Cole, a UMaine alumnus, graduated in 1968 with an associate degree in engineering technology followed by a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1972.  He went on to found S.W. Cole Engineering, Inc., in Hermon, Maine, in 1979. He retired from the company in 2007.

Attending the dedication ceremony was a standing room-only crowd including UMaine President Paul Ferguson, College of Engineering (COE) faculty and staff, S.W. Engineering, Inc., employees, both past and present, members of the engineering community, and friends and family.

“This generous gift in honor of Steve Cole will help us maintain a high quality facility that is a critical piece of our program,” said Civil and Engineering Department Chair Eric Landis. “We feel it is essential for students to get a true hands-on experience, and in the case of concrete, that means getting their hands dirty.  Concrete is the most-used manufactured material and it is important that civil engineering students have a good feel for how it is produced and what can go wrong when it is placed.  The only way to learn that is through hands-on experience with the material.”

Steve Cole

COE Dean Dana Humphrey applauded Cole’s leadership and his ability to help solve problems but step away once the solution was in place. He pointed out that Cole was key to establishing a two-year technical degree in civil engineering technology at Eastern Maine Community College to fulfill a need cited by area construction and engineering firms for employees with quality control and materials testing expertise. And he noted that Cole helped create the Maine Engineering Promotion Council (MEPC), a non-profit organization to advance interest among middle-school students in the engineering profession.

“The MEPC is one of the reasons that the UMaine College of Engineering has seen record enrollments,” Dean Humphrey said.

S. W. Cole President Paul Kohler said he met Cole when he took a class that Cole was teaching at UMaine. He went to work for S. W. Cole in 1985 and has been there ever since. “One thing, among many, that I have always admired about Steve is his desire to provide opportunity to young professionals,” Kohler said. “He made it fun to learn and work in this business and he always made time to listen to your opinions and views.”

Kohler also noted that the foundation laid by Cole has served the company well. “Although things have changed since Steve’s retirement, I am very confident that if he came back tomorrow he would recognize that the underlying principles he founded are still the guiding principles we operate by today,” he said.

After a standing ovation, Cole thanked those in attendance and said he was humbled by the dedication. He said he was especially proud to have his name on the firm as it continues to thrive under the new generation of ownership.

S.W. Cole, an employee-owned firm of more than 90 scientists, engineers, and technicians provides geotechnical engineering, geo-environmental consulting, and construction materials testing for projects throughout New England.

It was a typical work night for freshman Environment Science major Kaitlin Flynn of West Hartford, CT, a student caller for Connection Center operated by The FUND at the University of Maine.

Kaitlin Flynn

“It’s my second semester working here,” Flynn said “This is a good opportunity to get work experience, help the university, and I really enjoy talking to alumni. Pledges and credit card gifts can range from anywhere from $19.89 in honor of a person’s graduation year to as much as $1,000 or a given night. Of course, some nights are better than others.” Flynn has generated over $8,400 and 112 pledges, making her one of the programs top callers.

Funds raised during the sessions are used to help with department, college and university wide needs such scholarships, technology upgrades, student travel to conferences, laboratory equipment, textbooks for students in need, and activities.

“This program is definitely moving in the right direction when you consider that it is the first real comprehensive tele-fundraising effort by the university,” said Ullysses Tucker, Jr., Director of Annual Giving at UMaine. “I have a wonderful group of callers; plenty of energy in the room on a nightly basis and in many ways they serve as ambassadors for our institution because they are the first real contact with many of our graduates in years. It’s great listening to the conversations as the proud past connects with the bright future.”

The students also update demographic information, spread the word about campus events and activities, and more importantly, secure support to offset diminishing funds from the state. In only fourteen weeks of calling (the program runs from September-April when classes are in session), the students have generated nearly $160,000 ($41, 000 in credit cards gifts) and over 2500 pledges.

While Flynn is excited about obtaining donations, she takes a practical approach to her work.

“This job experience has definitely helped me academically and socially,” she said. “I’ve learned to talk with a variety of people, and now when I have to make a presentation for class or when I graduate and have to be in front of people, I will have more confidence in my speaking ability and communication skills.

“I’ve also learned how important support is to UMaine,” Flynn added. It’s encouraging to talk with people who have been through the same thing, and who now are in a position to – and want to – give back. Someday, I hope to be able to do that myself and help students.”

