President Abram W. Harris Award Established
Contact: Amos Orcutt, University of Maine Foundation, 207-581-5100
ORONO — A $5,000 prize will be awarded to an individual whose impact on the University of Maine reflects the level of advancements made by former President Abram W. Harris, who served the University from 1893 — 1901. According to President Emeritus Frederick E. Hutchinson ’53, chair of the selection committee: “President Harris served the University at a time of major change. He led the transformation from the original Maine State College established by the Morrill Act to The University of Maine; he greatly expanded the curriculum; and increased enrollment, particularly of women.”
Nominations are sought for the President Abram W. Harris Award, established in memory of Dr. Abram Winegardner Harris, with an endowed gift to the University of Maine Foundation from his grandson A. W. “Pete” Harris, III ’50 and family friends. The first award will be presented and celebrated at the University of Maine Foundation’s Annual Meeting, scheduled for October 6, 2005 at Wells Commons on the University of Maine campus.
A.W. “Pete” Harris, III, UMaine Class of 1950 says his motivation for establishing the award was out of respect for his ancestor, who died when Pete was twelve, and to draw attention to President Harris’ impact on the history of the institution. The purpose of the award is to recognize an individual during his or her lifetime whose actions have left the institution “stronger and in every respect better fitted to do its work” as was said of Dr. Harris in a Board of Trustees report of the era. The person may be, but is not limited to, a current or emeriti member of faculty, staff, administration, alumni, student body, community, the legislature or other individual whose work has affected the University.
A.W. “Pete” Harris, III put no limitations on who may be considered for the award. “It’s the quality of the work that counts.” He hopes that nominations will spur vigorous debate within the committee: “There’s something to be said for controversy to develop quality results.”
The committee requests that letters of nomination list in concrete detail the nature of the individual’s accomplishments, justifying recognition. Members of the selection committee include volunteers appointed by the University of Maine Foundation who have a long affiliation and knowledge of the institution. Nominations should be mailed to: Amos E. Orcutt, President & CEO, University of Maine Foundation, Buchanan Alumni House, Two Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469-5792 and must be received by 5 p.m. on June 30.
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Further background from The History of the University of Maine, by M.C. Fernald and the files of A.W. “Pete” Harris III:
President Harris is remembered in the Board of Trustee reports for eight years of service during which the University made rapid, constant and satisfactory progress. During his tenure enrollment increased from 139 to 400 and the faculty doubled from 25 to more than 50. New departments of Pharmacy and Law were established, the courses of study were broadened and increased in number and the standard of scholarship was raised. While Dr. Harris was President most of the older buildings were remodeled and several new buildings were erected including Alumni Hall and Mt. Vernon, the first women’s dormitory and he established the alpha chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society.
The most significant element of his presidency was the long and ultimately successful fight to broaden the scope of the institution. He faced a great deal of opposition, both from influential members of the statewide community and from the legislature to his program, but won over both to his vision, resulting in the renaming of the institution from the Maine State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts established by the original Morrill Act to “the University of Maine.” In a letter, George W. Atherton, then President of Pennsylvania State College said, “Your victory is a notable one, and must have important results for the future, not only in Maine, but as part of the general movement (national) for the better education of the people.”
Dr. Abram Winegardner Harris (1858 – 1935) a graduate of Wesleyan University, Class of 1880, served as the Chief of the Office of Experiment Stations in the Department of Agriculture in Washington D.C. before becoming President of the Maine State College. Dr. Harris went on to become the President of Northwestern University, Evanston campus from 1906 –1916 where a building is named in his honor.