GRADUATE SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT
The Graduate School Commencement Ceremony, recognizing Master’s, Education Specialists, and Doctoral Candidates, will be held on Friday, May 8, 2026, 4:00 p.m. at the Alfond Arena.
Keep an eye on this page for all commencement updates as they become available.
new for 2026 commencement:
Only doctoral candidates will be hooded on stage.
Master’s and Education Specialist degree recipients should arrive wearing academic regalia, including hoods.
Doctoral candidates who have met the requirements outlined below should wear their academic regalia with their hoods draped over their left arm and will be hooded on stage during the ceremony.
live stream link
The Graduate Commencement Ceremony will be available via livestream
on Friday, May 8, 2026
2026 Commencement SpeakerS
Amber Boutiette ’17, ’19G, and Patrick Breeding ’17, ’19G
Amber Boutiette and Patrick Breeding are biomedical engineers, entrepreneurs, and co-founders of Marin Skincare. Marin develops products for people with dry, damaged, and irritated skin, powered by a regenerative glycoprotein naturally found in lobsters.
The company was founded after the pair “scratched their own itch” while working with renowned lobster professor Dr. Bob Bayer during their Master’s program at the University of Maine. Similar to how the protein helps lobsters regenerate limbs and fight off disease, it showed promise for repairing the skin barrier. A few uses of a DIY, Glycoprotein-based product later – the ingredient remarkably helped clear Amber’s eczema, so Marin was born to bring the same natural, effective relief to others. Launching immediately after graduation, they partnered with B-Corp Luke’s Lobster to build a novel supply chain that upcycles the protein, normally a natural byproduct of lobster processing.
What began as a small, bootstrapped local brand has grown into a nationwide category disruptor. Marin has now upcycled more than 200,000 pounds of waste, employs over 25 people, and has helped hundreds of thousands of consumers – from those with everyday dry or irritated skin to people managing eczema, psoriasis, and other chronic skin conditions.
important dates and deadlines for May Graduates
Additional deadlines will be added as they become available.
February
March
April
May
ordering regalia
Master’s, CAS, & EdS Regalia
Master’s Cap & Gown
$52.99
MASTER’S / CAS / EDS HOOD
$42.99
Master’s regalia available at the bookstore starting March 25, and on the bookstore website thereafter.
doctoral Regalia
Both types of tam are for you to keep.
Gown & Hood with Custom-sized Tam
$304.88
Gown & Hood with one-size Tam
$171.95
If you would like to purchase a custom gown, hood, and tam for $1,252.95, please complete this form and email it to bettyc@maine.edu. All custom regalia orders must be placed before February 28.
DOCTORAL CANDIDATE ELiGIBILITY
Doctoral candidates may participate in Commencement ceremonies if they have completed all of the following items.
Commencement Day: Details for Graduates
Graduate candidates must pre-register to participate in ceremonies. There is no marching rehearsal, so be sure to follow all staff instructions for line-up, marching, and hooding on the day of the ceremony.
Arriving at the Ceremony
Arrive at the field house by 3:00 p.m. and check in with the Graduate Commencement staff to obtain your white reader card.
The University is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
At Line-up
We begin marching at 3:50 p.m. If the ceremony has already begun when you arrive, find an usher to escort you to a seat. Once the ceremony begins, University staff will indicate when to go on stage.
During the Ceremony
After the Ceremony
The UMaine bookstore will be on site with memorabilia and gifts available for purchase.
Guide to Academic Regalia
Please be sure that the hood you have obtained from the bookstore matches the color associated with your degree.
Faculty Information
All students, including doctoral candidates, will have their diplomas awarded at the ceremony.
Faculty Attendance Confirmation
Faculty must complete the Faculty Regalia & Attendance Form by March 13 if they plan on attending the May 8 Commencement ceremony. Regalia must be worn at all Commencement ceremonies. Reserved regalia may be picked up in the Bookstore beginning in early May. For information on the undergraduate Commencement ceremonies, please go to umaine.edu/commencement.
Any faculty requiring special seating accommodation should contact Kathleen Harding-Heber by emailing kathleen.hardingheber@maine.edu no later than May 1st.
Faculty Instructions
Watch this space for more detailed instructions on where to report before the ceremony. There is no rehearsal for Commencement ceremonies, so please be sure to follow instructions for the line-up, marching, etc. on the day of the ceremony.
Executive Committee Members will report to the volunteer staff to lead the student line for each college. College Deans will report to the volunteer staff to walk with the stage party. Faculty hooding doctoral candidates will report to the volunteer staff assisting with the faculty procession to be lined up in hooding order.
Doctoral Candidate Eligibility
Doctoral candidates graduating in August may participate in Commencement ceremonies if they meet ALL of the following requirements:
Guest Information
ADA Accessibility
ADA entrance – West Entrance of Alfond (this is the entrance near TKE). There will be signs directing traffic and ADA parking nearby.
Contact Erica Tweedie, Director of Student Accessibility Services, with any ADA accessibility accommodation requests, including to request an ASL interpreter, before May 2 at erica.tweedie@maine.edu or 207.581.2319.
Please contact Kathleen Harding-Heber if you have additional accessibility questions via email at kathleen.hardingheber@maine.edu or via phone: 207.581.3289.
Attendance Policies
Smoking – The University of Maine campus is a non-smoking facility. All seating areas are classified as non-smoking. The Alfond Arena does not having a smoking section. It is prohibited to smoke anywhere inside the Alfond Arena.
Do not approach the stage – For safety reasons, no one besides credentialed photographers and staff may approach the stage for any reason.
Live Streaming
For those who cannot physically attend, the event will be viewable through a live stream feed
Parking & Directions
There will be 2 buses available to bring guests to the Alfond Arena from the Steam Plant Lot, and the Belgrade and CCA parking lots to Alfond Arena. These busses will run continuously from 2pm to 8pm on Friday evening.
ADA entrance – West Entrance of Alfond (this is the entrance near TKE). There will be signs directing traffic and ADA parking nearby.
Seating
Graduate School Commencement guest tickets are not required for guests to attend Commencement. Seating is general admission. Ushers will be available if guests have any questions. Doors open at 2:30 p.m.
Venue & More
More info to come.
