College graduations slated for Saturday

Several private colleges and branch campuses of the University of Maine System will hold graduations Saturday, May 11.

The University of Maine at Augusta will confer degrees on 640 graduates at 10 a.m. at the Augusta Civic Center. Speaker will be Rep. John Baldacci.

Receiving an honorary degree will be Austin H. Wilkins, author and former state forestry commissioner. Also during the ceremony, Charles M. Lyons will be formally appointed the sixth president of UMA.

One hundred students will receive degrees during the University of Maine at Machias graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. at the Frederic A. Reynolds Athletic Center.

Keynote speaker at the 91st commencement will be Sen. Susan Collins.

The university will present Distinguished Service Awards to Robert H. Foster and Carolyn M. Foster of Marshfield for their volunteer efforts and to Brother Rick Curry, founder and artistic director of the National Theatre Workshop of the Handicapped in Belfast and New York City.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent will hold its 120th commencement at 1 p.m. in the University Sports Center when 241 degrees will be awarded. Gov. Angus King will address graduates.

Student speaker will be senior class president Janice Jackson, 47, of New Sweden. The Distinguished Service Award will be given to Marc Chasse, retired St. John Valley chiropractor and supporter of UMFK and the region’s Franco-American culture.

During the 10:30 a.m. graduation ceremony at the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Wieden Gymnasium, 230 students will be awarded degrees including five who earned double degrees. Owen W. Wells, president and chief executive officer of the Libra Foundation, will address the 93rd graduating class and receive an honorary degree.

Debra Lee Perry of Easton, valedictorian, will receive a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and Michael P. Johnston of Newport, salutatorian, will be awarded a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

During Husson College’s 103rd commencement at 10:30 a.m. at Newman Gymnasium, more than 300 students will receive associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Schools of Business, Health, Science and Humanities and Education.

Speaker at the Bangor campus will be Mark Woodward, executive editor of the Bangor Daily News. He will receive the Chesley H. Husson Sr. Award.

Maine Maritime Academy will hold its 59th commencement at 9 a.m. with the annual awards program in Delano Auditorium, Leavitt Hall, and an 11 a.m. ceremony in the Alexander Field House in Castine.

The academy will confer 143 bachelor of science, six associate in science and ten master of science degrees to graduates who represent 22 states and 77 Maine communities as well as India and Turkey. The college also will award 18 associate in science degrees as part of an educational program with Bath Iron Works Corp.

Addressing the graduation class will be Robert D. Somerville, president and chief operating officer of the American Bureau of Shipping in Houston. He is a native of Houlton and a 1965 graduate of MMA.

During Unity College’s graduation exercises at 1 p.m. in the gymnasium, 114 graduates will receive bachelor of science degrees in environmental sciences, outdoor recreation, environmental biology and social sciences, as well as bachelor of arts and associate degrees.

Speaker will be Terry Grosz, retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife special agent, who has written three books of true-life stories about protecting America’s wildlife and plants. He will receive an honorary doctorate.

Receiving citations will be Annie Getchell of Camden, writer, mountaineer and co-host of the public broadcast series “Anyplace Wild,” and Susanne Kibler-Hacker of Manchester, N.H., former director of Unity’s cooperative education program and senior director for development at the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.

St. Joseph’s College will grant bachelor’s and master’s degrees to 377 students at 10 a.m. at the campus’ Harold Alfond Center in Standish.

Commencement speaker will be J. Bonnie Newman, St. Joseph’s College alumna and executive dean of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School o f Government.

Harold Alfond, noted Maine philanthropist and retired business entrepreneur, will receive an honorary doctorate. He will be honored for his many years of involvement in higher education, youth and athletics.

Former Chief Justice Daniel Wathen will speak at the University of Southern Maine’s 122nd commencement at 9 a.m. in the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland.

Approximately 1,350 students are eligible for graduation, including Jelilat Oyetunji of Nigeria, the student commencement speaker.

A computer science major, Oyetunji will celebrate her graduation with her husband, Najim Animashaun, who will receive a master’s degree in public policy and management from USM’s Muskie School during the ceremony.

Oyetunji’s father graduated from UM in the 1960s.

Civic leader Rosalyne Bernstein of Portland will receive an honorary degree and entrepreneur and civic leader Marilyn Moss Rockefeller of Camden will be recognized with a Distinguished Achievement Award.

On Friday, May 10, Washington County Technical College will hold its commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. at St. Croix Hall Gymnasium. The speaker will be Gov. Angus King.