By: Kayla Ames   

At first, the college process may seem simple: you enroll, you attend, you graduate. But there’s more to it than that. You can return, give back, take part in events. One such event would be the sculpture dedication or alumni brunch, both of which took place on Saturday, Sept. 15. In a week packed with Homecoming activities, students from the past came to honor the new owl sculpture as well as reconnect over food, speeches and awards.

By Linda Schott

UMPI's New First Family.

My warmest welcome to those of you who are on the UMPI campus for your first semester, as well as to those of you who are returning!  The coming year will be a time of transition, as we learn together and move our individual lives and the university forward.

By Kayla Ames

Geo-ecology club members at the U.S. Capitol Building.

I’m a Maine girl at heart. I’m used to the woods, quiet surroundings and small groups of people. Imagine my shock, then, upon entering Washington, D.C. It’s a very different place. This probably leaves a question in your mind, though: why was I in Washington, D.C.?

By Stephanie Corriveau

Renee Moore in Gentile Hall.

We’re all passionate about something.  For Reneé Moore, that something is basketball.  Although it’s early spring and the basketball season finished several weeks ago, the basketball spirit continues to live on for Moore.  And this spirit has been a part of her now for many years. Moore’s experiences with basketball started at an early age.

By Ben Pinette

Breanna Pelletier (left) and "Queen Bee" Shirley Rush take the stage with the group.

It wasn’t a rare sight in the Wieden Auditorium on Wednesday, Sept. 5 where you would have found people standing and dancing to the beat of Haitian music from Revelacion Maranatha, a Haitian band made up of more than 20 members.  Community members as well as UMPI students and faculty came together very early on to stand up and start clapping and to move around.  Revelacion Maranatha’s very positive message early on was evident throughout.

By Jim Stepp

Jim Stepp

Hello everyone.  My name is Jim Stepp.  Many of you may know me as the assistant dean of students/director of residence life.  But this year, I will be taking on a few new responsibilities.  As of July 1, I was named the interim vice president of student affairs and dean of students.

From L to R Courtney Cray, Courtney McHugh, Taylor Lawrence and Johnny Mu

Some may think a missions trip is completely about doing this and that for a different group of people in need. But the members of the CRU missions trip to Hope for the Future Ministries, located in Farmingdale, N.Y., quickly learned that a missions trip is just as much for the benefit of the missionary as for the mission.