Engineering Scholarship Established in Memory of UMaine Alum Major General Robert Rushworth

Pictured: NASA’s X-15 Test Pilots, From left to right: USAF Capt. Joe Engle, USAF Maj. Robert Rushworth, NASA test pilot John “Jack” McKay, USAF Maj. William “Pete” Knight, NASA test pilot Milton Thompson, and NASA test pilot William. Photo: NASA.

ORONO, MAINE: The Major General Robert A. Rushworth Scholarship fund was recently established at the University of Maine Foundation in honor of the late International Space Hall of Fame inductee Major General Robert A. Rushworth. The fund will provide financial assistance to University of Maine, Orono students enrolled in any engineering discipline. This fund was created through a gift from William G. “Bill” Weppner, Major, United States Air Force (Retired) of Memphis, Tennessee, in honor of Rushworth, who made a life-changing impact on Bill’s own Air Force career.

Originally from Madison, Maine, Robert Rushworth served in the Army Air Force during WWII before arriving at the University of Maine, completing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1951. After obtaining an M.S. in Aeronautical-Mechanical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Bob became an Air Force command pilot, serving in Vietnam with 189 missions as a fighter wing commander. On General Rushworth, Weppner remembers “he flew anything with wings, up to the North American X-15 rocket, which didn’t have wings.” The X-15, a rocket-powered spacecraft developed by NASA in the 1950s, was the first piloted plane to reach hypersonic speeds (five times the speed of sound). In 1963, General Rushworth, a test pilot and primary pilot of the X-15, ventured four miles out of the earth’s atmosphere in the craft, earning him the rank of Air Force astronaut and a place of honor alongside the Mercury Seven Astronauts.

General Rushworth served briefly as Inspector General, Air Force Systems Command, followed by Commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California before retiring in 1981 as Vice Commander, Aeronautical Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with ten clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal among many other awards. He was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame alongside Charles Lindbergh, Chuck Yeager, John Glenn, and the Wright Brothers; and enshrined in the International Space Hall of Fame for his service with the X-15.

This scholarship will further General Rushworth’s legacy, inspiring the next generation of leaders and innovators at the University of Maine in engineering.

Interested in establishing your own scholarship at the University of Maine Foundation? Funding a scholarship for UMaine students through the Foundation may be accomplished by making current gifts of cash, stock, land or personal property, or a deferred gift through a charitable trust, gift annuity, pooled life income fund or bequest. Learn more about connecting your legacy to UMaine’s future at How to Establish a FundUniversity of Maine Foundationhttps://umainefoundation.org › how-to-establish-a-fund 

About the University of Maine Foundation:The University of Maine Foundation is dedicated to supporting the University of Maine by securing and managing private gifts to enhance the University’s mission of teaching, research, and public service. Through the generosity of alumni and friends, the Foundation strives to ensure the continued growth and success of the university.

About the University of Maine: As Maine’s only public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, the University of Maine advances learning and discovery through excellence and innovation. Founded in 1865 in Orono, UMaine is the state’s land, sea and space grant university with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. Our students come from all over the world and work with faculty conducting fieldwork around the globe — from the North Atlantic to the Antarctic. Located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation with UMaine Machias located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation, UMaine’s statewide mission is to foster an environment that creates tomorrow’s leaders. As the state’s flagship institution, UMaine offers nearly 200 degree programs through which students can earn bachelor’s, master’s, professional master’s and doctoral degrees as well as graduate certificates. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu/about/quick-facts and machias.edu/about-umm/umm-facts.

A Daughter’s Tribute

Elizabeth Tylor Evans '44

Elizabeth Taylor Evans ’44

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in the Fall 2003 issue of “Mainely People”. It was written by Cornelia Evans ’82. We are republishing the story to highlight the Lawrence and Elizabeth Taylor Evans Fund established by Laurence and Elizabeth. Cornelia has made a recent commitment to support the fund and shared this compelling tribute to her mother, Elizabeth as the motivation for her gift.

The time is 1948, the place, a crowded lecture hall at the University of Maine filled with young men only recently returned from the bloodiest of wars. These veterans in their twenties and thirties are eager to realize the American dream for which they fought so long and hard: building the future. With skills in finance, business law, and accounting, they will help create a new paradigm of power—one with an economic base.

