In the past year, middle schoolers from the Belfast area have explored the Bixby Chocolate Factory in Rockland, toured the Ecology Learning Center in Unity and volunteered at the local soup kitchen.

These experiences have been offered for free through the NorthStar 4-H Youth Mentoring program, managed by University of 海角社区 Cooperative Extension. In rural communities that often struggle to offer co-curricular and youth development opportunities, NorthStar provides field trips and after-school activities that help students discover their passions, build relationships and explore future possibilities.

鈥淚 enjoy being able to experience things I normally wouldn鈥檛 be able to,鈥� said Sage, a NorthStar participant. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also helped me to build a community.鈥�

Following years of success in Oxford County, NorthStar 4-H expanded to Waldo County in 2024 thanks to a grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Staff developed programming based at Tanglewood 4-H Learning Center to serve Regional School Unit (RSU) 71, which includes the towns of Belfast, Belmont, Morrill, Searsmont and Swanville.

Since launching in Waldo County, students have reported increased confidence, a stronger sense of belonging and expanded worldviews. According to statewide data from the Rural Youth Institute, which includes NorthStar, 70% of participants have reported increased learning and school engagement, while 88% of eighth graders believe they will continue their education after high school.

鈥淲e鈥檙e providing opportunities that connect them to new experiences locally, across the state and even beyond, to broaden their perspectives,鈥� said Jessica Decke, director of Extension鈥檚 4-H Learning Center at Tanglewood.

How NorthStar works

Youth-adult mentorship has been central to 4-H for more than 100 years. In the NorthStar model, participants help shape programming based on their interests.

鈥淎 lot of kids have things they are really excited about, but don鈥檛 necessarily see the connections to where it can take them,鈥� said Decke. 鈥淭he program helps youth make those discoveries along the way. It鈥檚 a game changer for kids to have trusted adult mentors who see them for who they are, and foster those genuine interests and abilities.鈥�

Students are identified with guidance from school counselors, principals and social workers. Participants join in sixth grade and remain part of a cohort supported by trained volunteer mentors through high school and beyond.

鈥淭he model is set up so we will follow them through high school graduation,鈥� said Mel Torres, NorthStar 4-H program coordinator in Waldo County. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a long-term, immersive program. A fundamental tenet of 4-H is youth-directed learning, where kids decide their own pathway.鈥�

Students meet with mentors weekly and join a monthly afterschool club aimed at increasing community engagement and learning more about available resources. Group activities, facilitated by staff and mentors, give participants the opportunity to dive into topics that interest them.

鈥淢any of our students don鈥檛 really gravitate toward sports or clubs. They haven鈥檛 really clicked with anything yet,鈥� Torres said. 鈥淭he NorthStar program gives them opportunities to find what inspires them.鈥�

For example, seventh graders from Troy Howard Middle School raised money for a day trip to Portland, where they chose to visit Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park. Along the way, they volunteered at Furniture Friends in Westbrook, cleaning furniture for donation through Habitat for Humanity.

鈥淚 really enjoyed getting to go to the soup kitchen,鈥� said Ophelia, part of the first-year Tanglewood cohort. 鈥淚t was cool to see how they ran it and to help the people in the community that needed it.鈥�

Origins in western 海角社区

Staff at Extension鈥檚 4-H Learning Center in Bryant Pond launched the NorthStar program at Telstar Middle and High School in Bethel in 2017. The program is based on the 4-H Youth Development Model and received start-up funding from the Rural Youth Institute.

鈥淏ecause that program was successful, the Rural Youth Institute was looking to expand a mentorship model to more communities across 海角社区,鈥� said Decke.

Training from the institute emphasized the idea that relationships, not programs, change lives, a principle that continues to guide NorthStar.

鈥淭he partnership with the school district is really important,鈥� said Ryder Scott, executive director of Extension鈥檚 4-H Learning Centers. 鈥淥ur staff have earned the trust of the local teachers and school district administrators and are treated as members of the guidance department. NorthStar is supported by the school districts it serves because they know the program is working and can help fill in the gaps that many rural schools experience due to budget and staffing challenges.鈥�

The New Balance Foundation became a major supporter of the program in Oxford County. In addition to grants, sponsors such as Norway Savings Bank have adopted cohorts, contributing $20,000 annually to support groups of 12 to 14 students.

鈥淲e want to open the window of what life can hold and eventually provide experiences like the Washington, D.C. trips taken by seniors in the Oxford County NorthStar program,鈥� Decke said.

Making a difference

The NorthStar program has the potential to make a significant impact on rural communities across the state. Over 60% of 海角社区鈥檚 population resides in rural areas.

鈥淓xtension has offices and staff in all 16 counties of 海角社区. So we started to ask ourselves what it could look like to have access to this type of programming for kids across the state,鈥� said Scott. 鈥淧rogram growth has been deliberate as we build a staffing model and partnerships with local and statewide organizations.鈥�

Expanding the program would require additional staff, volunteers and sustained funding from partners such as private foundations, banks and businesses.

鈥淲e鈥檙e in conversations constantly with them about this broader vision to implement NorthStar statewide and they鈥檙e very keen on that,鈥� said Scott.

Extension leaders hope NorthStar鈥檚 continued growth will ensure more rural 海角社区 youth have access to mentorship, meaningful experiences and pathways to future opportunities.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer mentor or supporting the NorthStar program may contact U海角社区 Extension 4-H Learning Centers at either Bryant Pond, extension.bryantpond@maine.edu, or Tanglewood, extension.tanglewood4h@maine.edu.

This work is supported by the Mentoring At Risk and Rural Youth Program, project award no. 2024-48790-43821, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture鈥檚 National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Story by Clarisa Diaz

Contact: Melissa Arndt, melissa.arndt@maine.edu

The proceeds for the sale will support the Black Bear Exchange food pantry, Black Bear Mentors program for local children, community service projects and other offerings from U海角社区鈥檚 Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism. Students were informed about the program ahead of the event and encouraged to donate items they no longer need.

Returning from a two-year hiatus during renovations at the Alfond Arena, the sale will feature used furniture, organizers, decorations, appliances, bedding and clothing, as well as a limited selection of excess campus furnishings. Items will be priced and cash and card payments will be accepted. A pickup area will be designated for large items, and delivery will be available on Friday by donation.

Attendees are encouraged to park in the Dunn, Corbett and Steamplant lots, as well as the north side of the arena by the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) house. The Bear Necessities Fan Shop will also be open on Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

For more information, please contact Lisa Morin at 207.949.3611 or lisa.morin@maine.edu.

But for Donovan and dozens of other 海角社区 high school students, the event represented more than a rocket launch competition. It gave students hands-on engineering experience and exposed them to career opportunities in 海角社区鈥檚 growing STEM workforce.

For Donovan, the experience also reinforced his decision to attend U海角社区 next year, where he plans to study mechanical engineering technology. He said participating in the program gave him a firsthand look at the university鈥檚 engineering opportunities and campus community.

鈥淯海角社区 is really competitive with every engineering program in the country, and it鈥檚 right in my backyard,鈥� said Donovan, a Presque Isle High School senior.

Students from Presque Isle, Hermon and Richmond high schools traveled to campus as part of the Black Bear Launch3D program, which connects 海角社区 students with advanced engineering experiences. The program also helps build a pipeline of future workers for the state鈥檚 aerospace and defense industries, which currently support nearly 19,000 jobs in 海角社区, including around 9,600 direct jobs and another 9,300 supply-chain jobs, according to the Aerospace Industries Association.

Through the program, participants learn  how to design, simulate, prototype and test air-powered rockets using 3D printing and computer-aided design software. U海角社区 faculty work with teachers to provide training, equipment and curriculum support aimed at expanding STEM opportunities in 海角社区 schools.

Ahmed Aboelezz, a U海角社区 assistant professor of mechanical engineering who founded and designed Black Bear Launch3D, said programs like this help students see engineering as an accessible career. Aboelezz initiated the program in partnership with the 海角社区 Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) and the Perloff Foundation to upgrade 3D printing outreach into a full-cycle engineering experience.

鈥淚 wanted to move beyond just printing a model,鈥� Aboelezz said. 鈥淏y bringing teachers to campus first to learn flight simulation and design, we created a way for students to experience the full engineering process鈥攄esign, simulate, produce, and test. When they see the results of their decisions play out in real time at the competition, they start to see themselves as true engineers.鈥�

In addition to building rockets, students learned about design iteration, troubleshooting, prototyping and manufacturing technologies that are increasingly used across modern industries. Teachers in the program have said the experience gave students opportunities to apply classroom concepts in collaborative and creative ways.

