UMPI YourPace student enjoys sweet victory in graduation

St Nicholas Burrus has overcome many obstacles in his life—hearing loss, a heart transplant, and even death—but getting his college degree after being told his whole life that he couldn’t do it is an especially sweet victory. Burrus, 31, is from Bakersfield, California, and will graduate during the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s 112th Commencement on Saturday, May 8 with his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a Management and Leadership concentration.

In an effort to celebrate its graduating class in spite of the public health situation that still precludes large, in-person gatherings, the University of Maine at Presque Isle will host a Virtual Commencement Ceremony in place of its traditional commencement exercises for the second time in its history.

The cemeteries in central Aroostook County hold a treasure trove of stories and Dr. Kimberly Sebold, Professor of History at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, has received a $6,000 Maine Humanities Council Major Grant to find them and turn them into history lessons accessible for local students and history buffs alike.

The region’s premier leadership development training experience is returning after a year on hold with a virtual format and a focus on Resilient Leadership. This year’s Young Professionals Institute, a partnership between the University of Maine at Presque Isle and MMG Insurance, will run on Wednesdays from April 14 to June 2, 4-5:30 p.m.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle has received a $7,500 enterprise marketing grant through the Maine Office of Tourism (MOT) Marketing Partnership Program to promote the Maine Solar System Model. The largest scale model of the solar system in the western hemisphere, and the second largest such model in the world, the Maine Solar System Model extends for nearly 100 miles along U.S. Route 1, from the Sun at UMPI to the dwarf planet Eris in Topsfield.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Dr. Jacqui Lowman, Associate Professor of Professional Communication and Journalism, was honored recently by the Association for Business Communication with the 2020 Bernadine P. Branchaw Spirit of ABC Award. This international award recognizes Dr. Lowman’s work in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the realm of business communication.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle is presenting this year’s Robert Wanbaugh Memorial Art Award to Brianna Gerrish of Presque Isle. Her glazed stoneware sculpture Brux will be added to the University’s permanent art collection.

With a new faculty member on board, a brand new $100,000 learning space in place, and research projects in the works, the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s new high-demand Bachelor’s degree program in Computer Science is experiencing a very busy first semester.