Happy New Year, and I hope 2026 finds you well! This letter is the UMAL Executive Board’s annual opportunity to formally thank each of you for your support of our membership and scholarship efforts this past year. In 2025, we achieved our goal of an endowed scholarship through your generous contributions and matching funds established by Bob and Judy Blake after their passing in 2023. The UMAL endowed scholarship now has a balance of $10,150 as of 12/31/25. We worked with Dee Gardner from the UMaine Foundation on establishing our endowed scholarship fund. You can hear more about this by attending our Lobster Maine-ia picnic in April!
Additionally, UMAL provided $2,000 in scholarship money to two financially deserving students from South Carolina for the 2025-2026 academic year. Jillian McCafferty is a sophomore majoring in anthropology and graduated from high school in Mt Pleasant, SC. Michael Schroeder is a sophomore majoring in sports management who graduated high school in Ridgeland, SC. The Office of Financial Aid selected Jillian and Michael in accordance with our scholarship guidelines, which are based on financial need, good academic standing and preference for students from South Carolina.
These scholarships would not have been possible without your support as a UMAL member, and support of our annual Lobster Maine-ia fundraiser. Our goal is to exceed this year’s scholarship contribution for the 2026-2027 academic year. We need your help through our annual UMAL Membership drive by renewing your membership or by becoming a first-time member. Please consider joining HERE or by using the button below.
Upcoming Events!
Lobster Maine-ia is scheduled for Saturday, April 18th, 2026, so please save the date! We look forward to seeing each of you and having a record turnout this year. Watch for our email with more information.
If you would like to support Black Bear students in South Carolina, the Maine baseball team will be playing Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC over the weekend from February 27 – March 1. We have been given discounted tickets for the Saturday, Feb. 28 game at 2 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit our Event Page, and also join our “UMaine Alumni of the Lowcountry” Facebook page.
If your contact information has changed, please let us know HERE or by contacting the Alumni Association at 207-581-1146 so we can continue to provide you with information on Lobster Maine-ia and other alumni events in the future. Thank you very much for your support! Go Black Bears!
Scott Ouellette ’89, UMAL President
843-433-6741 souellette148@gmail.com