Hello again, members of the Class of 1955. I wonder whether any of you ever think of your time spent in Orono beginning in 1951 until June of 1955. I certainly do, as they were years of joining in class activities, learning, and making wonderful friends. It would be so nice to return to those times or at least to think about them.
We have heard from the following students who received our Class of 1955 Scholarships:
Kyle Ricker, who is majoring in political science and education, is involved on campus and hopes that he will be able to help students with their sights set on leadership and public service in the same way that his scholarship has helped him.
Leo Rubin, from Norwich, CT, is a sophomore and is majoring in chemical engineering.
Jake Pung is in his second year and is from Ellsworth, ME. He is a computer engineering major. Jake thanks our class for the generous scholarship, which will help him to reach his academic goals.
Emily Valkenburg is a psychology major and anthropology and criminal justice minor in her second year of study at UMaine. She is from Ellenburg, NY. Emily’s plan is to pursue an advanced degree in psychology after graduation to be a clinical psychologist and conduct psychological research in Maine.
Cambree Darr thanks our class for the generous scholarship. Cambree is a 2023 graduate of the University of Maine and “hopes to move forward showing others the same generosity and telling other students about the benefits of higher education.”
Maia Ferguson is in her senior year and is completing a double major in chemistry and English. Maia is thankful for being awarded the Class of 1955 Scholarship.
Classmate George “Gunner” Fraser sent me a very nice note. He lives in Rotonda West in Florida. He recently attended the 2023 University of Maine Alumni Black Bear Road Trip event at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, FL. He was recognized at the event’s barbeque, held before the Red Sox game, as the oldest alumnus, Class of ’55. Gunner plays nine holes of golf each week. He says he plans to attend the Black Bear Road Trip in 2024 and hopes that more Class of 1955 members will join him. He said that he had damage from the hurricane that hit Florida this past winter but is gradually getting back to normal.