Enter the new accounting professor: a five-foot-four, 25-year-old redhead dressed impeccably in a smart Lord and Taylor suit. The first woman ever to teach on the faculty of the department of business administration. Yes, she was nervous. But she was tough, and she was strict. She knew she had to be. Not because she was a woman in a room full of battle-worn men. Not because she was younger than most of them. But because she believed that she owed it to them. These men had served their country, and she would serve them. Her high expectations, educational training, and professional experience would ensure that they would be properly prepared to achieve the success they had put on hold for their country.

Bette Evans hadn’t planned on teaching when she graduated from the University of Maine in 1944. As one of the first women to graduate from the University with a degree in business administration, she was on a fast track within Price Waterhouse, one of the world’s largest accounting firms. She’d been one of only a handful of applicants chosen by the company to work in New York City with some of the firm’s largest clients. At 21, she was a trailblazer, living the life of a young professional woman.

She stayed on that track until 1947, when her mentor at Maine, Professor Haim Kershon, contacted her. It seemed scores of vets were going to college, and he didn’t have enough professors to fill the demand for business courses. Dr. Kershon turned to one of his best students for help.

My mother stepped off the corporate ladder and walked back into the classroom. Why? Because her alma mater needed her, her professor needed her and these young veterans needed her. Once she took that step she realized it was the right one. Teaching fulfilled her in ways she would otherwise never have discovered.

Throughout her life, Bette Evans defied convention through choices borne of ability and necessity. She paved the way for other women after her—both in the office and in the classroom. And she was, throughout her life, the best of role models, because she led by example.

Now that she is gone, I wonder where her courses may have led those students. What choices did they make with the skills she taught them? Did her example compel them to reconsider their expectations of women in the new workforce they were about to enter? From all that I know about my mother, I am sure that she challenged them just as she challenged me: never to underestimate anyone’s potential for excellence—especially one’s own.

 

UMaine Navy ROTC Midshipmen donate funds from Warrior Run to support Veterans’ Causes

Pictured: Philanthropy Officer Hannah Young accepted the check from Midshipman 3/C Benjamin Rider on behalf of the University of Maine Foundation. Accompanied by Captain Joseph Hendron, Lieutenant Henry Oberman, and Gunnery Sargeant Patrick K. Armstrong

ORONO, MAINE: The University of Maine’s NROTC program has once again demonstrated its commitment to honoring and supporting veterans by donating funds raised through its annual Warrior Trek fundraiser. This year, the students chose to support two meaningful causes: The Summit Project and the Captain Kenneth C. Motsay, USMC, Memorial NROTC Award.

The Warrior Trek, an endurance event organized by NROTC midshipmen, took place on the university’s logging trails.  74 runners from the Army ROTC and Navy ROTC participated in the challenging course. The event serves as both a tribute to military service members and a way to give back to the community. Proceeds from the run help fund initiatives that support veterans, their families, and the legacy of fallen service members.

Runners carried a stone with the name of Captain Kenneth C. Motsay, as part of The Summit Project, which honors Maine’s fallen heroes by preserving their memories through tribute hikes and community engagement.

The Captain Kenneth C. Motsay, USMC, Memorial NROTC Award, was established in 2024 at the University of Maine Foundation by Captain Motsay’s parents, Charles and Sandra Motsay. This award honors Captain Motsay’s dedication to his midshipmen, his tireless work ethic, and his exceptional nine years of military service. It is given annually to recognize leadership and commitment among future Navy and Marine Corps officers—values that reflect the honor, courage, and commitment that define the United States Marine Corps.

During a special presentation, Benjamin Rider, a dedicated NROTC cadet, presented the donation of $2,137 to Hannah Young, Philanthropy Officer at the University of Maine Foundation. Rider played a key role in the fundraiser’s success, personally raising the most money among participants. Benjamin noted that Michael E. Garcia ran the longest distance at 32 miles. Their leadership and commitment exemplify the spirit of the Warrior Run and the NROTC program’s mission to give back to the community.

Through their efforts, the University of Maine NROTC continues to make a meaningful impact, ensuring that the sacrifices of service members are remembered and honored while also supporting the next generation of military leaders.

About the University of Maine Foundation: The University of Maine Foundation is dedicated to supporting the University of Maine by securing and managing private gifts to enhance the University’s mission of teaching, research, and public service. Through the generosity of alumni and friends, the Foundation strives to ensure the continued growth and success of the university.

