in fisheries.