鈥淒espite some clear conventions and limitations to the rocket design, the students have shown impressive creativity and innovation in their designs,鈥� said Nicholas Stahl, a teacher at Hermon High School. 鈥淭his has been doubly impressive considering most have little to no experience with physics, aerodynamics or the use of software like TinkerCAD to create physical prototypes.鈥�

For Richmond High School junior Owen Tribbet, 16, the  engineering process, mathematical calculations and computer aided design employed in making the rockets for Friday鈥檚 competition will prepare him for a future career in mechanical engineering. 

鈥淛ust the experience. Having the knowledge of how some of it works,鈥� he said. 

The Black Bear Launch3D program is offered by 海角社区 College of Engineering and Computing in partnership with the 海角社区 Space Grant consortium.

Story by William Bickford, graduate student writer. 

Contact: Taylor Ward, taylor.ward@maine.edu 

When Timothy Simons arrived at the University of 海角社区, he was homesick, uncertain about his future and struggling to find his place on campus.

Everything changed after he auditioned for a student theater production and met professor Sandra Hardy, who encouraged him to pursue acting.

Twenty-five years later, Simons returned to Orono as the keynote speaker for U海角社区鈥檚 224th undergraduate commencement ceremonies, delivering a speech that mixed humor, self-reflection and encouragement while urging graduates to recognize that success does not follow a single timeline.

鈥淚 was an aimless student,鈥� said Simons, a 2001 U海角社区 graduate from Readfield, 海角社区. 鈥淲hen I came to U海角社区, I had truly no idea what I should do with myself day-to-day, much less what I wanted to do with my life.鈥�

U海角社区 held three commencement ceremonies in Orono and Machias, where speakers emphasized resilience, courage, innovation and community. In Orono, 1,495 students received degrees during undergraduate ceremonies May 9, while over 900 graduate students were recognized May 8. The University of 海角社区 at Machias honored 54 graduates May 10.

Simons, known for his role as Jonah Ryan on HBO鈥檚 鈥淰eep鈥� and more recently for his Critics Choice Awards-nominated role in Netflix鈥檚 鈥淣obody Wants This,鈥� addressed graduates inside the newly renovated Harold Alfond Sports Arena.

鈥淢y timeline here was what we now call nontraditional,鈥� Simons said. 鈥淏ut my time at this school is the reason that I鈥檝e managed to do anything in my life.鈥�

Throughout his remarks, Simons reflected on the professors, classmates and experiences that shaped him during his five years at U海角社区. He credited Hardy with teaching students how to persevere through failure and rejection while continuing to grow.

鈥淪he prepared us for the inevitable onslaught of rejection we would receive but at the same time taught us the skills to build ourselves up again,鈥� Simons said.

Simons also encouraged graduates to take risks even when they feel uncertain about the future.

鈥淏ravery isn鈥檛 not being afraid,鈥� Simons said. 鈥淏ravery is being afraid and doing it anyway.鈥�

The undergraduate ceremonies also celebrated the university鈥檚 recent growth and achievements, including the reaffirmation of U海角社区鈥檚 Carnegie R1 research status, major campus construction projects and student-led initiatives.

U海角社区 President Joan Ferrini-Mundy encouraged graduates to remain open to new opportunities after leaving campus.

鈥淚 want to assure you that it is OK to be uncertain about your future,鈥� Ferrini-Mundy said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 let that uncertainty stop you from taking risks and reaching out in new directions.鈥�

Ferrini-Mundy also highlighted several undergraduate students whose research addressed issues impacting 海角社区 and beyond, including PFAS and food insecurity.

鈥淭he future can be more just, more equitable, more innovative, more safe and more compassionate with intention,鈥� Ferrini-Mundy said. 鈥淚t becomes better only when people like you 鈥� people who care, people who worked hard here at U海角社区 to learn and grow and have knowledge and capability, people who can see both problems and possibilities. When you choose to act, you are capable of making those changes.鈥�

Valedictorian Ruth Griffith encouraged graduates to reflect on the values that will guide them after college.

鈥淪o I think each of us here today needs to ask two additional questions,鈥� Griffith said. 鈥淔irst: What are my core values? And second: How will I embody them?鈥�

Griffith, who graduated with a degree in economics and minors in mathematics and international affairs, urged classmates to prioritize values over ambition.

鈥淏ecause I truly believe that if we lead with our values rather than just our ambitions, we will find ourselves happier,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur picture of success will shift.鈥�

Co-salutatorian Isabelle Irani told graduates uncertainty should be embraced rather than feared.

鈥淲hat if not knowing what we鈥檙e doing isn鈥檛 a weakness?鈥� Irani said. 鈥淲hat if it鈥檚 actually the reason we鈥檙e capable of more than we think?鈥�

Co-salutatorian Andrii Obertas reflected on the perseverance shared by graduates and encouraged classmates to support one another moving forward.

鈥淚t is a simple reality of life that no single person can change the world alone,鈥� Obertas said. 鈥淥nly united can we make a difference. And only through empathy can we build a better future.鈥�

Student Government President Keegan Tripp told his fellow graduates to stay bold enough to act.

鈥淪peak when it would be easier to stay quiet,鈥� he said. 鈥淏uild when it would be easier to walk away. Show love and appreciation to the family and friends who got you here.鈥�

The university also recognized Mohamad Musavi, senior associate dean and professor in the 海角社区 College of Engineering and Computing, as the 2026 Distinguished 海角社区 Professor.

鈥淪uccess does not happen by accident,鈥� Musavi said. 鈥淚t requires passion, hard work and resilience.鈥�

The university also recognized Carol Dana, upon whom the University of 海角社区 System Board of Trustees conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree for decades of work preserving and revitalizing the Penobscot language and culture.

Graduate ceremony focuses on innovation, resilience

During the graduate commencement ceremony, speakers focused on research, innovation and the impact graduates will have beyond the university.

Graduate School Dean Scott Delcourt encouraged graduates to remain adaptable in a rapidly changing workforce.

鈥淲hen asked about the greatest skills that companies were looking for in their new hires, the overwhelming response was the ability to think critically,鈥� Delcourt said.

Ferrini-Mundy praised graduate students for balancing academics with careers, caregiving and leadership responsibilities while advancing research and innovation.

鈥淵ou stepped into entrepreneurship and innovation. You stepped into the unknown,鈥� Ferrini-Mundy said. 鈥淎nd you just kept going!鈥�

Graduate Student Government President Sudati Shrestha reflected on her journey from Nepal to the commencement stage while honoring her late father.

鈥淭he University of 海角社区 gave me that opportunity, and today, as I stand here, I realize that this moment is more than just a personal achievement,鈥� Shrestha said. 鈥淚t is the fulfillment of a dream.鈥�

Graduate commencement speakers Amber Boutiette and Patrick Breeding reflected on building Marin Skincare from lobster research connected to U海角社区鈥檚 Lobster Institute into a nationally distributed skincare company rooted in 海角社区 innovation and sustainability.

鈥淵ou are on the cusp of a huge life change, the beginning of an entirely new story, and it鈥檚 time to think big,鈥� Boutiette told graduates.

Breeding encouraged graduates to remain curious and open to unexpected opportunities.

鈥淲hen you lead with curiosity, suddenly, you start to make your own luck,鈥� Breeding said.

Machias ceremony emphasizes community, perseverance

During the Machias ceremony, speakers encouraged graduates to embrace uncertainty, persevere through challenges and remain grounded in community and compassion.

Ferrini-Mundy encouraged graduates to move forward with confidence and to remain connected to the values and community they developed at U海角社区 Machias.

鈥淎s you move forward, you will encounter both opportunity and uncertainty,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n those moments, I encourage you to draw on what you have built here: a strong sense of purpose, respect for others, and a readiness to engage thoughtfully with the world around you.鈥�

Valedictorian Rachel D鈥橝lessandro encouraged classmates to embrace change and reject perfectionism.

鈥淒on鈥檛 strive for perfection; strive to be a better you,鈥� D鈥橝lessandro said.

The university conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree upon Susan Mingo, who reflected on returning to college after initially dropping out.

鈥淵our path does not need to be perfect to be powerful,鈥� said Mingo, president of Washington County Community College.

Ivy Orator Regina McNamara de la Vega encouraged graduates to continue learning and remain optimistic through difficult moments.

鈥淣ever let the clouds deter you from reaching the sunlight and earning what you want in life,鈥� McNamara said.