About the University of Maine: As Maine’s only public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, the University of Maine advances learning and discovery through excellence and innovation. Founded in 1865 in Orono, UMaine is the state’s land, sea and space grant university with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. Our students come from all over the world and work with faculty conducting fieldwork around the globe – from the North Atlantic to the Antarctic. Located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation with UMaine Machias located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation, UMaine’s statewide mission is to foster an enivronment that creates tomorrow’s leaders. As the state’s flagship institution, UMaine offers nearly 200 degree programs through which students can earn bachelor’s, master’s, professional master’s and doctoral degrees as well as graduate certificates. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu/about/quick-facts and machias.edu/about-umm/umm-facts.

New scholarship will support those with the greatest financial need

ORONO, MAINE: Financial hardship remains a significant roadblock to higher education for many in the state of Maine. Philanthropic investment in future learners can make all the difference. Brent West and Kristina “Tina” Christensen West have sought to counter the significant financial hardship of many Maine students with the establishment of the Brent and Kristina Christensen West ’77 Scholarship Fund with the University of Maine Foundation.

For those in need, varying methods of support are available, but often not enough to make attendance, and ultimately graduation, a reality. This scholarship will cover the cost of full-time attendance at the University of Maine, Orono, for two students per year who have zero expected familty contributions, who are graduates of a Maine high school, and who have a minimum of a 3.2 GPA. In less than two years, the scholarship has grown to more than $1 million.

This year, the Wests had the pleasure to meet Connor Goss, their inaugural scholarship recipient and a sophomore studying Economics with a minor in Business at UMaine. Brent shared this with Connor after their visit, “When we worked to establish this scholarship, we had in mind someone such as yourself – smart, personable, and grateful for the opportunity to study (and have a little fun!) at the University. Tina had such a positive experience in Orono that we thought it was only right to give back in a meaningful way to future generations of Black Bears.” Goss expressed that “being selected for this scholarship is a tremendous honor,” as “significantly alleviating the financial burden” allows him to “focus on studies and personal growth.”

Brent and Tina Christensen West are both devoted and passionate friends of the University of Maine. Tina graduated from UMaine in 1977 with a B.A. in Mathematics and enjoyed a career in Information Systems with the Unum Insurance Group from 1981 until her retirement in 2015. Brent holds an A.B. in Government and Economics from Dartmouth College, and an MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth. He retired this past year after a career that included a range of leadership roles at Bath Iron Works. “Tina and Brent have been loyal supporters of the University of Maine for over 38 years. They aim to support students facing significant financial obstacles, making a degree from UMaine attainable,” said Dee Gardner, Associate Director at the University of Maine Foundation, who worked with the couple in establishing their scholarship fund. “I also admire their enthusiasm for mentoring their scholarship recipients professionally. After meeting Connor for the first time, they are eager to connect him with their contacts for potential internships. Their generosity is truly inspiring.” Goss is excited to learn from the West’s experience, and finds having them as mentors “an invaluable opportunity” as he continues to pursue his goals. Permanently endowed, the fund will continue to bring much-needed support to UMaine students for years to come.

Interested in establishing your own scholarship at the University of Maine Foundation? Funding a scholarship for UMaine students through the Foundation may be accomplished by making current gifts of cash, stock, land or personal property, or a deferred gift through a charitable trust, gift annuity, pooled life income fund or bequest. Learn more about connecting your legacy to UMaine’s future at How to Establish a Fund

About the University of Maine Foundation: The University of Maine Foundation is dedicated to supporting the University of Maine by securing and managing private gifts to enhance the University’s mission of teaching, research, and public service. Through the generosity of alumni and friends, the Foundation strives to ensure the continued growth and success of the university. 

About the University of Maine: As Maine’s only public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, the University of Maine advances learning and discovery through excellence and innovation. Founded in 1865 in Orono, UMaine is the state’s land, sea and space grant university with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. Our students come from all over the world and work with faculty conducting fieldwork around the globe – from the North Atlantic to the Antarctic. Located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation with UMaine Machias located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation, UMaine’s statewide mission is to foster an enivronment that creates tomorrow’s leaders. As the state’s flagship institution, UMaine offers nearly 200 degree programs through which students can earn bachelor’s, master’s, professional master’s and doctoral degrees as well as graduate certificates. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu/about/quick-facts and machias.edu/about-umm/umm-facts.

Cohen Emerging Leaders Summer High School Program receives grant from Amazon

Cohen Emerging Leaders students hiking as part of the high school program made possible by UMaine donors, and now, Amazon.

ORONO, MAINE: The University of Maine Cohen Institute for Leadership & Public Service in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has received a $25,000 community grant investment from Amazon. 

