Paving the Path for Increasing DEI at UMaine

Dr. Shontay Delalue ‘00, ‘03G has an inspiring commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education and has contributed to initiatives in communities throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Alaska, and beyond. A first- generation college graduate hailing from New Jersey, Dr. Delalue established the Student Immersion Support Fund at the University of Maine. This fund embodies her strong and unwavering dedication to increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of the University of Maine student body and providing opportunities for all students to engage across difference. She firmly believes, and research shows, that fostering increased interaction across gender, race, geography, and class is paramount to preparing tomorrow’s leaders.

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Clement and Linda McGillicuddy Humanities Center Fund Supports Four New Fellows

This semester, the Clement and Linda McGillicuddy Humanities Center (MHC) welcomes four new undergraduate research fellows: Chapman “Chappy” Hall, Iris Loehr, Sarah Renee Ozlanski and Katherine Ritche. This new cohort will join current fellows Paige Allen, Sebastien Chamberlain, Abigail Roberts and Willow Wind.

MHC undergraduate fellows receive an award of up to $8,000 over the course of two semesters to pursue an independent research or creative project in the humanities in collaboration with a faculty member. The awards are supported through the Clement and Linda McGillicuddy Humanities Center Fund created in 2010 by generous donors Clement ’64 and Linda McGillicuddy and four indiviual awards: Sandra Merrill Peters and John G. Peters Humanities Fellowship Fund, Kathy Olmstead’s Echoes of Maine Humanities Fellowship Fund, Liam Rioridan Humanities Fellowship Fund, and David ’64, ’67G and Alison ’71 Wiggin Humanities Fellowship. These funds are held at the University of Maine Foundation.

In addition to honing their research skills and building their academic networks, MHC fellows serve as humanities ambassadors to their peers, the campus and the broader community.

The MHC supports excellent teaching, research and public engagement in the humanities to deepen understanding of the human condition. It supports programs that foster intellectual curiosity, critical reflection and creative innovation. At the core of the center’s work is the belief that studying the humanities inspires compassion across differences, develops empathy, strengthens critical thinking skills and cultivates the emotional and intellectual agility needed to navigate an increasingly interconnected and complex global landscape.

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Vaun Dole Born ’47 Memorial Scholarship Created Through the Foundation’s 90th Match Program

The Vaun Dole Born’47 Memorial Scholarship fund was established at the University of Maine Foundation in 2023 for the benefit of the University of Maine, Orono, Maine with a gift from Vaun’s husband, James O. Born, son Douglas J. Born, and daughter Christine Born Johnson ’82. Vaun was born at home in Portland, Maine, in 1923. She was a 1941 graduate of Deering High School. She attended Westbrook Junior College in Portland for three years before serving in the Navy W.A.V.E.S. during WWII. After the war, her father encouraged her to continue her education at the University of Maine. She graduated in 1947 with a BS in Commercial Education. Vaun worked for several years in banking and at Maine Central Railroad, where she met her husband, James Born (Jim). Together, they raised two children in Westbrook, Maine, where she was an active community volunteer for many years. She took a special interest in working with children, serving as a leader in the Blue Birds, Camp Fire Girls, and Cub Scouts, teaching Sunday school, and volunteering with the local PTA and band boosters. She was also extremely interested in local history and family genealogy. She and Jim were charter members of the Westbrook Historical Society for which she researched and wrote a book about the mayors of Westbrook. After a lengthy retirement that included extensive world travel, she passed away in 2019 at the age of 96. The signing occurred on September 8, which would have been Vaun’s 100th birthday. Pictured are her husband, James, and her daughter Christine.

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UMaine Foundation 90th Anniversary Match

University of Maine Foundation President Jeffery N. Mills has announced a matching gift program in honor of the Foundation’s upcoming 90th anniversary on June 9, 2024. The 25% match will encourage the establishment of new scholarship endowments and gifts to existing scholarship endowment funds for the benefit of the University of Maine.

This match is made possible by a generous gift to support scholarships from the Judith and Robert Blake Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. Robert E. Blake was a member of the Class of 1962.

Donors Peter ’61 and Gail Berry ’61 were the first to respond to the matching challenge. They initiated a scholarship to support the education of new teachers from Washington County. Gail is one of three sisters, all UMaine graduates and teachers. “We are delighted to initiate a scholarship for Washington County students who want to pursue a teaching career,” stated Gail McLain Berry and Maj. Gen. Peter T. Berry (Ret.). “Teaching is a noble profession, critical to our country and democracy. We want to thank the Blake family and the UMaine Foundation for their support in this endeavor.”

Minimum gifts of $8,000 ($2,000 match) and maximum gifts of $80,000 ($20,000 match) will be matched per donor. Commitments may be paid over five years 2023-2028. New and existing endowed scholarship funds will be matched on the same basis.

The entry-level to establish a named scholarship fund is $10,000. With this matching program, donors can create a fund with only $8,000. The matching gift offer will be in effect until June 9, 2024; however, there are limited funds available for the match. The Foundation reserves the right to discontinue the program at any time. Matching funds will be applied annually on December 31 of the year that the total gift is fulfilled. All gift installments must be received by December 31, 2028 to qualify for the match.

The last matching gift program created by the Foundation was completed in 2020 as part of UMaine’s Vision for Tomorrow comprehensive campaign, led by the University of Maine Foundation. That program raised over $3.8 million in new scholarship support in addition to the $1 million donation by an anonymous donor which provided the matching funds.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate 90 years of successful fundraising and transformational giving,” says Mills. “Robert’s generous gift will be amplified by this program and ultimately, UMaine students will benefit from this collaborative effort for generations to come.”

The University of Maine Foundation was officially incorporated on June 9, 1934, but much preliminary activity dating back to July 1930, preceded the organization. The Class of 1909 has the distinction of making the first gift to the Foundation. They presented University of Maine President Dr. Harold S. Boardman a check for $1,000 that night, June 9, 1934, at the Annual Alumni Banquet, designating it as the first gift to the Foundation. The Foundation will celebrate its 90th anniversary on June 9, 2024.

More information about the 90th Anniversary Match is online at umaine.edu/90th.

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Field Hockey Complex Opens as Part of the Athletics Facilities Master Plan Under the UMS TRANSFORMS Initiative

The University of Maine officially unveiled its new field hockey complex at a grand opening ceremony on Aug. 18.

“Through the generosity of the Harold Alfond Foundation, we’ve created a field hockey complex where athletes of all ages will share countless stories of growth, resilience, and triumph,” President/CEO of the University of Maine Foundation Jeff Mills says. “Let this complex be a reminder that philanthropy is a bridge that connects dreams to realities.”

Find the full story on the UMaine Athletics webpage.

For the full recording of the Grand Opening Event, click below

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