Program
Processional
Welcome and Remarks
Passamaquoddy Homeland Acknowledgement
Introductions and Remarks
Board of Trustee Representative
Presentation of Awards
Arthur and Frances Buswell Academic Enhancement Award
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Young Alumnus Award
Conferring of Emeritus Rank
Senior Watch Awards
Salutatorian
Valedictorian
Commencement Speaker
Conferring of Degrees
Ivy Oration
Charge to the Graduates
Musical Selection
Conclusion
Recessional
Joan Ferrini-Mundy, President
Megan Walsh, Dean
Megan Walsh, Dean
Barbara Alexander
Megan Walsh, Dean
Bernard Vinzani, Professor of Art
Heidi Jarvis Smallidge ‘89
Brad Jordan ‘12
Megan Walsh, Dean
Rachael Smith ‘23
Keely Tibbetts ‘23
Rachel Maker ‘23
Kathryn Leighton ‘23
Leigh Alley ‘02
Joan Ferrini-Mundy, President
Betty Marshall, Assoc Registrar
Megan Walsh, Dean
Evan Busch ‘23
Joan Ferrini-Mundy, President
Megan Walsh, Dean
Gene Nichols
Professor Emeritus of Music
“Happy Trails” by Dale Evans
Megan Walsh, Dean
Heidi Jarvis Smallidge graduated from Machias in the late 1900’s with a bachelor’s degree in English. Today she is a published author of several Middle Grade and Young Adult novels. She stays busy in the world of writing, editing, and publishing. Heidi’s years in Machias provided her with a close-knit family of friends and a sense of community that has followed her through the years. She considers the years she spent in these buildings a gift, and she hopes today’s graduates will value their time at Machias in the same way. Heidi worked for many years with the Alumni Association, and as alumni support for Phi Tau Phi Sorority members, only fully retiring from those tasks last year. Heidi wishes the graduates of the Class of 2023 all the very best.
Brad Jordan of Mount Desert Island ME, earned his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Recreation and Tourism Management in 2012. During his studies at UMM Brad began working on Mount Desert Island, as a Registered Maine Sea Kayaking Guide. This internship sparked passion, and he now owns and operates multiple sea kayaking outfitters in the Acadia region. In his off seasons, he can be found leading ATV tours in Costa Rica, snowmobile tours in Park city Utah, or chasing his greatest passion of seeing the world's offerings first hand through travel. He credits UMM, and his role models here with much of his success in the industry. Brad would like to congratulate the class of '23, and advise them to begin building connections everywhere they go
Rachael Smith is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology with minors in Zoology and Botany. She has been the UMM student representative to the University of Maine System Board of Trustees this year and was the 2022-23 UMM Policy Scholar. She is a member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a student tutor and student manager at the Merrill Library. She will continue her studies to earn her Master’s degree at the University of Maine this fall in the Earth and Climate school.
Keely Tibbetts is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Community Studies with a minor in Counseling. Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at the age of four, Keely learned that determination would be key in helping her obtain personal goals and reach academic and physical success. In high school, Keely received the Julia Clukey Courage Award in May 2016 in recognition of her outstanding courage and impact as a positive role model for students and future leaders. She was also awarded Salutatorian of her high school graduating class in 2019.
Rachel Maker is graduating as an Education major with a concentration in Elementary Education and a minor in English. She is from Machiasport, Maine and has enjoyed getting a higher education so close to home. In her free time, she enjoys long drives, sunny walks, and good books. She will be entering the education field in the fall when school starts back up, but her main priority right now is enjoying the beautiful summer with all her loved ones.
Heidi Jarvis Smallidge ‘89 Distinguished Alumnus Award Brad Jordan ‘12 Young Alumnus Award Rachael Smith ‘23 Senior Watch Award Keely Tibbetts ‘23 Senior Watch Award Rachel Maker ‘23 SalutatorianKathryn Leighton ‘23 Valedictorian
Kathryn Leighton started her academic career at UMM in the Early College Program. Since then she has worked toward her goal of becoming a teacher. She is graduating with a degree in Education with a concentration in Elementary Education and a minor in English. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing with her nieces and nephew and traveling to new places.
LeighAlley ‘02 Commencement Speaker
Dr. Leigh Alley is a longtime leadership and instructional strategist, presently serving as the Executive Director of the Maine Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and as Assistant Professor of Education at the University of Maine at Augusta. As the director of consortia for school improvement, as a private consultant, and as a project director, Leigh has designed and implemented instructional programs in a broad range of topics including literacy, equity, social-emotional learning, trauma-sensitive and healing-centered practices, and whole-child education.Growing up in poverty in Downeast Maine taught Leigh a first-generation college graduate the importance of education as a leveler of opportunity. Throughout her career, she has sought to bring educational access to the underserved, both learners and educators alike. Currently, Leigh uses her doctoral degree in Transformative Leadership to create new and innovative ways of “upschooling” educators and administrators in Maine and beyond, allowing them to improve their practice wherever they are, whatever their means.
Evan Busch ‘23 Ivy Orator
Evan is from Stoddard, New Hampshire and is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology. He is a member of Sigma Chi Lambda, Game Club, RA in Residence Life and a student manager at Merrill Library. Evan was a Shellfish Hatchery Intern and Research Intern at the Downeast Institute. He has also conducted his own research on the predator-prey relationship between the common sea star and the blue mussel. Evan is a co-author on a paper on “Quantifying the thermal and food availability niches for bivalve development: habitat suitability implications (to be published)”. He will take a gap year to work and establish himself before applying to graduate school in the fall of 2024; he will be looking to conduct research on either cetaceans or sharks.
