For much of her life, Dori Leadbetter didn’t think of herself as “college material.” She dropped out of high school, had two kids by age 20 and earned her GED during her second pregnancy. By age 39, as a recent divorcee with three children, Leadbetter discovered the Maine Educational Opportunity Center (MEOC), a federally funded […]
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From brewing beer to building a business model, Nolan Dries is getting hands-on experience with innovative entrepreneurship. A junior from Windham, Maine, Dries landed an internship with Orange Bike Brewing Co. through the Innovate for Maine Fellows program. He’s not just learning about the booming non-alcoholic beer industry; he’s helping shape it. “I’m piloting a […]
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Roughly 15% of plastic waste cleaned up along Maine’s coastlines comes from foodware. Chemicals used in plastic production often leach into the environment and pose health risks once absorbed into the body. Chyanne Yoder, a Ph.D. student at the University of Maine, aims to squash this source of pollution by supporting coastal communities’ efforts to […]
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For Lillian Warwick, choosing the University of Maine at Machias meant she would get to continue to enjoy the coast near her home, form strong connections with peers and professors and pursue research opportunities that aligned with her career path. Warwick graduated from UMaine Machias in May with a degree in integrative biology with a […]
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Between high school and his graduation from the University of Maine in May, Dustin Hill has changed directions a few times — and led a few different lives by some measures. He has two degrees, two children, a wife and veteran status. “If you could go back and talk to 16/17 year old Dustin, you […]
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In the early 1990s as a student at Belfast Area High School, Rusty Brown (’98, ’01G) admits that he was “floundering” somewhat on his educational journey. At a particularly low moment, coming off a three day out-of-school suspension, a guidance counselor suggested that he might be a good candidate for Upward Bound (UB). Established by […]
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For nearly a decade, Amanda Gavin has studied and conserved lakes, including many in Maine, that provide drinking water and support agriculture. Today, she’s investigating what the future may hold for tens of thousands of crystalline blue lakes within an Arctic country experiencing rapid ecological change: Greenland. More frequent heat waves, drought, heavy rain and […]
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For Ryan Murray of Scarborough, Maine, music is a medium that bridges the teacher-student connection. Murray recently graduated from the University of Maine with a bachelor’s in music education and a vocal concentration. He is a strong proponent of the importance of music education. “I definitely think it’s a little bit niche. It’s not something […]
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In the late 1950s, Joan Alexander was studying at the University of Maine in hopes of becoming a teacher. At the time, career options for women were limited to education, English and home economics. Yet Alexander was prevented from earning her degree because she wasn’t allowed to student teach while pregnant. In addition to her […]
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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 […]
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