Black Bear profiles

A photo of Patty Morris

Patty Morris: Dream achieved through directorial debut

A University of Maine student is bringing together two of his passions — military history and theater — in a Shakespearean fashion this summer. For his directorial debut, history major and theater minor Patrick “Patty” Morris is directing an outdoor production of William Shakespeare’s “Henry V” with the Bangor-based Ten Bucks Theatre. The show, which […]

Read more

A photo of Lucas Ronco by a Renewal By Andersen car

Lucas Ronco: Going door-to-door as Renewal by Andersen’s first intern

As a rising senior studying marketing and sport management, Lucas Ronco was eager to practice what he learned in the classroom. When Renewal By Andersen hired Ronco as its intern this summer, he put his skills to the test through door-to-door marketing.  By visiting homeowners to discuss how the company could help them address the […]

Read more

A photo of Vendy Hazukova

Vendy Hazuková: Diving deep into Arctic lake ecology

Someone who knows how to smile in subzero weather, Vendy Hazuková’s grit in the field has defined her as a graduate student at the University of Maine. Much of her time learning was outside of the classroom collecting samples in the Arctic, which ultimately led to a postdoctoral position in Northern Europe that she will […]

Read more

A photo of Melissa Genoter

Melissa Genoter: Finding a career in a love for Maine’s outdoors

Melissa Genoter’s experience at the University of Maine turned her love of the outdoors into an impactful research project — and a post-graduate career. Thanks to internships through the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions and the connections she made with fellow students through outdoors clubs, Genoter has established herself in Maine’s environmental […]

Read more

A portrait of Michael Delorge

Michael Delorge: UMaine 2024 Co-Valedictorian

Michael Delorge of Biddeford, Maine, is a 2024 valedictorian. Pursuing dual degrees in political science and biology, Delorge crafted coursework focused on public health policy with the goal of generating skills to improve medical care. Originally a pre-med student, he altered his studies to meet his interests and spent class time integrating topics such as […]

Read more

A portrait of Lydia Gilmore

Lydia Gilmore: UMaine 2024 Co-Valedictorian

Lydia Gilmore of Bangor, Maine, is a 2024 valedictorian. She is majoring in mechanical engineering and is a member of the Cross Country and Track & Field teams. On the accelerated track for a master’s in mechanical engineering, she is also an undergraduate research assistant at the Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC). Through small […]

Read more

A portrait of Katelyn Amero

Katelyn Amero: UMaine 2024 Salutatorian

Katelyn Amero of Mapleton, Maine, is the 2024 salutatorian. She is an Honors College student double-majoring in biochemistry and microbiology. A young girl’s curiosity to identify the animals in her backyard bloomed into Amero’s determination to find and analyze new facets of science and biology. She works steadily in the laboratory and showcases genuine interest […]

Read more

A photo of Kate Flynn

Kate Flynn: Turning leftovers into long-lasting impact

In the United States, more than 133 billion pounds of food are thrown away each year. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, food waste is responsible for 33% of total greenhouse gas emissions in Maine, and about 11% of emissions nationwide.  Kate Flynn, a fourth-year political science student at the University of Maine, was exposed […]

Read more

A portrait of Tobey Crawford Connor

Tobey Crawford Connor: Outstanding Graduating Student

Tobey Crawford Connor of Sullivan, Maine, is the Outstanding Graduating Student in the Division of Lifelong Learning. She is a university studies major in the Maine studies track. Connor completed an internship in 2022 with the Sullivan-Sorrento Historical Society, which led to her part-time job as communications coordinator for the organization. Her academic research focuses […]

Read more