Black Bear profiles

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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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A portrait of Devin Frazer

Devin Frazer: Outstanding Graduating Student

Devin Frazer of Danbury, New Hampshire, is the Outstanding Graduating Student in the Maine College of Engineering and Computing. He is a mechanical engineering technology major with a minor in naval science. He was awarded the Navy ROTC 4-year National Scholarship and has received the Navy ROTC Academic Excellence Award. Most recently, he received the […]

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A portrait of Chappy Hall

Chappy Hall: Outstanding Graduating Student

Chappy Hall of Brunswick, Maine, is the Outstanding Graduating Student in the Honors College. Hall is a history major who pursued his passion for music by playing the trombone in several campus musical groups. In addition to participating in the University of Maine Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Concert Band, he joined several campus clubs, […]

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A portrait of Morgan Inman

Morgan Inman: Outstanding Graduating Student

Morgan Inman of Wales, Maine, is the Outstanding Graduating Student in the College of Education and Human Development. She is an elementary education major with a concentration in mathematics and a minor in business administration. During her time at UMaine, she produced a thesis for the Honors College titled “Sexuality Education In Central Maine High […]

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A portrait of Ida Kuoppala

Ida Kuoppala: Outstanding Graduating International Student

Ida Kuoppala of Pedersöre, Finland is the Outstanding Graduating International Student in the College of Education and Human Development. She is a kinesiology and physical education major with a concentration in teaching and coaching, and a member of the Women’s Ice Hockey team. A standout forward, Kuoppala was named to the All-USCHO Rookie Team her […]

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A portrait of Paige E McHatten

Paige McHatten: Outstanding Graduating Student

Paige McHatten of Mapleton, Maine, is the Outstanding Graduating Student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She is an English and journalism double major with a minor in media studies and a concentration in creative writing. While at the University of Maine, she was a McGillicuddy Humanities Center Undergraduate Fellow, completing a collection […]

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A portrait of Elise Morphy

Elise Morphy: Outstanding Graduating International Student 

Elise Morphy of Regina, Saskatchewan, is the Outstanding Graduating International Student in the College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences. She is majoring in biology, with a concentration in pre-medical studies and a minor in chemistry. Morphy has played for the Women’s Ice Hockey team since she was a first-year student in 2020 and served […]

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