For more information about UMaine giving opportunities, visit www.umaine.edu/give. or contact Ullysses Tucker, Jr., Director of Annual Giving at 207-581-1157 (ullysses.tucker@maine.edu).

“I’m very fond of my alma mater and I think it’s important to support our state university,” said Coulombe, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1975. “When I learned that the need for financial aid has grown over the last few years, in part because aid has dropped off at the federal level, I was more than happy to make a gift to help the young people in our state who may not be able to afford an education.

“The University of Maine is a great school with an excellent business program,” he said. “I believe in supporting UMaine because it works to strengthen the economy and make the state a better place to live. It’s a key ingredient to the success of the state as a whole.”

Founded in 1928 and acquired by Paul Coulombe’s parents in 1971, White Rock is a leading manufacturer and importer of fine spirits and liqueurs and operates a state-of-the-art facility in Lewiston, Maine.  When it started, the company had three employees and a 10,000 square foot plant and was selling just 25,000 cases a year. Over the next 30 years, two generations of the Coulombe family built White Rock into a major industry player through acquisition, expansion, and development of new technologies. Today the company boasts sales exceeding 3.5 million cases, has 250 employees and does business in all 50 states and in about 20 countries.

“It’s exciting to have been part of the growth of my family business,” said Coulombe, who was born in Lewiston and graduated from Lewiston High School. He began work at White Rock after graduating from UMaine in 1975 and was vice president of marketing and a sales manager before being named CEO in 1995. “The marketing aspect excites me the most because it drives revenue.  Good marketing and advertising make the difference between a company’s success or failure. You can make all the products you want, but it’s really about getting the word out and creating a demand.”

Key to building White Rock into a major industry player was daring to take risks, Coulombe said. “Being creative and innovative and willing to try new things has been our creed. We were always willing to try new concepts, whether it was new flavors, product lines, or packaging. We were involved in acquisitions and expansions and we developed new technologies in packaging and machinery, but we always believed that having a sense of what’s going on in the marketplace and staying up with the latest fads and trends was the way to be successful and to set ourselves apart.

“We had our share of failures, but we learned from every one of them,” he continued. “It’s all about tenacity and hanging in there when things look darkest. Some people give up. I was raised a different way – you just keep going and work even harder.”

President of his Class and of Phi Mu Delta Fraternity, Coulombe stayed busy and active at UMaine. The training and skills he acquired in his finance, accounting, and general economy classes stood him in good stead throughout his business career. “The best course I ever took required students to run their own fictitious company,” he said. “We had to compete against each other as we applied the business theories we learned in class. We had to understand finance and marketing and know how to regulate inventory and sales. I learned some great lessons in that class. It had a huge impact on me.”

Coulombe’s advice to undergraduates:  Aspiring entrepreneurs should become well versed in basic business principles such as finance, accounting, banking, marketing, management, and even law, he said. “All those courses are more important today than ever. Then, continue your education, get an MBA, and take a position in a large, global company. Once you have a few years under your belt, go out on your own or work for a mid-sized or smaller firm. You’ll be a better business person in the end.”

(left to right) Todd Saucier-President/Executive Director UMaine Alumni Association Ullysses Tucker, Jr.- Director of Annual Giving Office of University Development Eric Rolfson- Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations Michelle Wise-Director of Guest Relations Dunkin Donuts Dina Pereira-Director of Operations Dunkin Donuts Mike Hodgson-Assistant Athletic Director for Development

Dunkin Donuts of Orono and Old Town recently donated $4,000 to benefit the UMaine  Alumni Association, Black Bear Fund, and Presidential Priorities to support scholarships as part of its community outreach and corporate responsibility program. The university also provided each location jerseys from all of the male and female sports to display at the local outlets.

Ms. Wheatland, known affectionately as “Bee,” died at her home in Sargentville, Maine, in 2010. She established the MTCT, a private charitable foundation with a special focus on forestlands, timberlands and other natural resources  in the State of Maine, as well as related education, research, and other activities concerning the environmentally compatible use and preservation of these resources.

