Trust gift to help Orono Bog Boardwalk campaign

 

Check presentation for Orono Boardwalk Campaign

In life, Katharine Kirkpatrick was an avid community member, an adventurer, and a dedicated volunteer. Her commitment to adventure continues after her 2016 death with a gift of $141,826 from the Katharine M. Kirkpatrick 2002 Trust to the Orono Boardwalk Campaign Fund held at the University of Maine Foundation. Kit’s generous donation will provide 97 new boardwalk sections, including two interpretive stations and two wheelchair turnouts, to replace sections with new, longer lasting materials. In October 2017, volunteers will remove old sections and install new ones, bringing increased longevity of about 30 years to the boardwalk.

Kit1editThe Orono Bog Boardwalk Reconstruction Campaign started in 2010 with a goal to raise the funds necessary to replace the entire, wooden boardwalk with composite decking, stainless steel footings, and aluminum sidings. After the sections from Kit’s donation are installed, only 114 will be left to be replaced at a cost of $226,148.  Fundraising efforts are ongoing. Boardwalk volunteers are committed to raising the funds to complete the boardwalk reconstruction project by the end of 2018.

According to her father, Thomas Mumford, “Kit died August 25, 2016, 74 years of an active life, learning, loving, doing for others and fighting for those things in which she believed. Her illness was mercifully short and she was not alone in death as family members watched over her.”

 

 

If you would like to make a donation to the remaining balance of the Boardwalk Campaign, please follow this link: DONATE

 

Pictured above: Orono Boardwalk Director James Bird, University of Maine Foundation President Jeff Mills and Orono Land Trust Representative Jerry Longcore

Pictured left: Katharine Kirkpatrick

Sarah Holbrook, The Making of a Neuroscientist

Sarah Holbrook moved to Fort Fairfield, Maine as a young girl with her mother and siblings, and immediately began to feel welcomed and supported in their new community. Soon, volunteerism and community connections served to bolster her place as a valuable and influential member of the town. Sarah credits much of her support to the people of Fort Fairfield, whom she served in outlets such as the local soup kitchen. “Someone else who also volunteered for the food pantry bought me my first graphing calculator for a calculus class, and I still have that with me,” Sarah said, sitting in her lab in Little Hall, working over spring break.

“I’d just love to thank everyone for helping me out so much. I hope to continue making you proud in grad school and in my further studies. I will give back in any way I can.”

— Sarah Holbrook, Class of 2017

As a first-generation college student, Sarah gained most of her knowledge and context for college readiness from the Upward Bound program at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. “Upward Bound [at UMPI] really prepared me a lot for college — meeting motivated, like-minded individuals and preparing for college life,” said Sarah. The Fort Fairfield Class of 2013 consisted of 30 graduates, and the 300-person, BIO 100 class during Sarah’s freshman year proved to be a bit of a shock. Now, Sarah says the friendships she made here will continue throughout the rest of her academic career and lifetime.

Along with the support she received from programs like Upward Bound, Sarah credits scholarship support from Foundation-held scholarships as a key factor in her success at the University of Maine. Since her freshman year, Sarah’s scholarship support has come from funds that help students like her flourish in their programs at the university.

Sarah was awarded the Smith & Charlene McIntire Scholarship, and the Edward and Lea Anne Cote Scholarship. The majority of the recipients of these scholarship funds are natives of the County, as per the wishes of the donors, allowing them to give back to one of their own. Sarah has been studying the effects of ethanol alcohol on the brains of mice. Her research focuses on the way mice respond to withdrawal symptoms when alcohol is introduced, and subsequently taken away. The ways that alcohol affects circadian rhythms and anxiety symptoms are also facets of her findings.

Now, as she approaches graduation, Sarah is looking forward to further education. “I was just accepted into the biology master’s program here [at UMaine],” said Sarah. Sarah has accepted her spot in the UMaine Master’s program, and she will continue to study neuroscience. “We could go on studying the brain for centuries and still not know exactly how everything works. It’s such a mystery,” Sarah said, “Really, I just love learning, and the more we can learn about how we think about what we think, and understand how we understand through neuroscience, that will benefit everyone.” Sarah’s experiences have been influential on her little sister, a UMaine first-year student who is taking advantage of the path that her sibling has forged.

Emera Maine Honors UMaine Professor Dick Hill through Scholarship Fund

Emera Maine Prof. Richard C. Hill Scholarhip check

L-R: Dana N. Humphrey, P.E., Ph.D., College of Engineering, Dean, Jeffery N. Mills, Ph.D., University of Maine Foundation, President/CEO, Alan Richardson, Emera Maine, President/COO, Susan J. Hunter, Ph.D., University of Maine, President

As part of the Maine Day of Giving on May 3, 2017, Emera Maine, in collaboration with the University of Maine Foundation, announced its creation of the Emera Maine Professor Richard C. Hill Scholarship Fund. Alan Richardson, President and COO, Emera Maine, spoke fondly of his memories in meeting and working with Dick Hill, and of the impact he hopes Emera’s gift will positively impart on the University of Maine. “Professor Hill’s dedication and leadership were integral to the fabric of the energy community in Maine,” said Richardson, “He made a lasting impression on many throughout the industry. We are honored to continue to support and inspire those curious engineering minds that are yet to follow.”

