Hello, 2010ers! By the time you read this, we will be about two months out from our 15th class Reunion! How did that happen? I’m on the Reunion planning committee, and we hope you will join us on campus at Homecoming, October 24-25! The Alumni Association has some great activities planned, including a reception Friday evening and tailgating on Saturday. The committee is planning a 2010 get-together Saturday evening at the new Wells Central Pub on campus. If you haven’t been there yet, it’s pretty cool to have a pub on campus! Join us for drinks and apps! Check out UMaineHomecoming.com for more info and to register to attend.
On to classmate news! I heard from Lindsay Utley Lodis G. After getting her graduate degree in forestry resources, she remained in Orono for an M.A. in communications in 2012. She used both degrees at the University of Idaho as the comms director for the Rangeland Center in Boise, ID. She’s lived there for 12 years and is currently a publicist for Full Swing PR. They help women-owned companies tell their stories and be seen and sought after in the media. It was great to hear from Lindsay as we hadn’t really caught up since 2012!
Derek McKinley ’21G let me know that he is living in Hampden with his wife, Danielle Lorusso ’19G, their three-year-old son, Desmond, and their two black cats. After he graduated in 2010, Derek worked a few different jobs until he found himself back at UMaine in 2017, in the bursar’s office. He took that opportunity to get a master’s degree in teaching and now works at Central Middle School in Corinth, ME, teaching 7th grade English language arts and coaching soccer. He has been there for over three years. He and his wife are eying Australia as their next trip! I hope to hear more about that trip in a future column, Derek!
In October 2024, Allyson Howatt Keating ’11G was inducted into the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame. During her time at UMaine she established eight individual and relay records. At the 2008 America East Outdoor Track and Field Championships, she was named the women’s outstanding track performer. She was also a three-time All-America East honoree and All-Academic honoree. Amazing honors! Allyson also met the love of her life at UMaine. She and Conor Keating ’11, a football student-athlete, started dating senior year. The Keatings recently relocated to New Hampshire, where Allyson is working in the advancement department at New Hampton School, and they have two daughters. Congratulations, Allyson!
In 2024, Gregory LeClerc of Standish, ME, was recertified by the Maine Justice Foundation for participation in the Access to Justice Tax Credit Program. Started in 2022, the program is targeted at lawyers who practice in underserved areas. Congratulations on being part of this program, Gregory! Keep up the great work helping Mainers who need access to the justice system.
Owen McCarthy has quite a bit of news to share for this column. In April of 2025, he began exploring a run for Governor of Maine. We look forward to seeing where that exploration takes you, Owen! In November of 2024, Owen was also reappointed to the University of Maine System Board of Trustees by Gov. Mills and confirmed for a five-year term. Congratulations, Owen!
In January of 2025, Daniel Murray was newly hired as a senior transmission engineer at Sevee & Maher Engineers in Cumberland, ME. Derek Rancourt ’08, ’10G was also hired by Sevee and Maher as a principal structural engineer. Congratulations to you both!
That’s all the news for now! Please shoot me an email and let me know what’s new with you! And again, I hope to see many of you at Homecoming to celebrate our 15th Reunion! Let’s party like it’s 2010! Hope to hear from you soon!