Robert Wagner, director of the UMaine School of Forest Resources and Center for Research on Sustainable Forests (CRSF), said the generous gift from the MTCT for the Barbara Wheatland Geospatial Analysis Laboratory in Nutting Hall on the UMaine campus in Orono would greatly benefit the School’s nearly 200 undergraduate and graduate students as they pursue their education. “This wonderful endowment helps us ensure that our students are equipped with the latest skills and gives us the capability to perform leading research as we work on applied forest management problems,” he said. “Employers expect our graduates to have state-of-the-art knowledge and training relating to geospatial analysis of landscapes. This new laboratory will help us accomplish that.”

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enable foresters to look at how complex environmental and management factors change and interact over large forest landscapes for long periods of time, allowing forest managers to optimize harvest operations and management plans to meet the rigorous demands of sustainable forestry.

“So much of what we do in modern forest management involves geospatial analysis,” Dr. Wagner said.

A member of the Pingree family which owns and manages multiple timberland properties and hardwood processing facilities in Maine, Ms. Wheatland spent her youth in Marblehead and Topsfield, Mass. She fell in love with the Maine woods at an early age and often hiked the mountain trails on Mount Desert Island,  ultimately returning to live at her Maine farm in her later years, practicing “organic gardening” before the term became fashionable.

She was keenly interested in anything connected with Maine, including the development of ”green” certified forestry practices,  boutique maple syrup production, and  individual ownership of  working forestlands.  MTCT trustee Linda Dalby Kennedy said Ms. Wheatland’s foundation is committed to innovative approaches  in the conservation and economic development of Maine’s natural resources so that residents of Maine may benefit from  related educational grants and scholarships, expanded  employment opportunities, and the simple enjoyment  of nature that is ensured  by responsible stewardship.

The MTCT’s generous gift, which supports both the renovation and outfitting of the current GIS lab as well as the endowment to secure its long-term viability in this rapidly changing discipline, comes at an opportune time, Dr. Wagner said, since Nutting Hall is undergoing renovations as part of a bond approved by voters several years ago.

In addition to its gift to the School of Forest Resources, the MTCT has made a substantial grant to the New England Forestry Foundation to open and staff its first satellite office in Maine and enable NEFF to establish its presence in Maine as a “go to” regional resource for forest conservation and sustainable forest management, co-trustee Timothy Ingraham said.

Patricia Cummings, Associate Vice President for Development, expressed appreciation for donors who recognize the importance of UMaine’s research to the state’s economy and who provide the equipment for UMaine students to gain hands-on experience to prepare them as future stewards of our forest resources. “We look forward to dedicating the Barbara Wheatland Geospatial Analysis Lab in the newly renovated Nutting Hall,” she said.

     University of Maine students who are employed at Fogler Library or who want a career working with children and families have received a boost thanks to two new scholarships established by Robert ’57 and Sharon ’60 Ward Fuehrer of Peacham, Vt.

     The Robert and Sharon Ward Fuehrer Library Employee Scholarship Fund will provide aid for undergraduate and/or graduate students who work at Fogler Library. First preference is for students who graduated from high schools in Vermont where the couple has lived for nearly 40 years. The Robert and Sharon Ward Fuehrer Scholarship Fund will provide aid for undergraduate and/or graduate students majoring in Child Development and Family Relations or Nutrition Science who are graduates of Maine high schools. First preference is for students from Aroostook County where Sharon grew up in Limestone.

     The idea is to help UMaine remain accessible and affordable, said the couple, who recalled their own struggles with finances when they were university students.

     “We want to make it easier for students to stay in school,” said Bob, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering and a five-year degree in pulp and paper management. While at UMaine he received Pulp and Paper Foundation scholarships which enabled him to continue with his education.

     “That certainly affected my interest in establishing scholarships.”  

     Sharon, who earned a bachelor’s degree in home economics education with a concentration in dietetics, food and nutrition, said her parents scrimped and saved so she could get an education. “My dad was a potato farmer,” she said. “He and my mother worked hard to send me to college.”

     The scholarships established by the Fuehrers will be a boon to many UMaine students, officials said.

     “Work in the library benefits both the students and the library,” said Joyce Rumery, dean of libraries. “The students make money to help fund their education and they learn more about the library which helps their education. In addition, they help the library maintain the hours and services that all of the students need.”

     O.J. Logue, associate dean of student services, said, “The College of Education and Human Development is extremely grateful for the generosity of Robert and Sharon Fuehrer in creating the college’s newest fund. This gift is especially timely given the financial difficulties in funding one’s higher education.”