Contact: David Nordman, david.nordman@maine.edu

The field of medicine is constantly evolving to optimize care and patient outcomes. Technology growth and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) have changed what it means to be a doctor and a patient, even in the recent decade. To contend with this, researchers at the University of 海角社区 are helping medical education adapt to a changing world of medicine. 

Electrical and Computer Engineering Ph.D. candidate Kevin Real MD is part of this movement, working to shape the way students understand medical issues and develop innovative solutions. After earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree in biomedical engineering and completing medical school, Real put his medical career on hold to further pursue a passion in education and technology. 

Over the past year, Real has focussed his research on an innovative approach to eye disease in premature infants, utilizing both his engineering and medical backgrounds. He partnered with ophthalmologists in Portland, Oregon to help them advance their curriculum and way of understanding eye models. 

鈥淚 used my ECE experience to ultimately help the surgeons look at 2D images and transpose them to 3D images, specifically for looking at disease progression. The question is, how can we do this better, how do you make these models more precise? That was my mission this year,鈥� explained Real. 

He specifically looked at a disease process called retinopathy prematurity, the leading cause of childhood blindness in the United States, according to the . The disease impacts infants born prematurely who received supplemental oxygen. This can impact the eye鈥檚 ability to develop normally because abnormal blood vessels can grow inside the retina and lead to retinal detachment. Surgeons are able to fix retinal detachment, but rely on a two-dimensional view of the retina. Real is hoping to bring more precision to this process by making two-dimensional view into three-dimensional models. 

It was important to Real to not limit this research to the lab or a hospital and engage students in the research process. He took this concept of two to three-dimensional image transposition and further explored the idea with a 海角社区 high school senior, helping them use simple geometric principles to develop a 3D model of an infant鈥檚 eye. The student was then able to present their work at a conference for the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and gained real-world research experience. 

Real鈥檚 passion for student engagement extends beyond his direct research. He helped high school students from John Bapst Memorial High School participate in ophthalmology research on glaucoma progression, eventually leading to publication of their work in the Proceedings of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (). Real鈥檚 motivation for working with students comes from his time teaching a high school science class here in 海角社区, and they still inspire his research methodology today. 

鈥淥ne thing that I like about high school students is that they come up with the craziest ideas, and sometimes they work. We tend to get stuck in our ways about the best way for research to be conducted, but students come up with ideas we might never have heard of,鈥� remarked Real. 

His passion for education extends into his work with National Science Foundation 海角社区-SMART project, working to revitalize education efforts in the state. Real helped develop new educational modules that have been distributed across the state to diversify STEM education for local students. Last year, he helped develop new educational modules on the uses of cellulose nano fiber (CNF) that are now in use throughout the state. He also created modules and curriculum on CNF that were used by the 海角社区 Mobile BIOLAB, a traveling laboratory that provides hands-on STEM education to students in 海角社区. 

鈥淚 really understand that education is what I love, and my mission today is incorporating AI, neural networks and technology into education at every level, not just medical school,鈥� said Real. 

Looking ahead, Real will be starting his residency this fall with the John Peter Smith Family Medicine Residency program in Fort Worth, Texas, but hopes to return to 海角社区 in the future. He is part of a coalition that aims to establish 海角社区鈥檚 first medical school for MDs, and would love to be a part of the process down the line in his career. With an MD and Ph.D., Real鈥檚 end goal is to eventually become a dean of a medical school, bridging his experiences with medicine and education, and helping med students adapt to changing technology and practices.听

Real鈥檚 mission and reasoning behind his journey is a goal to never stop learning and innovating in his field, and teaching those along the way. 

鈥淭he whole point is not only that I hope to pass the torch, but I hope that the torch surpasses me,鈥� said Real. 

Real would like to thank his advisor, Giovanna Guidoboni, U海角社区鈥檚 interim vice president for research and dean of the 海角社区 College of Engineering and Computing, for her support in his endeavors. 

By Heather Johnson, graduate assistant

Contact: Daniel Timmermann, daniel.timmermann@maine.edu

The symposium awards undergraduate and graduate students who displayed outstanding research, presentation and creative ability. Award winners were selected through judging across academic categories, all receiving a medal and a $500 cash prize. There were also several special awards, including the Student Innovation and Commercialization Awards, given to students and faculty. 

Over 350 projects from researchers at U海角社区 and its regional campus, the University of 海角社区 at Machias, were submitted to the annual event, co-hosted by CUGR, Student Government and the Graduate Student Government. 

Undergraduate category award winners

• Allied Health: Alyson Shook and Hannah Maker, for their project titled 鈥淪trengthening EMS Retention in 海角社区: A Path to Improved Patient Outcomes.鈥� They were advised by Sarah Hanscome.
• Arts: William Fortier, Oliver Rodi and Mikey Arbelo, for their project titled 鈥淭he Creativity of Mapping.鈥� They were advised by Andy Mauery.
• Biomedical Sciences: Hayden Kittell, Diana Goode and Moria Weese-Myers, for their project titled 鈥淢HCII Expression in Differential Doses of Chemotherapy Treatment on Mice.鈥� They were advised by William Otto.
• Business: Brady Merritt, for the project titled 鈥淐an Large Language Models Pass the CFA Exam.鈥� Merrit was advised by Sebastian Lobe.
• Education: Carly Philbrook, for her project titled 鈥淐omparison of High School Mathematics Textbooks Analyzing Higher Order Thinking Skills in New England.鈥� Philbrook was advised by Kamal Chawla.
• Engineering and Information Sciences: Elsa Perez Abella and Ahmed Kandil, for their project titled 鈥淪urface Flow Visualization Enhancement Using AI.鈥� They were advised by Ahmed Aboelezz.
• Engineering and Information Sciences: Wyatt Fessler, Cadence Kluck, Isabelle Irani and Marc Zoorob, for their project titled 鈥淎 Tissue-integrating, Resealable Hemodialysis Port for Reducing Complications Associated with Repetitive Vascular Access.鈥� They were advised by David Neivandt.
• Interdisciplinary Research: Richard Viveiros, for the project titled 鈥淪ublethal PFAS Exposure During Larval Stages of Culex: Consequences for Development, Survivorship, and Tissue Bioacculation of PFOA, PFBA, and PFBS.鈥� Viveiros was advised by Allison Gardner.
• Interdisciplinary Research: Luke Connolly, for the project titled 鈥淣ano-Pattern Fabrication Using Electron Beam Lithography.鈥� Connolly was advised by Dinh Loc Duong.
• Natural Sciences: Josie Aprea, Brendan Dahl, Emma Perry and Ian Bricknell, for their project titled 鈥減H vs. Predator.鈥� Bricknell also served as advisor for the project.
• Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Avery Richard, Ziyad ur Rehman, Henry Carfagno and Nuri Emanetoglu, for their project titled 鈥淔abrication and Characterization of Indenofluorene-based Organic Single Crystal Field-effect Transistors.鈥� They were advised by Dinh Loc Duong.
• Social Sciences and Humanities: Maya Aylesworth, for the project titled 鈥淩obert Johnson, the Crossroad Mythos, and the Lasting Effects of a Legend.鈥� Aylesworth was advised by Jennifer Moxley.

Graduate category award winner

• Allied Health: Katherine Brewer, for the project titled 鈥淭elehealth and Prenatal Care Utilization in Rural Communities: Addressing Access, Satisfaction, and Health Outcomes.鈥� Brewer was advised by Kathryn Robinson.
• Arts: Celena Powell, for the project titled 鈥淎t the Threshold: Domestic Space as a Site of Contemporary Resistance.鈥� Powell was advised by Susan Smith.
• Biomedical Sciences: Chloe Bossow, Lydia McCarthy and Melody Neely, for the project titled 鈥淚nteractions Between Group B Streptococcus and Candida albicans Are Influenced by Environmental Stress.鈥� Neely also served as the advisor for the project.
• Education: Kayla McLagan, Kate Ruskin, Alison Jolley, Karen Pelletreau and Edgelynn Venuti, for their project titled 鈥淭o What Extent Does a Weekend-long Field Course Influence Students鈥� Sense of Belonging? A Focus on Influential Course Elements.鈥� They were advised by Kate Ruskin.
• Engineering and Information Sciences: Mahbuba Daizy, Yu Zhang, Douglas Bousfield, Jinwu Wang and David Neivandt, for their project titled 鈥淐omparison of Stabilization Systems for Soybean Wax Emulsions to Produce Sustainable Water-resistant Paper Based Packaging: Surfactant vs. Pickering.鈥� Neivandt also served as the advisor for the project.
• Interdisciplinary Research: Zainab Jafri, for the project titled 鈥淩eimagining the Waste Disposal Landscape – Industrial Symbiosis in 海角社区.鈥� Jafri was advised by Reed Miller.
• Natural Sciences: Nabanita Das, Islam Hafez, Colleen Walker, Douglas Bousfield and Mehdi Tajvidi, for their project titled 鈥淔actors Influencing the Effectiveness of Cellulose Nanfibril Coatings on Molded Fiber Substrates.鈥� Tajvidi also served as the advisor for the project.
• Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Hettikankanamge Kalani Samarasekara, for the project titled 鈥淧aving the Way for Novel Drug Delivery Systems: Peptoid Nanoparticles.鈥� Samarasekara was advised by Alessia Battigelli.
• Social Sciences and Humanities: Catherine Segada, Chyanne Yoder, William Breneman and Gianna DeJoy, for their project titled 鈥淩euseME: Investigating Waste Reduction and Cost Benefits in Coastal Communities Through a Pilot Reusable Food Packaging Program.鈥� They were advised by Cynthia Isenhour.
• Social Sciences and Humanities: Cynthia Cushing, Catherine Taylor, Rachel Coleman, MaryLou Ciolfi, Jennifer Crittenden, Len Kaye and Sarah Currie, for their project titled 鈥淏uilding a Workforce Readiness Model for Older Adults: Partner Insights From AmeriCorps Seniors Workforce Development Program.鈥� Crittenden also served as advisor for the project. 

