Travis Mills announced as UMSS20 featured speaker

UMSS20 to feature inspirational speaker: Travis Mills

The 2020 UMaine Student Symposium (UMSS20) is proud to announce Travis Mills as the featured speaker of the event. The Retired United States Army Staff Sergeant inspires others around the world with his motivational motto: “Never give up. Never quit.”

His speech will teach and inspire attendees to “Never give Up. Never quit.” – no matter the obstacles or circumstances. He will also speak to how medical technology developed through research has improved his quality of life.

Travis Mills Bio:

Travis MillsOn April 10, 2012, United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne was critically injured on his 3rd tour of duty in Afghanistan by an IED (improvised explosive device), losing portions of both legs and both arms. He is 1 of only 5 quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive such extensive injuries. Travis now lives an inspiring life as a quadruple amputee – he has written a New York Times bestselling memoir titled, Tough As They Come; he speaks across the country motivating others to live by his motto: “Never give up. Never quit.”; and his foundations state of the art facility in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine hosts combat injured veterans and their families for an all-expenses paid, barrier free vacation.

In October 2018 Travis was awarded New Englander of the year by the New England Council. In March of 2019 he was awarded the Citizens Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in Washington DC. He also holds honorary doctorates from Unity College and Bates College.


UMSS20 will be held Friday, April 17, 2020 at the Alfond Arena in Orono. The event is free and open to the public.
More information and updates on the event can be found online.

The 2020 UMaine Student Symposium is presented with generous support from the Alton ’38 and Adelaide Hamm Campus Activity Fund.