Dylan Burbridge: Engineering student boosts Black Bear Pride as ‘Captain Maine’

Throughout the week, students are busy reading textbooks, attending lectures and labs and creating study guides for upcoming exams. Eager for a fun weekend event or celebration of University of Maine spirit, they wait for the revving of a motorcycle engine and sight of shield shining in the spotlight that both signify the arrival of Dylan Burbridge, aka Captain Maine — the hero Black Bear nation needs and deserves. 

Balancing the work of being a full-time student, conducting research and completing internships can be challenging for a typical college student, but Burbridge, a mechanical engineering technology major from Essex, Massachusetts entering his final year, can easily manage these tasks and the responsibilities that come with his superhero persona. 

Captain Maine has become an icon at UMaine in recent years. The origins of the hero, however, are uncertain. The main theory is that Burbridge participated in a top-secret program designed to create unofficial mascots for universities, although no documentation has been found proving the existence of this program. But if you ask Burbridge, he’d say it started with a compliment. 

“I think it just started one Halloween. I was riding my motorcycle around, and as I got to know people on campus, they started to say that I looked like Captain America when I was on my bike. Coming out of high school, this was a huge compliment,” Burbridge said. “I was worried about making friends in college, and then this persona attached to me; I latched onto it and started a tradition.” 

When Captain Maine isn’t called to service, Burbridge participates in several internship opportunities, such as working at the auto parts manufacturer Somic America making ball joints, tie rods and stabilizers for Toyota products. 

“I have spent the last two summers in Brewer working with Somic America, they are an auto parts manufacturer for Toyota. It was a great experience working with them, and I was able to work with a lot of UMaine alumni and previous professors,” said Burbridge. 

When asked about why he chose to study engineering and enroll at UMaine, he said he knew he wanted to be one since he was a child. 

“I wanted to know how things worked, how to take them apart and put them back together, and I have always loved the outdoors. I had a tour scheduled with UMaine in the middle of the winter, and I loved it. The college town really pulled everything together,” said Burbridge. 

The Mechanical Engineering Technology program at UMaine provided Burbridge an opportunity to gain hands-on experience making the parts and pieces that were discussed in lectures. He and his colleagues primarily focused on manufacturing engineering, with one of their first projects involving the design and construction of their own steam engine over a year. In addition to hands-on learning, the program has provided Burbridge with a unique social atmosphere where he was able to meet and work alongside like-minded individuals. 

“Being in a program like Mechanical Engineering Technology, it’s a lot of collaboration. You’re going to find classmates and friends that will help you out, you help them out, and it creates this back-and-forth community,” he said. 

Burbridge credits his academic and professional success to his former teacher, Kyle Rooney.

“He has helped me with advice as a professor in his course, and he has also helped me with suggestions for courses because he took the same path. Outside of the curriculum, he has been a huge resource for finding internships. He has been an incredible resource as a mentor, professor, and friend,” said Burbridge. 

When Burbridge was asked to describe UMaine in one word, he said “community” without hesitation. 

“It’s a college town, and not many people have that experience. I visited my friends who go to school in Connecticut; there are so many surrounding cities and colleges, and it felt hard to get connected to the campus. When you’re at UMaine, it feels like you are just visiting UMaine, you’re surrounded by the people who want to go to college here, and you are able to find your community here,” said Burbridge. 

When asked about Captain Maine’s future after his graduation, Burbridge said he was interested in keeping the tradition of the unofficial mascot of Black Bear Nation alive.

“I have been thinking about it. I think it would be a cool thing to keep going, it would be a good time,” he said.  

Burbridge has a lot on his horizon, including a summer internship at Allagash Brewing Co. in Portland. No matter where his career takes him, he said he ultimately wants to stay in Maine. 

“I want to live the city life for a while, maybe in the southern part of the state near Portland. I love the idea of going into the city with my friends, and then when I’m older being able to drive north and find a place to call home.”

Story by news and social media intern Luke ONeil 

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu