ORONO -- The University of
Maine will award approximately 1,860 degrees at its 206th Commencement,
scheduled for Saturday, May 10 at Alfond Arena.
UMaine's graduation format
calls for two separate indoor ceremonies. During the 10 a.m. ceremony,
degrees will be awarded to graduates from the College of Business,
Public Policy and Health; the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and
the Division of Lifelong Learning. An afternoon ceremony, to begin at
2:30 p.m., will be for graduates from the College of Education and Human
Development; the College of Engineering (including the School of
Engineering Technology); and the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry
and Agriculture.
The commencement speaker
will be Doug Hall, a 1981 UMaine graduate who is the founder and CEO of
Eureka Ranch, a Cincinnati-based business where individuals and
businesses learn how to turn their ideas into commercial success. Hall
is also very involved in UMaine's Foster Student Innovation Center and
the university's Innovation Engineering curriculum. He will speak at
both sessions.
UMaine President Robert
Kennedy will preside over the ceremonies. Paul Mitchell will represent
the University of Maine System Board of Trustees at the morning
ceremony, and he will assist UMaine vice president for academic affairs
and provost Susan Hunter in awarding an honorary doctorate to renowned
sculptor and University of Florida professor Celeste Roberge. Trustee
Marjorie Medd will represent the board at the afternoon event, when she
will join Hunter in awarding an honorary doctorate to Hall.
As commencement generates
a good deal of traffic, UMaine will operate a continuous shuttle bus
service from the Steam Plant Parking Lot, Belgrade Lot, Maine Center for
the Arts Lot and Hilltop Lot to Alfond Arena, both before and after the
ceremonies. Those traveling to UMaine are encouraged to allow plenty of
time, and to expect traffic delays of up to 60 minutes. Those accessing
UMaine via Interstate 95 should consider using Exit 197 and traveling
through Old Town to the university's Park St. entrance, if traffic is
significantly backed up at the exits closer to Bangor.
