Recent News

December 11, 2020

Versant Power Astronomy Director Shares “Constellation and the Christmas Star” Webcast with Alums

Watch a recording of the Alumni Association’s recent Zoom webcast “Constellations and the Christmas Star” with Shawn Laatsch, director of the Versant Power Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium. Laatsch introduces the stars, constellations, and planets seen in our winter skies. Learn how to find them from your own backyard, see what special planetary conjunction is…

December 11, 2020

Wreaths Across America Decorates Veteran Graves at Arlington National Cemetery

Wreaths Across America will again decorate the graves of veterans at Arlington National Cemetery and other military and civilian cemeteries. Although in-person ceremonies won’t take place this year because of the pandemic, the group has planned virtual events. Each year the group places wreaths at more than 2,200 locations across the U.S. This year, December…

December 10, 2020

Upcoming Webinar Explores Religious Holidays in December

Join the UMaine Alumni Association on Wednesday, December 16 for a Zoom webinar “‘Most Wonderful Time of the Year’: Religious Holidays in December.” The webinar and Q&A, scheduled for 5-6:00 PM, will be presented by Derek A. Michaud ’99, lecturer in UMaine’s Department of Philosophy and the coordinator of its Religious Studies and Judaic Studies…

December 10, 2020

Alumni Award Renamed in Honor of Suzanne Hart ’68

The UMaine Alumni Association Board of Directors has voted to rename one of its most prestigious awards after a longtime Association volunteer and leader who passed away on October 9, 2020. On Friday, the board voted unanimously to rename the “Pine Tree Emblem Alumni Service Award” as the “Suzanne Kay Hart ’68 Alumni Service Award.”…

December 10, 2020

Black Bears Return to the Court and Ice

UMaine’s ice hockey and basketball teams have returned to competition following a two-week delay prompted by COVID-19-related precautionary measures. “Our teams are thrilled to be able to resume their competitive seasons,” says UMaine athletics director Ken Ralph. “The students have worked hard to stay safe while preparing physically for their seasons. ” Last week, the…

December 10, 2020

Beloved UMaine Letter Jacket Recovered through Social Media

Mal Osborn ’52 of Winston-Salem, NC, misplaced his beloved UMaine letter jacket last fall. The 92-year-old alumnus was a cross country and track star at the university in 1949-1952, and later had a long legal career. Thanks to his family’s efforts on social media, he recovered his UMaine jacket. In this 2016 photo, Mal wears…

November 16, 2020

Alums Develop Cream for Dry Skin Made from Lobster Fluid

Two UMaine alumni have developed a cream from lobster fluid that treats dry skin. Patrick Breeding ’17, ’19G and Amber Boutiette ’17, ’19G established Marin Skincare, which uses a protein from lobster as the active ingredient in their hydration cream. The two began working on the product when they were graduate students.

November 12, 2020

Churchills Announce $6.5 Million Bequest to UMaine

At a recent University of Maine Foundation virtual Homecoming event, University of Maine benefactors Dan ’63 and Betty Churchill shared their intentions to make estate gifts estimated at up to $6.5 million. Their gifts will endow two $1.5 million School of Policy and International Affairs (SPIA) professorships, one Climate Change Institute (CCI) post-doctoral position or…

November 12, 2020

Twenty-Five Alumni Elected and Re-Elected to Maine Legislature

A total of twenty-five UMaine alumni were elected or re-elected to the Maine House of Representatives and Maine Senate on election day. Eight state senators and seventeen state representatives will be part of the next legislative session when it convenes on December 2. We congratulate them and wish them success as they work on behalf…

November 12, 2020

UMaine Graduate Student Competes in Miss USA Pageant

Julia Van Steenberghe ’20, Miss Maine USA, recently traveled to Memphis, TN, to compete in the Miss USA pageant. The graduate student in human development was crowned Miss Maine USA last year, but the Miss USA pageant was postponed until recently due to the coronavirus. Van Steenberghe expressed her gratitude to the University of Maine.…

November 12, 2020

UMaine Honors Veterans with Week of In-Person, Virtual Events

The university hosted a series of activities honoring veterans last week. Veterans week began with a flag ceremony in front of Fogler Library and included sessions addressing a range of veterans’ issues, a lunch, and an art exhibition. Activities were coordinated by the UMaine Office of Veterans Education and Transition Services (VETS) and UMaine Veterans…

November 12, 2020

UMaine Students Offer Music Lessons to Local Middle Schoolers

UMaine music education majors have partnered with middle school students in Old Town to provide free private music lessons online. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the middle school students have been unable to play their instruments together in person. Philip Edelman, assistant professor of music education at UMaine, and Shianne Wheeler Priest ’96, ’08G, director of…