Prof. Richard C. Hill was a member of the engineering community at the University of Maine from 1946 until his retirement in 1992. During his distinguished career, Dick served as Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Dean of the College of Technology, and Director of the Department of Industrial Cooperation.

“Prof. Dick Hill influenced generations of UMaine Engineers, and helped broadly inform Maine citizens on energy issues,” said Dr. Jeff Mills, President, University of Maine Foundation, “We couldn’t be more pleased that Alan Richardson wished to establish the Emera Maine Prof. Dick Hill Scholarship at the University of Maine Foundation, to encourage students to apply their talent to power our state and country.”

Emera Maine has pledged $110,000 to provide two scholarships annually and endow them in perpetuity. The awards will be made to engineering students who exhibit the innovative spirit and natural leadership qualities embodied by Professor Hill. In the spirit of the Maine Day of Giving, additional gifts in Dick’s honor may be made online, our.umaine.edu/hill.

Faith Rideout – Class of 2019

Majoring in International Affairs with a concentration in International Security, Faith always had the lifelong dream of studying abroad in Japan. With the support of the grant she received, Faith started her semester abroad in Japan this semester, spring 2017. After finishing up her degree she is planning on working in a field centered on United States and Japanese relations.

Rideout“As I have not come from an affluent household I am aware of the power money holds. That being said it is no exaggeration to say that you have changed my life. The opportunities and the alleviation of stress that you have granted me will be remembered.”

 

Faith is the recipient of a grant from the Yoriko McClure Fund.

Over forty years of support for the University of Maine

 Dan Willett ’69, ’70G in the Foster Board Room, Buchanan Alumni House

As Associate Director of Planned Giving, Dan Willett has helped hundreds of UMaine alumni and friends set up planned gifts through the University of Maine Foundation. He is highly visible as a leader in the southern Maine business community as a result of his service on the board of Gorham Savings Bank, attendance at Eggs and Issues breakfasts, and other forms of community involvement. A UMaine alumnus, Dan is often seen cheering on the Black Bears and attending Reunion, Homecoming and Southern Maine Executive Club (SMECUM) events. He has also been an active volunteer for his class and on the University of Maine Alumni Association’s board and the Alumni Board of
Southern Maine.

While many donors turn to Dan for help with their giving, they may not be aware that he has distinguished himself as a generous philanthropist. Dan has made gifts to UMaine for more than 40 consecutive years. His most recent gift to the University of Maine Foundation was a charitable gift annuity to increase the scholarship support for undergraduates through the Willett Family Fund. Dan is not the only one in his family working on behalf of his alma mater; other relatives including both parents, have
also worked for the university. Together, Dan’s relatives represent 125 years of service
to UMaine.

Dan is one of 221 donors who have earned the “Triple Crown” of support through their significant annual, major and planned gifts. Holders of the Triple Crown are members of the President’s Club, Stillwater Society, and Charles F. Allen Legacy Society.

“The university has been good to me and my family,” Dan says. “I grew up in Orono and started working on campus as a kid. I also had a great experience here as a student. Deans (Stan) Devino, (Joseph) Murray and (John) Stewart had a big influence on me.”

Dan is committed to ensuring that UMaine students have the financial support that they need for an optimal experience.

“I think it’s really important that our students have an opportunity to live on campus and connect with their classmates. I missed out because I couldn’t afford it.”

“Dan has been instrumental to our office in Falmouth and the university’s overall presence in southern Maine,” says Jeffery N. Mills, president and CEO of the University of Maine Foundation. “He is also among our most loyal and sophisticated donors. Dan understands that the charitable gift annuity will benefit his alma mater, while providing him with a tax advantage and lifetime income. It’s a win/win situation and we are most grateful for
his thoughtfulness.”

BECUM spring 2017 recap

Dr. Dana Humphrey & Chris Gordon

In spring 2017, the Boston Executive Club of the University of Maine celebrated 10 years of bringing University of Maine alumni together to network in a professional setting, highlighting UMaine’s signature academic and research programs, and engaging volunteer support for the College of our Hearts Always.

Chris Gordon ’85 and Dean Dana Humphrey presented “Future Skylines.”  Chris shared his role, as President of Wynn Design and Development Massachusetts, in the construction of the $2.1B Wynn Boston Harbor resort casino on the Mystic River in Everett. Dean Dana Humphrey addressed the growing demand for UMaine engineers by industry and need for a new academic Engineering Education and Design Center building on campus to accommodate the 2,000 engineering students now enrolled at UMaine, and continued growth.

Over 80 alumni and friends from the greater Boston area attended the event.  Guests were greeted by friendly faces and lovely weather at the UMaine Club at the UMass Club in Boston at its new location at One Beacon Street. UMaine Foundation President Jeff Mills ’82 and John Diamond ’77, ’89G, President, UMaine Alumni Association both spoke about current events at the University of Maine.

As a special part of the 10-year anniversary celebration, attendees also enjoyed a slideshow of previous BECUM photos.

 

View Dr. Dana’s presentation here.

If you are interested in attending a future BECUM event, please contact the University of Maine Foundation, or keep an eye on our BECUM webpage.