Innovator, Entrepreneur Doug Hall to Speak at UMaine Commencement

Contact: Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571

ORONO — The University of Maine will award approximately 1,860 degrees at its 206th Commencement, scheduled for Saturday, May 10 at Alfond Arena.

UMaine’s graduation format calls for two separate indoor ceremonies. During the 10 a.m. ceremony, degrees will be awarded to graduates from the College of Business, Public Policy and Health; the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and the Division of Lifelong Learning. An afternoon ceremony, to begin at 2:30 p.m., will be for graduates from the College of Education and Human Development; the College of Engineering (including the School of Engineering Technology); and the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and Agriculture.

The commencement speaker will be Doug Hall, a 1981 UMaine graduate who is the founder and CEO of Eureka Ranch, a Cincinnati-based business where individuals and businesses learn how to turn their ideas into commercial success. Hall is also very involved in UMaine’s Foster Student Innovation Center and the university’s Innovation Engineering curriculum. He will speak at both sessions.

UMaine President Robert Kennedy will preside over the ceremonies. Paul Mitchell will represent the University of Maine System Board of Trustees at the morning ceremony, and he will assist UMaine vice president for academic affairs and provost Susan Hunter in awarding an honorary doctorate to renowned sculptor and University of Florida professor Celeste Roberge. Trustee Marjorie Medd will represent the board at the afternoon event, when she will join Hunter in awarding an honorary doctorate to Hall.

As commencement generates a good deal of traffic, UMaine will operate a continuous shuttle bus service from the Steam Plant Parking Lot, Belgrade Lot, Maine Center for the Arts Lot and Hilltop Lot to Alfond Arena, both before and after the ceremonies. Those traveling to UMaine are encouraged to allow plenty of time, and to expect traffic delays of up to 60 minutes. Those accessing UMaine via Interstate 95 should consider using Exit 197 and traveling through Old Town to the university’s Park St. entrance, if traffic is significantly backed up at the exits closer to Bangor.