UMaine pays homage to future teachers at second annual Pinning and Recognition Ceremony

More than 80 future educators were honored at the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development’s second annual Pinning and Recognition Ceremony.

Friday’s event honored students who have achieved teacher candidacy within the past year. To become teacher candidates, UMaine education students complete five foundational courses that explore teaching as a profession and provide training in several core skills needed to become highly-effective educators. They also take part in field experiences in schools and other educational settings, including five full days (about 30 hours) of classroom observation, and produce a portfolio that includes reflections on those experiences. It’s one of several opportunities the university’s education majors have to work directly with PreK-12 teachers and students during their program of study.

“This is a great commitment of passion, talent, and time,” said College of Education and Human Development Associate Dean for Academics and Student Engagement Justin Dimmel, who served as master of ceremonies.

“So to our teacher candidates in the room: We honor your commitment and your diligence in pursuit of your professional goals. But even more important: We applaud you for making a choice that will change your life and the lives of those you will teach for the better,” Dimmel said.

During the ceremony, students received pins in the shape of an apple with UMaine’s “M” logo and the word “Education” on it. This year’s teacher candidates also received journals, meant to symbolize the college’s commitment to reflective practice by teachers. Since most students achieve teacher candidacy during their sophomore or junior year, the journals can be used as they continue their schooling.

“As they further their education with us, our teacher candidates will continue to take academically-demanding coursework while engaging in field experiences — all of which will help to prepare them for student teaching, and ultimately, to become fully-certified teachers,” Dimmel said.

Other speakers at the ceremony included Joan Ferrini-Mundy, president of the University of Maine and its regional campus the University of Maine at Machias, as well as vice chancellor for research and innovation for the University of Maine System, and Bangor High School English Language Arts Teacher Emilie Throckmorton, the 2024 Penobscot County Teacher of the Year and a finalist for 2025 Maine Teacher of the Year.

Throckmorton, who has two master’s degrees from UMaine, congratulated the teacher candidates for “choosing the best career in the world,” and noted how they will be able help their students build self-confidence.

“You have immense power when you become a child’s teacher,” Throckmorton said. “You have the influence to impact the way they see themselves.”

The ceremony also included presentation of the Robert A. Cobb Award to longtime adjunct professor and student teacher supervisor Joan Staffiere for her extraordinary service to the College of Education and Human Development over the years.

You can read about  two of the teacher candidates recognized at the ceremony online.

The University of Maine System graduates the most classroom-ready teachers in the state, with the flagship campus in Orono having the largest and most comprehensive educator preparation program feeding Maine schools.

Contact: Casey Kelly, casey.kelly@maine.edu