The funds will be used to directly support costs associated with student participation in the statewide program. The gift was facilitated through the University of Maine Foundation. 

“Amazon is proud to support the University of Maine Foundation and the Cohen Institute for Leadership and Public Service,” said Jerome Smith, head of community egnagement for the New England region at Amazon. “Our investment into the Cohen Emerging Leaders Summer High School Program will help ensure more students across the state have the opportunity to attend and develop leadership skills for potential careers in public service and beyond.” 

In 2019, the Cohen Institute launched the inaugural summer institute. Since then, the program has immersed over 150 rising high school seniors, including at least one student from each of Maine’s 16 counties every summer, in leadership theory and practice. The program has welcomed numerous leaders from a wide range of fields to share their practical insights on leadership and public service, including former U.S. Secretary of Defense and U.S. Sen. William S. Cohen, the namesake of the Cohen Institute; U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, Gov. Janet Mills, UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, author and speechwriter Mark Salter and coaches from UMaine’s athletic teams. 

“This innovative program was started with the understanding that we must make significant and ongoing investments in the development of our future leaders so that they will be guided by a deep commitment to serving the public and also be equipped with the leadership skills and perspectives necessary to forge solutions to society’s most pressing problems in thoughtful, data-driven and non-partisan ways,” said Richard Powell, director of the Cohen Institute and the John Mitchell Nickerson Professor of Political Science.

The program was created to train the next generation of Maine’s public service leaders, selected from among the state’s most promising high school students. The program also links Maine high school students with UMaine, the state’s public flagship and only R1 institution. Since its inception, most participants subsequently applied and matriculated at UMaine or another public university in the state. 

Students are nominated by their high school and are able to participate tuition-free. Their room and board are paid for thanks to the generosity of donors. Families are responsible for travel to and from UMaine, books and any other incidental costs associated with the course. 

“I loved every minute of the week we were there. The great support system through the mentors and professors was eye-opening, the wide range of activities was what made the experience so perfect, and the guest speakers were picked with such care that you could tell with each one that they believed in what they were saying,” said inaugural participant Olivia Schanck. “The connection that I made with the other students who attended is something that most kids my age do not have with kids from other schools. You gave us this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect. Once a week, we all check in through a group chat to see how everyone is doing and keep each other updated on college and life decisions.”

The summer program doubles as an optional capstone experience for UMaine’s Early College Leadership and Public Service pathway. In completing this pathway, high school students can learn about leadership and public affairs from UMaine’s world-class faculty. This pathway was developed with Congressionally Directed Spending from the U.S. Department of Education that was included in the FY23 federal budget at the request of Sen. Collins, vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the University of Maine System.

Originally launched in 1997 as the Cohen Center, the Cohen Institute models, promotes and teaches leadership and public service through programs that reflect and honor the rich legacy of one of Maine’s most highly respected and influential leaders.

About the University of Maine Foundation: The University of Maine Foundation is dedicated to supporting the University of Maine by securing and managing private gifts to enhance the University’s mission of teaching, research, and public service. Through the generosity of alumni and friends, the Foundation strives to ensure the continued growth and success of the university.

About the University of Maine: As Maine’s only public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, the University of Maine advances learning and discovery through excellence and innovation. Founded in 1865 in Orono, UMaine is the state’s land, sea and space grant university with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. Our students come from all over the world and work with faculty conducting fieldwork around the globe — from the North Atlantic to the Antarctic. Located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation with UMaine Machias located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation, UMaine’s statewide mission is to foster an environment that creates tomorrow’s leaders. As the state’s flagship institution, UMaine offers nearly 200 degree programs through which students can earn bachelor’s, master’s, professional master’s and doctoral degrees as well as graduate certificates. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu/about/quick-facts/ and machias.edu/about-umm/umm-facts/.

UMaine Athletics Receives Record-Setting Estate Gift

From left to right: Foundation President Jeffery Mills, UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Labat Estate Executrix Joanne Bruno, Esq., and UMaine Athletics Director Jude Killy, at the gift announcement held on October 18, 2024.

ORONO, MAINE: The University of Maine Foundation will be receiving the largest single gift from an individual to support Black Bear athletics in UMaine’s 159-year history – a $16 million donation from the estates of Black Bear alumnus Pierre “Pete” Labat and his wife, Catherine Clair Labat.