     The University of Maine prepared them well for their careers and for life after graduation, said the Fuehrers. Bob, who worked in the pulp and paper industry for nearly 40 years, began his career at Spaulding Fibre Company’s mills in New Hampshire. He later became a partner at the consulting firm of Gorham Research in Maine, and then went on to co-found EHV Industries in St. Johnsbury, Vt., which eventually became EHV-Weidmann Industries. Now called Weidmann Electrical Technology, the company has operations throughout the world.

     Although the current home economics education program at UMaine is far different than the one in which Sharon participated, she also has fond memories of her classes. “It was a really excellent program,” said Sharon, a stay-at-home mother who was a substitute home economics teacher at local schools.

     “There was much more to our UMaine program it than cooking and sewing,” she said. “We learned time and home management and how to budget and be financially prudent.”

     Her experience influenced the couple’s four children. “They are all knowledgeable about the economics of savings as well as being great cooks,” she said.

     Bob and Sharon have supported UMaine in a variety of ways. In 1994 they established a Pulp and Paper Scholarship in memory of Bob’s uncle, George J. Muller, a self-made man who took Bob on a tour of the university while his nephew was still in high school in New York. After meeting with UMaine professors and then-President Arthur Hauck and learning about the scholarships that the Pulp and Paper Program offered, Bob knew UMaine was the place for him.

     “That visit cinched the deal,” he said.

     Bob said he and Sharon have come to think of the scholarships they’ve created at UMaine as a team effort. Establishing the scholarship for a student in the Pulp and Paper Program was for him, while the scholarship for a student in Child Development was for her, and the scholarship for a Fogler Library employee was for them both.

     “It’s a his, hers, ours sort of approach,” Bob said. 

     Loyal and dedicated alumni, the Fuehrers have made it a point over the years to attend reunions and Black Bear hockey games. They have remained close to a number of former classmates.

     The couple, who met when Bob was a senior and Sharon a freshman, reflect often on the fact that, had it not been for their UMaine experience, they likely never would have gotten together. They will celebrate their 50^th anniversary in 2010.

     “We really are quite struck with the debt of gratitude we owe UMaine,” said Bob. “We met at UMaine and that meeting has led to a long and happy marriage. We are grateful to the university, not only for our education, but for helping us find each other and build a wonderful life with four great kids, six grandchildren and lots of happy memories.   

     “We’re both lucky,” he added. “We really got our money’s worth.”

Richard C. Hill, P.E.

     Professor Richard C. Hill came to the University of Maine 63 years ago and the mark he has left on Maine and its preeminent university is truly indelible. Arriving here in 1946, his body of work in the field of energy has single-handedly educated generations of Maine citizens both in broad policy issues and practical industrial and residential applications. He has the distinction of being the oldest active licensed engineer in the State of Maine, and in 2000 was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Maine.

     Dick Hill joined the University of Maine after receiving a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Syracuse University and spending four years at the General Electric Company working on steam and gas turbine design. He was instrumental in building a superb Mechanical Engineering Department at UMaine, and also served as director of the Department of Industrial Cooperation for the last thirty years of his tenure. Retiring after 46 years of teaching and research, Professor Hill remains one of UMaine’s most highly recognized and respected emeriti faculty experts. His extensive knowledge, paired with a communication style that made even the most complex subjects understandable, has made him a highly-sought-after commentator on energy issues for decades. His fifteen years of weekly radio presentations on statewide Maine Public Radio, his consulting work with the U.S. Department of Energy, his extensive writings in newspapers and journals, and his innumerable speaking engagements around the country have brought great recognition and honor to the University.

     Professor Hill’s contributions to the University of Maine are legendary. Beloved by his students, admired by his colleagues, and respected by Maine people everywhere, he remains one of UMaine’s most effective and articulate ambassadors. As the first faculty member to receive the Stillwater Presidential Award since its creation in 2001, we are honored to present this distinction to Professor Richard C. Hill.

Henry L.P. “Hank” Schmelzer, Class of 1965

     Henry L.P. “Hank” Schmelzer, retired president and CEO of the Maine Community Foundation (MCF), has touched the lives of Maine citizens from Fort Kent to Kittery through his gifted leadership of one of the country’s most vibrant community foundations.

