Black Bear profiles

An image collage featuring an image of Lillian Warwick.

Lillian Warwick: Finding success in opportunities close to coast

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 […]

Read more

Dustin Hill: The long hike to a dream career 

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 […]

Read more

A composite image featuring images of Rusty Brown

Rusty Brown: Upward Bound alum gives back to transformative program

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 […]

Read more

A collage of images featuring Amanda Gavin

Amanda Gavin: Investigating Greenland’s rapidly changing water supply

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 […]

Read more

A collage of photos of Ryan Murray

Ryan Murray: Using music to build the teacher-student connection

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 […]

Read more

A photo of Joan Alexander

Joan Alexander: Earning a degree six decades after she started

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 […]

Read more

A composite image featuring Mo Drammeh

Mo Drammeh: Published author explores advocacy through story

For Mo, storytelling isn’t just about fiction — it’s about shaping the way people see the world.  A sophomore in the College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences and Honors College at the University of Maine, Mo has built a unique path that blends scientific research and creative writing, using both as tools for advocacy. […]

Read more

A portrait of Siddhartha Bajracharya

Siddhartha Bajracharya: Outstanding Graduating International Student

Siddhartha Bajracharya of Kathmandu, Nepal, is the Outstanding Graduating International Student in the Maine College of Engineering and Computing. A computer engineering major, Bajracharya discovered his passion for embedded systems, a specialized computer system combining hardware and software, through high-altitude ballooning workshops at the University of Maine and Montana State University. He collaborated with students […]

Read more

Portrait Morgan Elizabeth Bisecco

Morgan Bisecco: Outstanding Graduating Student

Morgan Bisecco from North Haven, Connecticut, is the Outstanding Graduating Student in the Maine Business School (MBS). She is majoring in business administration in finance with a second major in management and a minor in economics. She has been active in Beta Gamma Sigma and worked as an MBS ambassador and peer leader, as well […]

Read more