Student Innovation and Commercialization Awards

• First Place: Nabanita Das.
• Second Place: Amir Baharvand.
• Third Place: Noro John.

Additional awards

• Dean of Graduate School Undergraduate Mentoring Award: Joshua Hamilton.
• Dean of the Graduate School Faculty Mentor Award: Christine Beitl
• Bruce and Joanne Fournier Award: Gregory Simms, Mikayla Reynolds, Isabelle Irani and David Neivandt.
• Provost鈥檚 Innovative and Creative Teaching Award: Jillian Fedarick.
• Susan J. Hunter Undergraduate Award: Madelynn DeBest.
• Susan J. Hunter Graduate Award: Mya Griffith. 

According to the , more than 3,000 海角社区 children experience brain injuries each year, and an estimated 20% 鈥� or 600 children 鈥� experience more severe trauma. Yet only about 130 receive formal school-based support for these injuries and often they often do not get the care needed to thrive.听

Jessica Riccardi, an assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders, leads the Brain Injury, Education, and Rehabilitation (BEaR) Lab at U海角社区. The team advances research as they support children with acquired brain injuries by working directly with them, their families and their practitioners to improve long-term outcomes for these children. Examples of support the lab provides includes professional development for schools and community organizations, consultation with educational teams on students with brain injury, and referring families to national, state and local resources for childhood brain injury. 

The team鈥檚 work is especially important in 海角社区, which does not have a pediatric rehabilitation hospital. The state鈥檚 only pediatric intensive care center is in Portland, limiting the availability of care options to children elsewhere in the state. Riccardi said the transition from hospital to school after traumatic brain injuries is often difficult for children, and 海角社区rs feel the problem more intensely due to limited access to medical services for kids, particularly in rural communities. The direct work the lab does is important to improving detection and connecting children to resources.

In addition to improving long-term outcomes for children with brain injuries, Riccardi鈥檚 lab also offers graduate and undergraduate students research and hands-on experiences with clinical populations. 

One of these students is Elise DeRosby, a communication sciences and disorders major from Hampden, 海角社区. DeRosby has been working with Riccardi for nearly two years in research that complements her interests, including working face-to-face with people.

In collaboration with U海角社区鈥檚 Virtual Environment and Multimodal Interaction (VEMI) Lab, DeRosby recently helped run a project that uses virtual reality equipment to assess cognitive communication in kids with brain injuries. Cognitive communication is when cognitive skills, such as memory, attention, planning and organization, influence your communication abilities. 

鈥淭hink about it in a school setting,鈥� Riccardi said. 鈥淚f they have a hard time maintaining attention, they鈥檙e going to do poorly on a test, not because they don鈥檛 know the content, but because they didn鈥檛 pay attention in the first place.鈥� 

To examine the cognitive communication of these kids, researchers put them in a virtual classroom where they had to make decisions in a simulated egg-drop science experiment. 

鈥淭hey have to choose a design for which model of egg carrier,鈥� said DeRosby. 鈥淭hey have to go through the process of picking a design, then instructions will tell them to collect materials and they have to assemble the design, then get the egg, put it in the design and drop it off bleachers in a school gym.鈥�

Using this virtual reality scenario, researchers can collect data on a child鈥檚 decision-making, attention and processing, all of which are components of cognitive communication. While much more data collection is necessary for this project to be useful, Riccardi and DeRosby hope that their research will help in developing resources for clinicians, particularly speech-language pathologists, to serve kids with brain injuries.

DeRosby鈥檚 research experiences in the BEaR Lab and U海角社区 more broadly have helped her understand what she wants to pursue in life. After originally pursuing molecular and cellular biology, DeRosby shifted to speech pathology to work more face-to-face with other people. 

With funding from U海角社区鈥檚 Center for Undergraduate Research, she was able to do that in the BEaR lab, studying art therapy for adults with brain injuries. Working with participants, learning about their injuries and experience and helping develop tools to help them was moving. 

鈥淚 think it is an eye-opening experience to get to interact with people. You don鈥檛 get that in the classroom,鈥� said DeRosby. 

While the lab鈥檚 research is contributing to understanding childhood brain injuries, it is also helping to develop the next generation of researchers and professionals who will be working with the communities that need it most. 

鈥淥ur clients often say that the person who took a moment to understand their challenges was the person who really changed their recovery,鈥� said Riccardi. Through her lab, Riccardi hopes the students in her lab can be 鈥渢hat person.鈥�  Raising empathy and understanding for those with brain injuries is an important first step towards success in these individuals鈥� lives. 

鈥淭aking the time to understand other people鈥檚 perspectives and where they come from,鈥� DeRosby said, 鈥渁ny human can learn that, and it will make us all better.鈥� 

If you are interested in learning more about the work Riccardi鈥檚 research team is doing, you can visit the BEaR Lab website, or contact Riccardi at jessica.riccardi@maine.edu. 

By Emma Beauregard, research media intern

Contact: Daniel Timmermann, daniel.timmerman@maine.edu

The cohort is implementing ReuseME, a pilot program in partnership with the coastal towns of Bar Harbor, Bath and South Portland. Participating eateries include Cafe This Way and Coffee Matter/Mother鈥檚 Kitchen in Bar Harbor, Solo Pane in Bath, and Second Rodeo Coffee and Verbena in South Portland.

By testing the viability of reusable takeout packaging in participating restaurants, students are at the forefront of developing a model that reduces waste, prevents plastic pollution and saves local businesses and municipalities money on the purchase and disposal of single-use food and beverage packaging.

Throughout this project, U海角社区 student researchers are working directly with these businesses to track results and analyze usage patterns to refine the returnable model.

鈥淭he driver for this project has been a focus on wanting to maintain and protect 海角社区鈥檚 coastal environment because it鈥檚 a very important part of the state鈥檚 culture,鈥� said Ryan Kennedy, a University of 海角社区 senior in the Department of Anthropology.

Kennedy, an undergraduate research assistant on the project, has been involved since the initial baseline surveys last June. They noted that the team met with restaurant owners to discuss their establishments鈥� capabilities and customer habits.

鈥淚 want to help bring cost savings to the frontline because that drives most business decisions,鈥� Kennedy said. 鈥淥n the commercial side, choosing between the wallet and the planet can be difficult. With the cost of everything going up, people want to know if a change will save them money. By providing hard data to businesses and a simple message to its customers, we can show that sustainable swaps don鈥檛 have to be a complicated transition.鈥�

These five local eateries now offer diners the option of having their food and/or beverage packaged in returnable stainless steel containers. Customers can check out these containers by signing up for a free account in the Recirclable app. After enjoying their takeout meals, customers can return the containers to any of the participating establishments.

鈥淚 think we鈥檙e starting to see people realize how easy it is to make more sustainable swaps,鈥� Kennedy said. 

In just a little over a month since the Reuse 海角社区 pilot project launched, more than 100 customers across the state have borrowed nearly 500 reusable containers. 

Other student researchers involved in the project include Chyanne Yoder, Catherine Segada, Gianna DeJoy, William Brenneman and Alejandro Snell. They are joined by project advisor Cindy Isenhour, a professor in the Department of Anthropology and the Climate Change Institute.

As part of an extensive, interdisciplinary effort to mitigate marine pollution, the project is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 海角社区 Sea Grant and the 海角社区 Department of Environmental Protection. The support allows the team to tackle environmental challenges while providing student researchers with the resources needed to develop scalable, real-world solutions.

鈥淚 think the hard data and transparency between the businesses, their customers and our team is what鈥檚 really driving the success and the happiness with this project,鈥� Kennedy said. 鈥淚t helps people feel like they鈥檙e making a difference without having to go out of their way. It鈥檚 just a part of their routine when they pick up a coffee or grab lunch.鈥�

Story by Alexa Rose Perocillo, news intern

Contact: Marcus Wolf, marcus.wolf@maine.edu; Cindy Isenhour, cynthia.isenhour@maine.edu

This year鈥檚 recipients are:

• Mehdi Tajvidi, Presidential Research and Creative Achievement Award.
• Darren Ranco, Presidential Public Engagement Achievement Award.
• Jay Wason, Presidential Outstanding Teaching Award.
• Melissa Ladenheim, Black Bear Award for Extraordinary Impact.
• William Davids, Presidential Innovation Award.

鈥淭hese awards recognize the very best of the University of 海角社区,鈥� said President Joan Ferrini-Mundy. 鈥淓ach of these individuals demonstrates a deep commitment to excellence, innovation and service. Their work strengthens our university, advances knowledge and makes a meaningful difference for the people of 海角社区 and beyond.鈥�

Mehdi Tajvidi

Presidential Research and Creative Achievement Award

Mehdi Tajvidi, professor of renewable nanomaterials in the School of Forest Resources and Advanced Structures and Composites Center, is recognized for internationally distinguished research and scholarship. The award honors faculty whose work contributes knowledge to issues of local, national and global significance.

Since joining U海角社区 in 2013, Tajvidi has focused on the production, characterization and performance of renewable nanomaterials and their composites. His research centers on cellulose nanomaterials for applications including coatings, packaging and building products, spanning work from foundational science to industrial trials.

鈥淢ehdi鈥檚 work reflects research leadership that brings global visibility to U海角社区 while delivering real value to our state,鈥� Ferrini-Mundy said. 鈥淗is focus on sustainable innovation is helping address important challenges in materials and manufacturing.鈥�

Tajvidi鈥檚 lab has developed bio-based alternatives to synthetic materials, including technologies to replace formaldehyde-based resins in building products and PFAS in molded fiber packaging, as well as foam products used in packaging. He has also launched a line of research in mycelium-based biocomposites, using fungal materials to produce low-density insulation and packaging products.

His work supports collaborations with 海角社区-based and national companies and contributes to new product development in the forest products industry. He also mentors graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and undergraduates who have gone on to careers in academia, industry and national laboratories.

Darren Ranco

Presidential Public Engagement Achievement Award

Darren Ranco, professor of anthropology, faculty fellow in the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, and chair of Native American Programs, is recognized for public engagement that applies academic expertise to enhance the public good.

Since returning to 海角社区 in 2009, Ranco, a Penobscot Nation citizen who grew up in Orono, has worked with Wabanaki Tribal Nations on environmental and cultural issues. His work includes leadership on responses to the emerald ash borer, an invasive species that threatens ash trees used in traditional basket making. His efforts contributed to agreements among tribal nations, the state and federal agencies.

鈥淒arren鈥檚 work reflects a deep commitment to partnership and to connecting the university鈥檚 expertise with community needs,鈥� Ferrini-Mundy said. 鈥淗e builds relationships that lead to meaningful, lasting impact.鈥�

He has also supported tribal climate resilience and land return efforts, working with communities to develop priorities, establish baselines and create plans to address environmental change. 

Ranco has contributed to strengthening relationships between the university and tribal communities, including efforts to support collaboration and culturally informed research practices.

His public engagement includes educational initiatives supporting the development of Wabanaki studies curriculum, public talks, working with legislators to support environmentally and culturally sound legislation, and participation in projects that address community needs.

Jay Wason

Presidential Outstanding Teaching Award

Jay Wason, associate professor of forest ecosystem physiology in the School of Forest Resources, is recognized for advancing student learning through teaching and mentorship.

Since joining U海角社区 in 2018, Wason has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in forest biology, plant structure and function, and research methods. His teaching emphasizes scientific thinking and applying knowledge to new problems.

鈥淛ay鈥檚 teaching reflects a commitment to student learning that both challenges and supports students,鈥� Ferrini-Mundy said. 鈥淗e helps students build confidence and apply their knowledge in meaningful ways.鈥�

His courses incorporate hands-on laboratory work, group activities and opportunities for students to design experiments and analyze data. These approaches support active learning and encourage students to engage directly with course material.

Student evaluations consistently highlight his preparation, clarity and enthusiasm, as well as his ability to help students understand complex topics.

In addition to teaching, Wason mentors undergraduate and graduate students and contributes to instructional development within his department.

Melissa Ladenheim

Black Bear Award for Extraordinary Impact

Melissa Ladenheim, associate dean of the Honors College, is recognized for exceeding expectations and making an extraordinary impact through service and leadership.

She coordinates the 海角社区 Day Meal Packout, a campus-wide initiative that provides meals to food-insecure communities across the state. A central part of 海角社区 Day Week of Service, the effort engages approximately 400 to 500 volunteers each year. Since its early years in the 2010s, the initiative will surpass 800,000 meals packed and distributed with the culmination of this year鈥檚 event.

鈥淢elissa鈥檚 leadership shows how service can bring people together while creating opportunities for students to lead,鈥� Ferrini-Mundy said. 鈥淗er work inspires a strong culture of engagement on campus and beyond.鈥�

The 海角社区 Day Meal Packout is student-driven, with a leadership team playing key roles in fundraising, logistics and partnerships, while Ladenheim oversees and coordinates the initiative. Through that work, students gain experience in leadership, project management and community engagement while contributing to a statewide effort to address food insecurity.

Ladenheim is also involved in the Servant Heart Research Collaborative, which develops educational initiatives addressing social and learning challenges in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Haiti and Uganda. Through this work, she helped create and build the National Education Test Tool, an online platform that prepares students in Sierra Leone for national exams, as well as the Attachment Theory Workshop, a caregiver training program focused on fostering healthy attachments in children who have experienced trauma.

Her work reflects a sustained commitment to service and student development, with impact across campus, throughout 海角社区 and internationally.

Bill Davids

Presidential Innovation Award

Bill Davids, Bodwell University Distinguished Professor and chair of civil and environmental engineering, is recognized for translating research into technologies with economic and societal impact.

Over nearly three decades at U海角社区, Davids has focused on engineering research that supports innovation and real-world application. He is a co-inventor of the CT Girder, a fiber-reinforced polymer bridge beam that is significantly lighter than steel and resistant to corrosion. The technology has been used in bridge construction projects in 海角社区, Rhode Island and Florida.

鈥淏ill鈥檚 work demonstrates how research at U海角社区 can translate into practical solutions that strengthen infrastructure and support economic development,鈥� Ferrini-Mundy said. 鈥淗e connects innovation with real-world impact.鈥�

He has also contributed to the development of the Continuous Forming Machine, a manufacturing technology for fiber-reinforced thermoplastic materials. This work has supported the creation of a startup company that is generating revenue, attracting investment and building a manufacturing facility in 海角社区.

His research has also contributed to improved methods for evaluating and maintaining bridges, helping extend the service life of infrastructure and reduce the need for repair and replacement.

Through collaboration with students and industry partners, Davids鈥� work has produced practical outcomes that advance engineering practice and support infrastructure solutions.

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu

Those meals will be assembled during the 海角社区 Day Meal Packout (MDMP) on Wednesday, April 29, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the New Balance Field House. 

鈥淗undreds of volunteers 鈥� spanning individual students and faculty, community partners, sports teams and entire classes 鈥� show up to work together and accomplish an incredible amount of work,鈥� said Valleli, an ecology and environmental sciences major who serves as the MDMP marketing and communications chair. 鈥淲hat the 海角社区 Day Meal Packout initiative does communicate is that countless people 鈥� from the hundreds of individual volunteers packing each meal to the devoted student leaders or the philanthropic backers of the event 鈥� are willing to show up and make a difference together.鈥�

Led by the members of the MDMP student leadership team, which includes Valleli, the initiative is on track to exceed last year鈥檚 goal of assembling and distributing over 50,000 meals in just a few hours. By the end of the event, the MDMP will mark the 800,000th meal packed at U海角社区 since the initiative launched.