     Hank became president and CEO of MCF after twenty-five years as a corporate financial executive in Boston, returning to his beloved adopted state in 2000 with his wife Cynthia Livingston. Under his leadership, the foundation’s assets grew from $78 million to almost $250 million. The number of donors more than doubled, and perhaps most importantly, grants to Maine non-profits and community organizations tripled, increasing from $5 million to $16 million per year.

     His exceptional ability to forge relationships with donors, his staff, and his peers in philanthropy, both in Maine and nationally, has been recognized as one of his greatest strengths and the reason for his unprecedented success. His vision and leadership style, coupled with his warm and approachable manner, allowed the foundation to reach out to a greatly expanded sphere of philanthropists and community leaders. While at MCF, Hank was instrumental in the development of the Maine Compact for Higher Education, a statewide program involving academic, government and community leaders to increase higher education levels in Maine, among many other important initiatives.

     “Hank (took) the Maine Community Foundation from a small entrepreneurial enterprise to being a major partner in community development in Maine,” notes MCF Board Chair Anne Jackson of Yarmouth. At his retirement less than a year ago, Hank, who has a B.A. in history and Political Science from UMaine and a J.D. from George Washington University, was honored with the creation of the “Schmelzer College Transitions Scholarship Fund” at MCF. The first grants from this fund were presented this fall to four non-traditional students at the University of Maine, where he serves as a distinguished member of the Board of Visitors.

The Honorable Susan M. Collins

     Susan Collins has followed in the footsteps of Maine’s long line of distinguished and independent national legislators, taking our state’s reputation for producing tremendously respected and influential leaders to a new level.

     Born and raised in Caribou and the daughter of two UMaine undergraduates from the Class of 1949, Senator Susan M. Collins was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996. She became the first freshman Senator ever to serve as Chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, leading the Subcommittee in investigating waste and fraud in government, uncovering some $26 billion in Medicare fraud in the process. Re-elected in 2002, Senator Collins became Chair of the Homeland Security Committee. Her work as Chair, coupled with her work on the Armed Services Committee, earned her renown for her expertise and dedication to protecting our nation. She now serves as the Committee’s Ranking Republican. In 2004, she coauthored the Collins-Lieberman Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, which represented the most sweeping changes to America’s intelligence community in 50 years. She has successfully passed legislation to improve security at seaports and chemical facilities, and to rebuild our nation’s emergency preparedness structure.

     Senator Collins is widely recognized for her national reputation as a thoughtful, gifted legislator who works across party lines to seek consensus on our nation’s most important issues. Her focus on national security and energy independence have made her a powerful voice for the University of Maine and its critical R&D work in creating alternative energy sources and developing technologies for the Department of Defense.

     Despite her ascension to the national and international political stage, and her enormous influence as one of our country’s truly independent thinkers in the Senate, Susan has never forgotten her Maine roots. We are honored to call her our U.S. Senator.

Women in Leadership and Philanthropy celebration

Women took center stage Oct. 29 when the Office of University Development honored the important research being done by University of Maine women scientists and celebrated the many women philanthropists who have made the university’s critical work possible.

Held at Buchanan Alumni House, the Women in Leadership and Philanthropy lunch featured five award-winning UMaine women scientists and researchers who shared their impressive work with nearly 140 alumni, supporters, and faculty and staff members. Presenters were:

Professor Mary Rumpho Kennedy

• Dr. Mary Rumpho Kennedy, Professor of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Molecular Biology, whose ground breaking research could lead to breakthroughs in understanding immunity and disease;
• Dr. Marie Hayes, Professor of Psychology and Allied Senior Research Scientist at the Maine Institute for Human Genetics & Health, who is working to establish a connection between abnormal sleep and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in high risk babies;
• Dr. Carol Kim, Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Molecular Biology and Executive Director of the UMaine Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, who is studying the biological factors that supplement and prolong the body’s immune response to infection;
• Dr. Elizabeth Allan, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership/Higher Education and co-author of The National Study on Hazing, who lead a first-of-its-kind nationwide research project to study the prevalence and nature of hazing in colleges and universities; and
• Dr. Kate Beard-Tisdale, Professor of Spatial Information Science & Engineering and Director of the National Center for Geographic Information & Analysis, who is exploring the relationship between cancer and the environment.

Jill McGowan '83

Also talking about her work was clothing designer Jill McGowan ’83, who founded Jill McGowan, Inc., in Portland. In addition to outfitting presenters in her famous white shirts, she brought with her a number of items from her collection.