“This transformational gift will establish the Pierre D. Labat and Catherine C. Labat Athletic Leadership Fund, which will provide critical support for Black Bear student-athletes and athletic facilities,” said Foundation President/CEO Jeff Mills. “The Labats’ generosity reflects their love for UMaine and their belief in the role athletics can play in helping young people develop and practice self-discipline in the personal, academic, and career aspects of their lives.

“We are honored to steward the Labat legacy in a way that reflects their dedication and spirit,” Mills added.

A native of New York City and the son of French immigrants, Pete Labat successfully pursued a bachelor’s degree in history at UMaine and was a member of the university’s football team. Following his graduation in 1962, he went on to serve his country with distinction as a member of the U.S. Army. He served as an officer in Vietnam and over the course of his military career earned several medals, including the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Defense Meritorious Service Medal. Pete Labat had achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel at the time of his military retirement in 1986.

The Labats first met in Iran, where Pete was stationed and where Catherine, a native of Belgium, was serving as a traveling physical therapist. They married, and following Pete’s military retirement in 1986, eventually settled in Metuchen, NJ. Catherine passed away in 2021, and Pete died in 2023.

“Pierre and Catherine believed in the power of education and all things international. Having no children or immediate family led them to care about their neighbors, friends, and charities. It’s only natural that Pierre, or Pete as he was known at the University of Maine, would give back to his alma mater. His University of Maine education forged his love of football and provided him leadership and services opportunities via the college’s ROTC Program,” said Labat Estate Executrix Joanne Z. Bruno, Esq. “The skills and knowledge gained at UMaine ably equipped Pierre for a successful army career as a lieutenant colonel serving mainly across Vietnam and the Middle East. And during that career and in Shiraz, Iran, he met his future life partner and wife Catherine – then a young Belgian traveling the world as a visiting physical therapist. I am confident that both Pete and Catherine would be thrilled to know so many students will be able to benefit from the UMaine experience, both in the classroom and in the sports arena, thanks in part to their generous bequest.”

According to the terms of their gift, the funds will be specifically and solely used for the benefit of the university’s Department of Athletics. Purposes include enhancing student support and success, coach and staff recruitment and retention, capital expenditures, and departmental support. This will include the new facilities mostly funded by the Harold Alfond Foundation. The university’s athletics director will determine the specific allocation of funds.

“We are deeply honored by the Labats’ extraordinary generosity,” said UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy. “His gift represents a remarkable commitment to our university’s mission and the holistic development of our student-athletes. His legacy will enhance our athletic programs and inspire future generations to give back and support their communities.”

The Labat gift will also help UMaine move closer to meeting the $38 million match necessary to leverage the $170 million UMS TRANSFORMS grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation. The Alfond Foundation’s commitment to the Black Bears is one of the largest single contributions to a Division I athletics program in U.S. history.

UMaine Athletic Director Jude Killy shared, “We are immensely grateful for Lt. Col. Labat and Cathy’s incredible generosity and their enduring support for our athletic programs. The Labat’s legacy will inspire our student-athletes to continue to strive for excellence and will help enhance our ability to develop champions with integrity. As a former football student-athlete at UMaine, and a successful professional following his Black Bear playing career, it is only fitting that this selfless generosity will contribute to the success of future student-athletes in perpetuity.”

In recognition of the substantial gift, UMaine President Ferrini-Mundy has approved naming the university’s softball complex after the Labats. The complex is the home to the University of Maine softball program. In addition, the complex is used by area youth and high school teams and allows the university to host state, conference and regional championship events. The complex is part of the Harold Alfond Foundation’s $320 million grant to the University of Maine System, which includes $170 million to support athletic facilities at the University of Maine. The $9.5 million, 90,000 square- foot complex was opened in 2022. A formal dedication will be held at the first home softball game in 2025.

About the University of Maine: As Maine’s only public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, the University of Maine advances learning and discovery through excellence and innovation. Founded in 1865 in Orono, UMaine is the state’s land, sea and space grant university with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. Our students come from all over the world and work with faculty conducting fieldwork around the globe — from the North Atlantic to the Antarctic. Located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation with UMaine Machias located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation, UMaine’s statewide mission is to foster an environment that creates tomorrow’s leaders. As the state’s flagship institution, UMaine offers nearly 200 degree programs through which students can earn bachelor’s, master’s, professional master’s and doctoral degrees as well as graduate certificates. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu/about/quick-facts/ and machias.edu/about-umm/umm-facts/.