M Club

Alfond Statium
February 16, 2021

Making History

THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE in Orono will be the largest beneficiary of the Harold Alfond Foundation’s historic investment in Maine’s public universities. In October, the foundation, established by its namesake in 1950, announced it would be providing more than $500 million in grants to Maine people and institutions. The grants are intended to grow Maine’s…

Photo depicting police waring riot gear at a rally with sparks flying
February 16, 2021

A Life in Pictures

GINA FERAZZI frantically loads her Ford Fusion for a 300-mile drive north from her home in Riverside, California, to Mammoth in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. She says good-bye to Charlie, her Goldendoodle, who sulks when she departs. It’s November 19, 2020, the end of a typical week in Ferazzi’s life as a staff photographer for…

Headshots of UMaine Alumni members in the Maine State Legislature
February 16, 2021

Black Bears in Maine’s Legislature

The current Maine State Legislature has a strong representation of Black Bear alumni among its members: eight senators and 17 representatives, including House Majority Leader Michelle Dunphy `88, `96. All legislators may be reached via the following email format: firstname.lastname@legislature.maine.gov   < Back to Winter 2021 MAINE Alumni Magazine

February 14, 2021

These plans for athletics and recreation are spectacular!

Thanks to the Harold Alfond Foundation’s latest investment in UMaine academics and athletics, Black Bear Athletics today unveiled a master plan designed to improve the quality, accessibility, and gender equality of the university’s intercollegiate and recreational facilities. Projects include a new soccer facility that will feature synthetic turf, stadium seating, broadcast-quality lighting, and more. (See…

February 14, 2021

Check out what’s new from the Alumni Association in the latest magazine

The Winter MAINE Alumni Magazine is now available online. Read about Erik Gundersen’s ’05 efforts to regulate Maine’s cannabis industry, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Gina Ferazzi ’84, and Brendan Walsh’s ’00 shift from hockey star to Boston detective. Meet Rep. Genevieve McDonald ’18 and other Black Bears in the Maine Legislature, and explore other features and…

January 14, 2021

Fans Can Now Purchase Cutouts to Be Displayed at Athletics Games

Although basketball fans can’t pack The Pit in person to cheer for the Black Bears this season, they can show their support with a fan cutout. These cutouts, which are made from photos of individuals, will occupy seats in The Pit during men’s and women’s games. At the end of the basketball season, fans can…

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…

October 22, 2020

Alfond’s Gift to UMaine System Among Largest Ever to a New England Public Educational Institution

The University of Maine will be a major beneficiary of the Harold Alfond Foundation’s historic $240 million gift to the University of Maine System. UMaine President Ferrini-Mundy noted that the historic gift would “benefit our students for decades.” She added, “With $20 million from the Alfond Foundation, we will develop new programs to support student…

August 5, 2020

Alumni Association Webinar Series Proves Popular

Prompted by restrictions on in-person events, the Alumni Association has launched a series of online discussions and presentations addressing a wide range of topics related to alumni interests and public affairs. Using Zoom, an internet-based video conferencing system, the first series of 60- to 90-minute webinars have addressed topics such as journalistic ethics, the pandemic’s…

August 5, 2020

Goaltender Shifts from Black Bear to Bruin

Jeremy Swayman, a junior goaltender on the Black Bears’ men’s ice hockey team, opted to pass up his final year at UMaine and signed with the Boston Bruins in March. Swayman’s final season as a Black Bear was a memorable one. He was selected as Hockey East Player of the Year and received the Mike…

August 5, 2020

Scoring Ability

Photo by Aaron Boothroyd ON THE ICE, Mitch Fossier ’20 is known as a creative playmaker. His 32 assists this past season placed the University of Maine men’s hockey senior in a tie for fourth place in the country in that category. The Black Bears captain is equally creative off the ice where he is…