“We are blessed to have so many women at the university who are both gifted leaders and generous philanthropists,” said Barbara Beers ’74, Senior Philanthropic Advisor at the Office of University Development and host of the event. “From our executive staff, more than 50% of whom are women, to our volunteer Board of Visitors, now headed by a woman, UMaine has recognized the power of women as leaders.

Barbara Beers, Senior Philanthropic Advisor

“Women are also among UMaine’s most generous donors … putting their personal resources where their passions lie. In fact, over 700 women have made one-time gifts of $5,000 or more to UMaine.”

UMaine President Robert A. Kennedy said, “Women are making huge contributions to your university today. And not only as faculty and staff, but as gifted students as well … One of the things I am most proud of is adding women to the senior staff. In fact, today, that group is predominantly female.”

UMaine President Robert A. Kennedy

Beers thanked the sponsors of the event: the Maine Community Foundation, represented by Ellen Pope; Garrand & Company of Portland, represented by Brenda Garrand; and Deighan Associates of Bangor, represented by Jean Deighan. She also acknowledged the 23 women who served on the Host Committee and offered their support for the initiative to build greater numbers of women leaders and philanthropists at UMaine.

Also attending was Karen Baldacci, wife of Gov. John Baldacci, who earned a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition from UMaine in 1983 and a master’s degree in elementary education in 2001. A number of UMaine undergraduate and graduate students were on hand as were three students from local high schools who had been invited by Kathy Allain of Owls Head, a member of the Host Committee.

Jean Deighan

Participants pronounced the event a huge success.

Ellen Pope, Vice President of the Maine Community Foundation, one of the event’s sponsors, said people came away with “a reinforced sense of the deep network of women philanthropists, a positive view of President Kennedy’s leadership and wisdom in selecting strong talented women for his administration, inspiration from the faculty presentations, and a feel for the vitality of UMaine and its development programs.”

Kathy Allain said it was obvious that the three high school girls she invited had thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

(l-r) Major Gift Officer Lynda Rohman, Kathy Allain, Old Town High School student Haley Comeau

“They were impressed with the whole event,” said Allain, whose husband Stanley graduated from UMaine in 1961. “The speakers had such exciting profiles and they were so gracious – they invited the girls to visit their labs and to call them with questions about UMaine. It was a wonderful opportunity to inspire three young women.”

Cindy Blodgett ’98, UMaine’s head women’s basketball coach, said she had been inspired by the presentation from Jill McGowan, who discussed her burgeoning career and the challenges she encountered as she worked her way up the ladder.

Blodgett was especially interested to hear that McGowan got her start in pattern making at the now-defunct C. F. Hathaway Shirt Factory in Waterville, where Blodgett’s mother had worked for more than 30 years.

“That spoke to me immediately,” Blodgett said. “I remember when I was young and my mom took me to tour the mill. I couldn’t believe she stood on her feet for eight hours every day. She always told me to chase after my dream and pursue the career that I wanted. I loved hearing that Jill became tremendously successful by following her passion. Each person who sat in that room during the Women in Philanthropy event has a tremendous story – they’re the ones who paved the path for me so I could chase after my dreams.”

Blodgett said she also had been impressed by Dr. Allan’s commitment to raising awareness about hazing. “Every year her staff shares information about hazing with our team. I love that she’s so proactive. After her presentation, I go back and talk about it at great length. I look at my team and I know the message doesn’t get lost. I know they understand. ”

Transplanted lady slippers flourish at Fay Hyland Arboretum

“Four years ago, University of Maine alumni Linwood and Jean White embarked on a mission to save the bright yellow lady slippers that had been growing in the backyard of their Orono home for more than 70 years. Today the rare and beautiful flowers are thriving in UMaine’s Fay Hyland Botanical Garden.

The Whites had been enjoying the lady slippers since 1990 when they moved into their Victorian-style home on Cedar Street. But when the fir trees surrounding the flowers died and had to be removed, the couple worried that, left unprotected, the lady slippers would suffer a similar fate.

So they offered some of their precious plants to UMaine’s Fay Hyland Garden, managed by their good friend Chris Campbell, a professor in the School of Biology and Ecology. They figured if anyone knew how to care for the orchids, it would be he!