The project originated in 2017 as the 鈥淗ungry 100K,鈥� after students were challenged to surpass Harvard as the top meal-packing university in New England. Spearheaded by Melissa Ladenheim, associate dean of the Honors College, the initiative rebranded as the 海角社区 Day Meal Packout in 2018. Since then, it has maintained a consistent impact, even continuing through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and campus cancellations.

鈥淭he 海角社区 Day Meal Packout is a truly extraordinary, transformative event that brings the campus together in service of a key element of U海角社区鈥檚 land-grant mission: to have a positive impact on the broader community of which we are a part,鈥� said Honors College Dean Ellen Weinauer. 鈥淭hanks to the remarkable and enduring effort on the part of student leaders and their mentors, the 海角社区 Day Meal Packout has justifiably become one of the U海角社区 initiatives of which we can be most proud.鈥�

In addition to bake sales, the student leadership team fundraised for the event through soliciting individual donations, garnering support from philanthropic organizations, participating in broader initiatives like the 海角社区 Credit Union League鈥檚 Campaign for Ending Hunger and securing grants such as the Alton 鈥�38 and Adelaide Hamm Campus Activity Fund.

鈥満＝巧缜� is a small and tight-knit community, so when I鈥檓 presenting to fellow 海角社区rs, everyone I鈥檓 speaking to has seen the impact of hunger,鈥� said Ruth Griffith, a senior majoring in economics and the 2026 Valedictorian. Griffith serves as the MDMP fundraising chair and overall student coordinator. 鈥淲hen speaking with corporate donors who may not realize the scope of the 海角社区 Day Meal Packout, I focus on the scale of their contribution. For example, I discuss how a $1,000 donation could feed 2,500 people, and how that goes a long way toward feeding hungry 海角社区rs.鈥�

Most participating food pantries pick up the meals at U海角社区, but students have delivered them to those that cannot come to campus to ensure people gain-access to much needed sustenance. Pantry operators sometimes join other volunteers in packing meals during the event. 

鈥淭he pickup and distribution of the meals is definitely the hardest part because some of our partners have a three-hour commute each way,鈥� said Jasper Makowski, a senior majoring in microbiology who works directly with the food pantry recipients. 鈥淭aking the time to get to Orono is a huge challenge, especially for some of the mom-and-pop operations. Luckily, we have a great number of supporters who are willing to drive and deliver to some of these rural locations, but a significant challenge every year is making sure we can actually get the meals to the food bank.鈥�

Students drive the success of the MDMP, gaining leadership skills through a committee system covering fundraising, outreach, partnerships, communications and logistics. For student leaders like Makowski, Griffith and Valleli, the event offers a tangible way to support fellow 海角社区rs while developing professional expertise in project management.

鈥淭he 海角社区 Day Meal Packout is a 鈥榳in-win-win鈥欌�攊t鈥檚 a win for our students, it鈥檚 a win for the campus and it鈥檚 a win for the community,鈥� said Ladenheim. 鈥淚 am incredibly grateful for this year鈥檚 student leadership team. This group has been the most cohesive, collaborative and effective team I have ever worked with.鈥�

Story by Alexa Rose Perocillo, news intern

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu听

Nearly 300 high school students from 11 different 海角社区 high schools are expected to visit the flagship campus in Orono for the event. They will take part in an informational resource fair, student life interactive presentations, student panels featuring Early College alumni, and specialized campus tours tailored to students鈥� academic interests. 

U海角社区 Early College allows high school students to take courses through the flagship for credit and tuition-free through a partnership between the University of 海角社区 System and the 海角社区 Department of Education. Doing so helps them develop confidence and study skills, and see postsecondary education as a place where they belong and will succeed. The result of these U海角社区 Early College opportunities is increased high school and postsecondary degree attainment and lower debt.

鈥淒iscovery Day is an exciting opportunity for high school students to experience the University of 海角社区 firsthand and see what makes our campus so distinctive,鈥� said U海角社区 Associate Dean of Online and Continuing Education Patricia Libby. 鈥淎t U海角社区, students dive into a one-of-a-kind, discovery-driven education that begins with hands-on learning from day one in an immersive environment. As 海角社区鈥檚 learner-centered R1 research university, we are a hub for innovation 鈥� from advanced manufacturing and the blue economy to the health and life sciences and beyond. As a Space Grant and Sea Grant institution, and home to NCAA Division I athletics, U海角社区 offers students the chance to explore their interests and imagine what鈥檚 possible at 海角社区鈥檚 flagship university.鈥�

The inaugural Early College Discovery Day was made possible by generous funding from the Alton 鈥�38 and Adelaide Hamm Campus Activity Fund, with additional support from the University of 海角社区 Division of Lifelong Learning and the 海角社区 College of Engineering and Computing.

For more information, contact U海角社区 Early College Program Coordinator Allison Drinkwater, at 207-581-8024 or um.earlycollege@maine.edu, or visit umaine.edu/earlycollege

鈥淩achel and Kalli are exceptional students who have achieved great things not only in the classroom, but across campus and our community,鈥� said U海角社区 Machias Dean Megan Walsh. 

D鈥橝lessandro works as a phlebotomist, and plans to enter a medical lab technician program. Immersing herself in health sciences during her undergraduate career, she attended a week-long course at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory in Bar Harbor, 海角社区, during spring break in 2025.

鈥淚 plan to use my experience and the degrees I am receiving at U海角社区 Machias to continue and further my career in the medical field,鈥� D鈥橝lessandro said. 

With a passion for the outdoors, D鈥橝lessandro worked for Project SHARE, an organization dedicated to Atlantic Salmon conservation, in the summer of 2023 and 2025. She participated in several Outing Club events, including a hike at Tunk Mountain, a canoe paddle at Six Mile Lake and a ski trip at Big Rock Mountain, where she learned how to snowboard.

鈥淚 also enjoyed regular events on campus like intramurals, bingo, paint and sips, terrarium building and all kinds of other events,鈥� she said. 

Deeply connected to her hometown, Sternberg, who also pursued a concentration in elementary education and a minor in creative writing, recently completed her student teaching at Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School in Machias. Sternberg worked under Caitlyn Roy, who was her own teacher in fifth grade. While studying at U海角社区 Machias, she earned her Wilderness First Responder license during one of her courses. 

鈥淚 hope to give back to my Washington County community by teaching locally!鈥� Sternberg said. 鈥淓ventually, I plan to pursue a master’s degree in the educational space and perhaps earn a graduate Certificate in Outdoor Education and Leadership.鈥� 

She volunteers with Jobs for 海角社区 Graduates (JMG), the only non profit organization in 海角社区 that offers support for students as they transition from middle school to high school, through high school graduation and onto post-secondary education. By partnering with 海角社区鈥檚 middle and high schools, community colleges and the University of 海角社区 System, JMG promotes degree attainment and pathways to careers.

Sternberg is also the student representative for the U海角社区 Machias Curriculum Committee, which is responsible for developing recommendations to add, drop or restructure academic programs and individual courses. 

Recently, she met with the 海角社区 Department of Education to discuss U海角社区 Machias鈥� Rural Education program. 

鈥淚 enjoy being a student ambassador and  talking to prospective students about the program!鈥� she said.  

Contact: Jacqueline Leonard, jacqueline.leonard@maine.edu 

Standing at a table lined with maroon shirts and other gifts and a standup banner showcasing facts about her department and a logo of its mascot 鈥� an eagle 鈥� Chan was among many representatives from nearly 40 districts statewide vying for U海角社区 talent during the College of Education and Human Development鈥檚 annual Education Career Fair on April 16 in the Wells Conference Center. 

Schools in 海角社区, like in many other states, are experiencing in a variety of areas, and are also seeking candidates for educational technician and substitute teacher roles. Education , and the College of Education and Human Development is the largest and most comprehensive teacher preparation and education program in the state.听

Chan said U海角社区 preservice teachers鈥� professionalism and preparation for classroom vacancies they seek to fill make them attractive candidates for school districts like hers. 

鈥淭hey dress, speak, and introduce themselves professionally,鈥� she said, adding the career fair is 鈥渁 really valuable event to be a part of, not just for the students, but for the districts.鈥�

Graduates of U海角社区鈥檚 state and nationally accredited teacher preparation programs are automatically recommended for initial teacher certification in several shortage areas, including general elementary, mathematics (middle and secondary levels) and . Students in these programs complete a variety of hands-on field experiences and observations in K-12 classrooms and other educational settings.听

Experience working as pre-service teachers in 海角社区 classrooms is a key reason why Chelly Schildroth, the curriculum director at Regional School Unit (RSU) 24 in Sullivan, was working to recruit U海角社区 students for her district at the career fair. 

