Recent News

August 17, 2021

Running with Purpose

By Nina Mahaleris ’20 Author’s note: This article references Jordan Marie Daniel using they/them pronouns, as the subject prefers. JORDAN MARIE DANIEL ‘11 (full name: Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel) hadn’t exactly intended for a life in the limelight. Daniel, who belongs to the Kul Wicasa Oyate, also known as the Lower Brule…

August 17, 2021

A new study confirms it:

A FIRST-EVER STUDY of Black Bear alumni makes clear that a UMaine education pays dividends for both the students who enrolled and the taxpayers who help fund the university. The study, commissioned by the UMaine Alumni Association and conducted in 2020 by the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, explored a wide range of ways that…

August 17, 2021

Reflections on a Father Figure

I FIRST SAT DOWN with Coach Red in 2013 at Tim Horton’s. He had just been named the new head coach at Maine. I was retiring from playing pro hockey and was excited to discuss becoming one of his assistant coaches at my alma mater. I prepared for our meeting to talk hockey strategies, recruit-ing,…

August 17, 2021

An American Tale

WHEN THE HONORABLE George Z. Singal ’67 presides over naturalization ceremonies in U.S. District Court in Portland, the new citizens hear a story they were not expecting from the man in the black robe high on the bench. Looking out over families from Maine’s immigrant communities, Singal holds up his citizenship certificate and says, “Just…

August 17, 2021

Long Overdue

UMaine’s student and faculty diversity is among the lowest in the nation. The University’s administration and the Alumni Association commit to changing that. LIKE MOST AMERICAN land-grant institutions, UMaine is a national research university. It attracts faculty and students from across the U.S. and scores of nations—all 50 states and more than 75 countries during…

August 17, 2021

“When you know better, you do better”

IN LATE 1987, JUNIOR Doug Dorsey was asked something that only 38 other students and two faculty members on campus could answer with any degree of authority: “What’s it like to be Black at UMaine?” The question, posed by a writer for this magazine, was prompted by the obvious — the ubiquitous whiteness of the…

August 17, 2021

Looking Back, Looking Forward

IN MAY AND JUNE, the Alumni Association invited nearly 30 alumni of color to share their UMaine experiences through a series of conversations via Zoom. The conversations occurred in the context of President Joan Ferrini-Mundy’s public commitment to ensuring “inclusive excellence” at the university through diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As students, nearly all of…

August 17, 2021

An Untold Horror

As UMaine grapples with increasing its commitment to DEI, it cannot forget its past. The following story is disturbing but provides a tragic glimpse into the type of racism and violence that took place on UMaine’s campus. It should serve as an example of how unknown and suppressed stories affect our ability to understand perspectives…

August 16, 2021

Recent Grad Takes Part in Accelerator to Bring Veterinary Device to Market

Black Bear alumni, faculty, staff, and students are among Maine’s most productive innovators and entrepreneurs. This month, Innovators of UMaine showcases Raleigh Toussaint ’21, a recent graduate who majored in animal science with a pre-veterinary focus.  In her senior year, Toussaint structured her capstone project around supporting a team of faculty members exploring the commercialization…

August 12, 2021

Alfond Golf Classic Brings Together Alums

UMaine Athletics recently hosted its fifth annual Alfond Golf Classic fundraiser at Belgrade Lakes Golf Club in central Maine. The event benefits the Alfond Fund, which provides scholarships and other forms of support for UMaine athletics. This year’s event attracted 168 players, including Black Bear Award recipients Skip Chappelle ’62 and Phil Morse ’64, 2018…

August 12, 2021

Inductees to be Added to the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame

Six outstanding individual athletes, a former coach, and members of a women’s basketball team will be inducted into the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame. The 2021 UMaine Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will take place on Friday, Sept. 17, at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer, at 5:30-8:30 pm. Space is limited, and tickets are available…

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August 12, 2021

Letendre ’78 Receives High Honor for Athletic Training

The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) recently inducted Mark “Rookie” Letendre ’78 into the NATA Hall of Fame. The induction is the highest honor an athletic trainer can receive, and recognizes Letendre’s outstanding career, providing the best medical care, and being an advocate for the athletic training profession. Rookie spent 18 years as head athletic…