Certificates
Simeon David Alley
Mallory Anne Alley
Joseph Eric Atwater
Jasmine Bell
Christine Kathryn Bunker
Hailey Elizabeth Butterworth
Amanda Churchill
Katelin Ashley Doughty
Nicholas Ryan Drake
Mackenzie Anne Graten
Abigail Harrison
Associate of Arts
Charlotte R Ellis
Angel Rose Hood
Associate of Science
Hannah Mae Boone
Alex B Farnsworth
Bachelor of Arts
Cora Cate Bailey
Alayna L Brown
Marcus Logan Cobleigh
Katelin Ashley Doughty
Vanessa L EchevarriaCoolen
Jessalyn J Gove
Jessica Taren Griffin
Jael Rebecca Jean
Anne-Marie Johnson
Jael Rebecca Jean
Brailee Noelle Joy
Harmony Look
Brooklyn Cheyleigh McCarthy
Selina Mitchell-Lola
Gabrielle Elizabeth Morrell
Lydia Louise Neddeau
Mary Norman
Erin Marie Otto
Jason William Prenier
Skyler Ann Marie Ramsdell
Emmalee Rose Ripley
Harley Marie Sanford
Natasha Sapiel
Mindy Sue Sargent
Tasha L Saucier Smith
Hayden Michael Sekula
Julie A Smith
Amanda Yvonne Turchi
Madison Jean Warnock
Danielle Mary White
Shereece Rebecca Young
Sara Elizabeth Johnson
Jackson Peter Wetzel
Tatum Brynn McDonnell
Jaydn Renee Smith
Emma Morgan Jones
Carol Diane Lane
Sarah Elizabeth Lazaro
Mila A Long-Frost
Jana-Marie McDonald
Amy-Marie Moe
Pacifique Munyabarame
Jeni Nganzobo
Thomas Augustus RaySmith
Joscelyn Rose Rebello
Savahna Noel Schmauderer
Keely Alisha Tibbetts
Amanda Yvonne Turchi
Rana Louise Turchi
Grace Marie Turse
Lauren Elizabeth Wallace
Shereece Rebecca Young
Bachelor of Science
Lacey Marie Arsenault
Leah Jean BermudezCalder
Maria Alexandra Boicu
Evan Allan Busch
Kit Tikal Cates
Megan Marie Cote
Elizabeth Kaniatia
Coulibaly
John Thomas Galvin
David Anthony Glidden
Christina Badger Greer
Avery Robinson Grindle
Bachelor of College Studies
John Austin Batson
Patti Sue Burgess
Teeya Nicole Harmon
Amber Faith Heath
Amy Lee Hold
Everett Hotham
Julie Irving
Lindsey Mae Karwacki
Colline Rose Kopacz
Ethan Brook Lank
Kathryn Gail Leighton
Rachel Margaret Maker
Kole Michael McDonald
Hillary Merriam
Rachael Arron Niles
Michael Chase Packer
Kendra Leigh Parks
Trevor S Riggin
Savahna Noel Schmauderer
Hayden Michael Sekula
Rachel Lindsey Smith
Patricia Rose Snape
Jasmine Elizabeth Thomas
Noah Gabriel Umel
Jo Dee Lynn White
Emma Jane Dickinson
Julie A Smith
"Happy Trails"
Dale Evans Rogers
Happy Trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who ares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you, till we meet again.
Some trails are happy ones.
Others are blue.
It's the way you ride the trail that counts. Here's a happy one for you.
Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you, till we meet again.
In Memory of former President John H. Joseph and performed by Gene Nichols, Professor of MusicACADEMIC REGALIA
The history of academic regalia reaches far back into the early days of the oldest universities. It appears that academic clothing was first introduced and worn at Cambridge and Oxford universities in England in the thirteenth century. Various modifications were soon introduced. Resulting in great diversity of color and style of cap, gown and hood worn at different institutions.
The European custom was carried to America with the establishment of our own colleges and universities. In 1895, an academic code of dress was adopted and the standards accepted by most of the colleges and universities in the United States. Today the black cap, gown and hood are generalIy worn.
CAP-The Oxford cap, the so-called mortarboard, is black and has a long tassel fastened to the middle of the top that is usually over the left front of the cap. At many institutions colored tassels are worn to indicate the candidate's school or college.
GOWN - Three types of black gowns are distinguished in the academic procession. The baccalaureate gowns have long pointed sleeves. The master's gowns have oblong sleeves with an arc cut away in the front. The doctor's gowns are faced with velvet and have bell-shaped sleeves with three bars of velvet.
HOOD - The hood is the symbol of academic achievement - the means by which the degree and college awarding the degree are readily recognize. The size and shape of the hood distinguishes the degreethe doctor being the largest, followed by the master and the bachelor. The shell or base is lined with satin corresponding to the academic colors of the school that awarded the degree, and the lining colors are arranged in accordance with the specifications of the person's college or university. A velvet border in the appropriate color is provided on the hood designating the degree awarded in the person's area of study.
UMM GOWN/CAP COLORS - Baccalaureate gowns/caps are black, Associate gowns/caps are Navy Blue, Certificate gowns/caps are white including Family Futures Downeast and Early College.
GOLD CORD –At UMM, graduates with high scholastic standing are singled out for special recognition during Commencement exercises. A gold cord is placed around the shoulders for each graduatiing senior who has achieved the following academic rank:
ASSOCIATE DEGREES
Associate degrees are awarded with the status of "Honors" for a cumulative gpa of 3.0 and above.
BACCALAUREATE DEGREES
summa cum laude: 3.70
magna cum laude: 3.50
cum laude: 3.30
INTERNATIONAL SASH -Our international students wear a special sash as part of the academic regalia. Each sash depicts the vivid national colors of the graduate's home country.
