Alumni donor Beverly Antonitis sponsors visiting artists and supports the future of art at UMaine

UMaine Art Presentation
Beverly Antonitis

Orono, Maine: The University of Maine Foundation recognizes alumna Beverly Antonitis ’58, ’73G for her generous support of the arts and her commitment to enriching the campus community. On April 15, Antonitis sponsored a special visit by artists Elizabeth Atterbury and Anna Hepler, whose collaborative work Cipher was permanently installed in Neville Hall in 2024.

Commissioned through the Maine Percent for Art Act of 1979, Cipher is a dynamic addition to UMaine’s public art collection, reflecting both artists’ dedication to abstract form and engagement with space. The installation was celebrated during the artists’ visit, made possible by Antonitis’s support.

“I believe it’s essential for student artists to meet and learn from working professionals,” said Antonitis. “It helps them see what it really takes to make and market art in the real world—not just the creative side, but the business side, too.”

A longtime advocate for the arts, Antonitis is furthering her legacy by including a planned gift in her estate to establish a scholarship for students studying art at UMaine. Her generosity will help foster creativity and opportunity for generations to come.

“Beverly Antonitis’s support has brought powerful creative voices to our campus,” said art department chair Justin Wolff. “Her commitment to both public art and student success is inspiring and deeply appreciated.”

Senator Collins Speaks at Inaugural Patricia and Donald Collins Leadership Award Presentation at UMaine

Senator Susan Collins and Keegan Tripp

Senator Susan Collins and Keegan Tripp. Photo: UMaine Marketing

Orono, ME – On April 18, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks at the inaugural Patricia M. and Donald F. Collins Leadership Award ceremony at the University of Maine (UMaine). This endowed scholarship award was established in memory of Patricia and Donald Collins, both Class of 1949 graduates of UMaine, former mayors of the City of Caribou, and the parents of six children, including Senator Collins. Patricia Collins also served as the first female chair of the UMaine System Board of Trustees, the Catholic Charities of Maine Board of Directors, and the Catholic Foundation of Maine Board of Trustees. Donald Collins was a Bronze Star and two-time Purple Heart recipient as an infantry sergeant during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, and later served as a member of the Maine State House of Representatives and the Maine State Senate.

The inaugural recipient of the award is Keegan Tripp, a member of the University of Maine Class of 2026. Keegan is the President of the University of Maine Student Government, a board member of the University of Maine Alumni Association, and a recipient of the John M. Nickerson Scholarship for political science students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement. Keegan also interned at Senator Collins’ state office in Bangor.

“My parents believed deeply in the value of education, civic responsibility, and giving back to their community, and they exemplified those principles throughout their lives,” said Senator Collins. “It is incredibly meaningful to honor their legacy through this endowed scholarship. I know that they too would be proud of Keegan, whose leadership, character, and outstanding academic achievements made him an excellent candidate to be the first-ever recipient of this award.”

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.