鈥淚 think a lot of students who attend U海角社区 understand the types of schools that we have in 海角社区,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey aren鈥檛 big city schools, they are rural and a lot of kids who go to U海角社区 are excited to work at smaller schools.鈥� 

The College of Education and Human Development offers several programs that lead to teacher certification in 海角社区, including the undergraduate majors in elementary and secondary education, the early childhood education concentration in the child development and family relations major, and the health and physical education concentration in kinesiology and physical education.  

Sophia Ouellette, an elementary education major who attended the fair, said the field experiences she had while studying at U海角社区 prepared her to have a classroom of her own after graduation. During her final semester, Ouellette completed her required 15-week student teaching internship in a first-grade classroom at Leroy H. Smith School in Winterport, 海角社区.

鈥淚 also did my 100-hour practicum at the same school in the same classroom last semester,鈥� said Ouellette. 鈥淚t鈥檚 honestly given me the best knowledge and the best experience I could have asked for as I鈥檓 graduating.鈥�

Ouellette, who is from Scarborough, 海角社区, said she plans to return to southern 海角社区 after she graduates to teach in an early elementary classroom near where she grew up.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the ideal situation, but I鈥檓 open to new opportunities and very excited to see where U海角社区 will take me,鈥� she said.

Story by Rowan MacDonald, news intern

Contact: Casey Kelly, casey.kelly@maine.edu听

These small, vibrant fish, often associated with rocky habitats, are native to the Gulf of 海角社区. They are known to eat young lobster in the benthic stage, as well as small clams and snails.

Increasingly, the 海角社区 Department of Marine Resources and commercial lobstermen are finding cunner caught in their traps. Staudinger said the lobstermen have shared photos of cunner with lobster eggs in their mouths and are concerned it鈥檚 impacting the fishery. 

The to study keystone species in the U.S., in honor of the nation鈥檚 250th anniversary. Selected projects, including Staudinger鈥檚 lobster research, are receiving funding, equipment and other support to advance innovative solutions to contemporary conservation challenges.

Lobster and cunner have coexisted for a long time, but this would be a new behavior and new dynamic within the rocky substrate where they reside.

Cunners are unique in that they have tiny teeth throughout their jawline, which helps them capture food from rocky surfaces. They use their teeth to crush shells and other food, making it hard to recover evidence. Because of this, Staudinger said her research team will be studying the contents of cunners鈥� stomachs using environmental DNA. 

While shifts in community composition, distribution and timing of occurrence are all well known ecological responses to environmental change, Staudinger said researchers have a poor understanding of how these responses affect predator-prey and competitive interactions among species.

鈥淲e don’t know if this behavior has been happening and gone unnoticed or if there is an environmental factor causing it to happen now,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e would like to gather evidence to determine how widespread it is happening, and the best way to do that is to work with the fishermen who are on the water every day and see them in their traps.鈥�

If fishermen or other stakeholders find cunner with lobster eggs in their mouths, the Staudinger Lab is asking they use the provided QR code to share photos and information or send photos to 508-348-9039 or cunner.maine@gmail.com with the date the fish was captured and its location. More information is available on the lab鈥檚 website.

U海角社区 News recently spoke with Staudinger about what to expect from this upcoming research.

Do you suspect water temperature, population shifts and predator dynamics could be contributing to what鈥檚 happening between lobster and cunner?

These are all testable hypotheses that we’re going to be working through in this project. It’s possible there’s been a shift in timing. It could be a spatial distribution or a temporal shift that is bringing these two species together during certain life phases that they didn’t meet in previously. 

I found old historical papers that show cunner ate a lot of mollusks and other benthic invertebrates. One paper I found suggested that cunner really like to eat mussels, which have been less abundant in recent years. There is the possibility that they are exploring new food sources because others have decreased. They also might just be opportunistic, and that behavior could be leading them to take advantage of something they didn’t before.

Between equipment and personnel, what鈥檚 it going to take to find the answers?

We’re working with the 海角社区 Department of Marine Resources to collect bycatch cunner in their ventless trap survey. When we bring those fish back to the lab, we鈥檙e doing a visual inspection of their guts and mouths, where we find and record all diet items that can be identified, such as broken shells of snails and sometimes small clams.

One fun fact about this fish is that they use their teeth to pluck organisms off vertical, complex surfaces. They also have teeth in the back of their mouths that allow them to crush things. The diet of this fish is very difficult to assess, because it can mash or chew its food with its teeth. Most other fish swallow their prey whole. So we’re using environmental DNA to detect lobster in the cunner鈥檚 stomach contents and get a full biodiversity panel of what they’ve been eating.

How might the results of this upcoming study translate to help groups like fishermen make informed management decisions?

We’re not seeing a blanket amount of evidence, so there may be hot spots where this interaction is more likely to occur. One potential result would be to show hot spots where populations of egg-bearing female lobster and cunner are overlapping. That would provide spatial information to fishermen to make informed choices about when and where they fish. There is also the possibility of developing trap modifications to exclude or deter cunner.

We might find out that this is not a widespread occurrence, which could help alleviate concerns. Regardless, understanding a species that we don’t yet have a lot of information about is always going to be advantageous.

Contact: Ashley Yates; ashley.depew@maine.edu

Dawna Kulakowski teaches first through third grade in Troy, 海角社区. For her, moments like this are the point.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important for kids in these grades to come to the farm and learn about agriculture here at the university, because they have a lot of this out in their own communities, and they might be interested in a career in this area in the future,鈥� Kulakowski said. 鈥淚 think a lot of these kids like hands-on learning to experience things in the real world.鈥�

Public access is central to operations at Witter Farm in Old Town. It welcomes K-12 students, community residents, university groups and professional organizations to meet the animals, learn about the research and contribute to 海角社区鈥檚 agricultural industry.

On a cool March day, students from Troy Central School, including those in Kulakowski鈥檚 class, traded their desks for a behind-the-scenes look at a working agricultural operation just outside U海角社区鈥檚 campus.

Trotting horses, mooing cows and fresh hay greeted the group as their chatter and laughter filled the barns. The visit connected 海角社区鈥檚 traditional classroom education with the state鈥檚 agricultural industry 鈥� one that relies on a new generation to sustain it.

Guiding them through the barns were U海角社区 student workers, who balance coursework with leading tours and completing their daily responsibilities on the farm 鈥� an example of the university鈥檚 learner-centered approach as an R1 research institution.

Their work gives visiting students a peer-led introduction to agriculture while reinforcing their own hands-on education.

鈥淎s part of the class, students come in during their sophomore year and start working on the farm doing all kinds of things. The highlight, though, is when they are assigned to a pregnant female cow,鈥� said Chelsea Carr, livestock operations manager. 鈥淭hey get to be here for the birthing as part of their grade, and once the calf arrives, they get to name it as a group.鈥� 

The Witter Center houses multiple operations, including Witter Farm, and serves as a hub for animal sciences and sustainable agriculture. As a primary facility for the 海角社区 Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station, it integrates hands-on undergraduate and graduate education with high-level research.

The farm houses 78 animals and regularly welcomes school groups that engage directly with the animals and learn where their food comes from.

Many students also connect with the farm beyond their visit through the 鈥淎dopt a Cow鈥� program, a Discover Dairy and New England Dairy joint initiative that features Witter Farm as one of several participating farms across New England.

鈥淓very farm puts up two calves that get adopted by classrooms. I believe last year we were adopted by 600 classrooms of kindergarteners, and the adopted cows that we have this year are Darling and Doris. I鈥檓 sure that most of the tours on my schedule are here to see them,鈥� Carr said.

Through this yearlong virtual initiative, educators can bring the world of farm life into their classrooms. By adopting a calf from a New England dairy farm, students can follow a specific calf鈥檚 development over the course of the school year. This immersive experience is supported by complimentary educational materials from Discover Dairy, helping students understand dairy farming and how milk reaches their tables.

鈥淲e send updates, photos and videos of our adopted calves to Discovery Dairy, who then shares this information with the participating classrooms that have adopted our calves,鈥� said Patricia Henderson, Witter Farm鈥檚 superintendent.

Beyond traditional farm work, Witter Farm reflects the modernization of agriculture through its robotic milking barn.

鈥淲e put in the VMS300, a voluntary milking system, about a year ago in March. It鈥檚 a robot that milks the cows without people having to do it. The cows can come in whenever they want, and the robot will milk them, clean the teats and collect a whole bunch of data for us,鈥� Henderson said.

The farm鈥檚 openness is intentional. Leaders say inviting the public in and encouraging questions helps challenge misconceptions about agriculture.

鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a lot of stigma behind dairy farming, so opening our tours to any and all questions is important for opening farms like this to the public and growing their knowledge of our industry,鈥� said Riley McAllaster, a senior in the animal and veterinary science program with a pre-veterinary concentration.

That effort is tied to a broader concern: fewer people are entering the agricultural workforce.

鈥淚 hope these tours spark an interest in agriculture for these kids. With our new technology, like the robot barn, I hope people will understand that this is a modern, informing industry,鈥� Carr said. 鈥淚 want more people to be aware of the many agricultural jobs beyond working as a farmer, including research roles. Renewable farming is a growing industry, and it is full of jobs that need to be filled, and I hope these kids realize these opportunities early on.鈥�

Story by Alexa Rose Perocillo, news intern

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu

The collaborative, hands-on session 鈥� designed for educators of all career levels, from preservice teachers to those currently in the classroom 鈥� will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, at the Wells Conference Center on the U海角社区 campus.

Participants will have the opportunity to join demonstrations and activities in a 鈥渢ech playground,鈥� exploring the latest tools and best practices for expanding computer science and computational thinking in the classroom. U海角社区 President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, an accomplished mathematics educator, is scheduled to deliver welcome remarks.

Funding for the event is provided by PrepareCS, a aimed at building capacity for K-12 computer science education by training teachers and integrating computer science into preservice teacher education programs. 

Attendees will receive a $75 stipend, as well as mileage reimbursement and lunch. A link to register is . 

For more information, contact U海角社区 Senior Lecturer of Instructional Technology Mia Morrison, mia.morrison@maine.edu.

This story originally appeared in the, published twice yearly by the University of 海角社区 Alumni Association.

In the early 1990s as a student at Belfast Area High School, Rusty Brown 鈥�98, 鈥�01G admits that he was 鈥渇loundering鈥� somewhat on his educational journey. At a particularly low moment, coming off a three-day out-of-school suspension, a guidance counselor suggested that he might be a good candidate for Upward Bound. 

Established by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 and later the Higher Education Act of 1965, Upward Bound is part of a cluster of federally funded U.S. college readiness and outreach programs, known as TRIO programs, which are designed to identify and provide services for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Upward Bound is aimed specifically at students who will be the first in their immediate family to attend college. 

Following the recommendation from his guidance counselor, Brown applied for and was accepted to the program, offered through the University of 海角社区, and participated in his first classic Upward Bound summer program in 1992. 

鈥淎fter that first amazing summer experience, I went from floundering to being on the honor roll for the rest of high school,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淚 participated enthusiastically in every Upward Bound event and summer program until I graduated (high school) in 1994.鈥� 

Brown, now the director of U海角社区鈥檚 Upward Bound programs, entered the university as a history major, eventually graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in secondary education in 1998 and a master鈥檚 in counselor education in 2001. 

Without Upward Bound, he says he would have been 鈥渟everely underprepared in every basic skill set imperative for all college students鈥� success.鈥� He credits the program with teaching him prioritization and time management skills and helping him develop the confidence to approach instructors with questions during class and office hours.

鈥淯pward Bound taught me financial literacy skills and how to navigate the complexities of applying for and receiving federal student aid, how to actively seek scholarships to help supplement my college costs and to reduce my overall college debt,鈥� said Brown. 鈥淢y college success is because of the blood, sweat, and tears I put into my time at the University of 海角社区, however Upward Bound prepared me to focus those energies and efforts to be successful.鈥� 

In college, Brown worked as a summer staff member and later a graduate assistant with U海角社区鈥檚 Upward Bound program. From 2001-12, he was the Upward Bound program coordinator and returned as the academic coordinator from 2018-23. Since 2023, he has served as the director of Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math-Science at U海角社区. All told, he has worked for the program for 23 years. 

鈥淢y time as an Upward Bound student set the stage for my personal and professional success,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淭he lessons I learned then, and still carry with me today, have guided my work as a professional, and I can wholeheartedly say Upward Bound was, and continues to be, the inspiration that leads me to do good work in my part of the world. It has been my privilege and pleasure to call myself an Upward Bound alum and Upward Bound staff, and I am eternally grateful to have had these guiding experiences in my life.鈥�

What was the most interesting, engaging or helpful part of your Upward Bound experience?

During my summer programs, we had three amazing history/civics teachers who held 鈥渕ock trials鈥� at the end of every week of instruction. The students would be divided into two different groups: the 鈥減rosecution鈥� and 鈥渄efense鈥� counsel for historical figures that coincided with our learning material. I absolutely could not have enjoyed anything more than one week 鈥渄efending鈥� Robespierre and the next week 鈥減rosecuting鈥� Sarah Good as we studied the Salem Witch trials. It was not just the thrill of debating (which I truly enjoyed) but the skill set required to suspend your own personal beliefs and values (I did not believe that what happened to Sarah Good was right and/or just, for example) in order to examine an issue from all perspectives to develop a broader understanding of any topic. These history classes sparked a previously unknown academic fervor in me.

Did you work closely with any mentors or Upward Bound staff members who made your experience in the program better? If so, who were they and how did they do that?

Becky Colannino 鈥�89, 鈥�92G, the retired Upward Bound director at U海角社区, was the Upward Bound counselor who would visit my school and with whom I would have the vast majority of my individual academic sessions. I remember Becky using the phrase 鈥渢alented underachiever鈥� in some of our meetings to describe the potential she saw in me as a scholar. These were the exact words I needed to hear. In a compassionate way, she let me know that I was creating the biggest barrier to my success and that if I was willing to walk a different path I could create more opportunities for myself. Becky also validated the tough times I was going through in high school being raised by a single mom who did the best she could with what she had but who struggled with both mental health and alcohol addiction. The validation of these experiences were always coupled with holding me accountable for my academic performance. She let me know that success was within my grasp if I was willing to work hard to overcome the challenges of 鈥渢he life I was given鈥� and lay the foundation for 鈥渢he life I was willing to work for.鈥� Becky helped me believe in myself and with every new learning experience Upward Bound put in front of me, I was more ready and willing to accept new challenges!

What鈥檚 the most memorable moment from your Upward Bound experience?

There are many, many great memories from my time in Upward Bound, but if I was to choose one that stands out it would be a group trip to Boston during the summer between graduating high school and starting at U海角社区. That summer is called the 鈥淏ridge鈥� summer for students who choose to participate. I had never been further than Conway, New Hampshire where my great aunt lived, and I remember so vividly driving over the Tobin Bridge and seeing Boston for the first time. It was magical seeing this city of possibilities in front of me and the hope it inspired (and a little anxiety too) was thrilling. We toured Newbury College, ate at a German restaurant, went on the Freedom Trail and saw the science museum and the aquarium. My family could never afford a trip like that, and I felt like that one weekend in July of 1994 I saw more of the world than any time in my previous 17 years. I keep a picture from that weekend handy and am still in touch with the other Upward Bound students in that picture. What a pleasure it has been to follow their stories and to see their success!

As a former Upward Bound participant yourself, what fulfillment do you get from working with Upward Bound students today?

It is a privilege to work with these talented students who are willing and wanting to go out of their way to make a difference in their own lives! Our program is voluntary, so every one of our participants has made the choice to seek additional support to be successful in preparing for, applying to, and enrolling in a college educational path of their choosing.

How do you approach mentoring young people who participate in Upward Bound?

I鈥檝e heard it said that 鈥減atience is a virtue,鈥� and this is the foundation of the approach I employ when working with high school students. Just about all of the academic and pre-college skill building that Upward Bound engages in with our students is very new to them, and so it is important to show them patience as you help them start to 鈥渉elp themselves.鈥� We are introducing them to the possibility that they can go to college if they choose, which is often a foreign world to them and their families. There can be a lot of anxiety about being the first in your family to go to college, so patiently helping students prepare for the differences they will encounter when they go to college is important as well. Collegiate success happens both in the classroom and outside of it. We do our best to make sure they are as prepared as possible to do well with their academic work but also have as much skill in knowing how to advocate for themselves with vital college departments, such as financial aid, the business office, and more. 

Is there anything else you think people should know about Upward Bound?

We have the privilege of working with some of our students for the entirety of their high school career, so that gives us a lot of time to develop trust-based relationships. Upward Bound programs also assist our partner schools by providing individualized, pre-college guidance to our participants 鈥� increasing their capacity to help all of their students by lessening their workload. 

By Casey Kelly 鈥�19G, 鈥�25 CGS

Contact: Casey Kelly, casey.kelly@maine.edu