Gabriel Karam: Outstanding Graduating Student

Gabriel Karam of Bangor, Maine, is the Outstanding Graduating Student in the Maine Business School. 

Karam is majoring in business administration in management, with minors in psychology and political science. 

Cite your top academic scholarships, achievements and awards:
UMaine Dirigo Scholarship and the Joseph S. Keating Merit Scholarship.

Tell us about the research, internships or scholarly pursuits you were involved in as a student:
I was part of a small team of students to provide research-based marketing advice for Promised Land Farm. I also have worked in student teams to develop business plans for a hypothetical food truck and a hypothetical convenience store. For my capstone experience, I was part of a student team that competed in virtual business simulations, and developed a possible strategy for GameStop amid a changing video game market. I have also participated in an informal social experiment to assess the qualities of helping others for a psychology course.

Beyond academics, what extracurricular activities occupied your time? 
I am a member of the honor societies Beta Gamma Sigma and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS). I have been invited to join several other honor societies, including Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Sigma Alpha. I have volunteered for Maine Day several times. I treasure spending time with my family, hiking, biking, swimming, boating and reading. I worked at Getchell Brothers, Inc. for five summers. Currently, I write op-ed articles for The Maine Campus, and I also work at Lowe’s.

What are your plans after graduation?
I am not entirely sure of my plans after my graduation. I am keeping my doors open. I have considered starting my own business, working for a newspaper, or even learning a trade. The future is bright, and life is an adventure.

What difference has UMaine made in your life and in helping you reach your goals? 
UMaine provided me with a wealth of knowledge about business operations, such as accounting, financial literacy, marketing creativity, and management strategy. UMaine has provided me with the knowledge, experiences, networks and credentials to succeed.

Have you had an experience at UMaine that has changed or shaped the way you see the world?
I met many interesting classmates and professors from all walks of life. You can do whatever you dream of, but you have to put in the blood, sweat and tears. Be the best that you can be, be thankful and give back.

Why UMaine?
As a public university that is the state’s flagship university, UMaine is prestigious, dependable, affordable, and the obvious choice. My mother and older brother both are UMaine alums, and I attended college concurrently with my twin brother, Abram.

How would you define the opportunities for student success at UMaine? Is there any particular initiative, program or set of resources that helped you succeed?
Success is a matter of ability, determination and circumstances. Pursue what you’re good at doing, stay focused, and take advantage of the resources available to you. Professors, reference librarians, TAs, textbooks, help labs and fellow classmates are all great resources.

Have you worked closely with a professor or mentor who made your UMaine experience better?
I have had many great instructors. To name a few, I would thank Professor Carol Patterson-Martineau, Professor Nicole Gogan, Dr. Stephanie Welcomer, Dr. Grant Miles and Dr. Mollie Ruben.

What advice do you have for incoming students to help them get off to the best start academically? 
Stay focused, work hard, and put in the time to succeed. UMaine provides incredible opportunities, but you must be the one to take advantage of them. 

Contact: Margaret Nagle, 207.581.3745