Nearly 2,000 to Receive University of
Maine Degrees on Saturday
May 3, 2009ORONO -- The
University of Maine will award degrees to its Class of 2009 at the
university's 207th commencement ceremonies, scheduled for Saturday May 9
at Harold Alfond Arena in Orono. A 10 a.m. ceremony is for graduates in
the College of Business, Public Policy and Health; the College of
Liberal Arts and Sciences; and the Division of Lifelong Learning.
Graduates in the College of Education and Human Development; the College
of Engineering; and the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and
Agriculture will receive their degrees at a 2:30 p.m. ceremony.
UMaine's commencement is the state's largest graduation. With an
expected total of more than 12,000 people in attendance, it is one of
the state's largest annual single-day events.
An estimated 1,871 people will receive a UMaine degree on Saturday,
including 40 at the doctoral level, 15 certificates of advanced study
and 327 master's degrees. The balance, 1,489, will receive bachelor's
degrees.
Karen Gordon Mills, the new head of the U.S. Small Business
Administration, will deliver the commencement address at both
ceremonies. A Brunswick resident, Mills is in charge of a federal agency
with more than 2,000 full-time employees and a critical role in the
nation's economic recovery. She has had a 25-year career as an
entrepreneur and venture capitalist. Mills has also taken a leadership
role in statewide economic development initiatives, including work as
chair of the state's Council on Competitiveness and the Economy.
Retired U.S. Navy admiral Gregory Johnson of Harpswell, a 1968 UMaine
graduate, will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree at
the morning ceremony, in recognition of his exemplary career in military
and public service. David Francis of Pleasant Point will also receive an
honorary doctor of humane letters degree, at the afternoon ceremony.
Francis, a Passamaquoddy elder, is being recognized for his work in
preserving the Passamaquoddy language and culture.
Adrienne Sturgeon, an elementary education major from Bangor with
concentrations in history and social studies, along with a minor in
sociology, is the Class of 2009 valedictorian. The salutatorian is
Alexandra Albert of Eagle Lake. Albert majored in biochemistry and
molecular and cellular biology with a minor in microbiology.
William Johnson of the University of Maine System Board of Trustees will
bring greetings from the board at the morning ceremony and assist in the
conferral of degrees, while trustee Wayne Newell will fill that same
role in the afternoon. Suzanne Hart, chair of the University of Maine
Alumni Association board of directors, will welcome the new graduates to
the ranks of the more than 95,000 UMaine alumni.
Back to
Commencement 2009