“I was happy to accept,” said Professor Campbell. “I thought they’d make a good addition to the garden. Lady slippers are native to Maine, so this sort of rescue operation made a lot of sense. And, although one can never be sure about transplanting orchids, they all seem to have taken.

“Now, we’re just trying to do what we can to make sure they continue to thrive. They’re in a spot where they’re not easily seen by people who might pick them. And they have light and are in a fairly moist area. Light and moisture are essential for orchids.”

Determined to ensure their survival, Professor Campbell built a little pinecone fence around the lady slippers to ward off slugs.

“They can’t crawl over it now.”

Located on 10 acres bordering the Stillwater River, the Fay Hyland Arboretum is a living collection of woody plants native to Maine. The arboretum also includes many interesting exotic species and serves as a resource for teaching, research, and recreation.

The Whites say they are pleased that the lady slippers – an endangered species in some states – took so well to their new home. They enjoy knowing that people who may not ever have seen the elusive flower now have the perfect opportunity.

“We thought it was a good idea to give them to the university,” said Jean, who graduated from UMaine in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in home economics. “We just wanted to share what was here.”

The flowers have special significance for Lin White since they may have been planted as long ago as 1939 by Geddes Simpson, distinguished UMaine researcher and professor emeritus of entomology, who owned the stately 1830’s house before the Whites purchased it.

“He was a good friend — I knew him for years,” said Lin, who earned a master’s degree and a CAS, both in education, from UMaine in the 1950s. He served as principal at the Asa Adams Elementary School.

Nowadays, Lin is doing what he can to preserve the remaining lady slippers in his backyard. “I planted another fir tree beside them so I’m hoping it will provide them with the type of soil they lived in before.”

Each day he makes his way down the back stairs to check on his beloved flowers.

“They’re not a pretentious thing,” he says. “They’re down there behind some stumps covered by an old green window shutter for protection.

“But they certainly are beautiful.”

Thomas Sweetser, Jr. at Eagle LakeThe Thomas C. Sweetser, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund is growing thanks to a gift from his wife, Mildred Sweetser.

The Thomas C. Sweetser, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund is growing thanks to a gift from his wife, Mildred Sweetser.

The fund, which provides financial aid to students in the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture, was established in 2004 to honor Sweetser, who died in April of that year. A 1950 UMaine graduate, Sweetser earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy, and spent more than 30 years with the UMaine Cooperative Extension Service as a county agricultural agent, educator, and research and development coordinator.

In April, 2009, Mrs. Sweetser decided to commemorate the fifth anniversary of her husband’s death by donating $5,000 to his scholarship fund.

“Dad would be thrilled. He loved the university and felt strongly about public education,” said Sweetser’s daughter Barbara Lovley, who graduated from the University of Maine in 1998 with a master’s degree in special education and is an adjunct professor for UMaine. After participating in the Maine Literacy Partnership Program on the UMaine campus, she earned certification as a literacy coach and now teaches UMaine graduate courses to teachers at Fort Kent Elementary School.

Her father talked often about his undergraduate years at the university, according to his daughter. “The farm” was the center of all activity for the agricultural students, he would say, referring to what is now the Page Home Farm Museum. His fondest college memory was “socializing with my fellow aggie students.” A loyal alumnus and advocate for the university, he urged his former classmates to “participate in UMaine reunions and other functions. Remember our classmates and stay in touch with each other as best we can.”

Tom Sweetser thoroughly enjoyed working as an extension agent, providing practical solutions based on university research, and answering people’s questions about gardens, farming practices, and pest management, his daughter said. He received a master’s degree in sociology from North Caroline State University in 1972 and continued at UMaine as a community research and development coordinator.

Even after he retired in 1987, he and Mildred often would spend Sunday afternoons “riding around the university and seeing what was going on,” Barbara recalled. “He was always interested in keeping up to date with UMaine. He and Mom frequently attended performances at the Maine Center for the Arts and hockey games at Alfond Arena.”

Her father was delighted when her brother enrolled at UMaine, Barbara said. Thomas Sweetser III graduated in 1979 with a degree in chemical engineering and now works at Temple-Inland in Orange, Texas. Barbara’s oldest son, Shawn Lovley, earned a mechanical engineering degree from UMaine in 1998. Another son, Seth Lovley, plans to continue at UMaine in the fall, completing his program in civil engineering.

“UMaine has become something of a family tradition,” Barbara said. “Dad would like that.”