Maine colleges, universities ready May 18 graduations Gov. King to address UMaine’s 200th commencement

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Several Maine colleges and campuses of the University of Maine System will hold graduation ceremonies on Saturday, May 18. Gov. Angus King will deliver the address at the University of Maine’s 200th commencement at 10:30 a.m. at Harold Alfond Sports Stadium. Approximately…
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Several Maine colleges and campuses of the University of Maine System will hold graduation ceremonies on Saturday, May 18.

Gov. Angus King will deliver the address at the University of Maine’s 200th commencement at 10:30 a.m. at Harold Alfond Sports Stadium.

Approximately 1,666 people are expected to receive degrees, including valedictorian James Leonard of Orono, a Rockland native who majored in journalism and will enroll in the University of Maine School of Law in the fall.

The salutatorian is Benjamin Herzog of LaGrange, who will graduate with a major in forestry.

Receiving honorary degrees will be D. Allan Butterfield, a 1968 alumnus and a leader in research into the causes and treatments of Alzheimer’s disease; H. Allen Fernald, a 1954 graduate who is a former vice chair of the Maine Tourism Commission and has been publisher of Down East magazine for more than 30 years; and Clarine Coffin Grenfell, a 1932 graduate and ordained minister, teacher, writer, editor and publisher.

A decision on whether to hold an outdoor commencement will be made by 7 p.m. Friday and will be publicized on a recorded message at 581-SNOW (or (800) 581-SNOW outside the Orono-Bangor area). It also will be posted on the Web at www.umaine.edu.

Christiane Northrup, obstetrician-gynecologist and best-selling author on women’s health, will give the keynote address at the University of Maine at Farmington graduation at 1:30 p.m. behind Olsen Memorial Student Center. Approximately 390 seniors will participate in the university’s 149th commencement.

Northrup will receive an honorary degree along with Ethel “Billie” Gammon, founder and director of the Norlands Living History Center, a 440-acre historic estate in Livermore.

Gammon earned a degree in education in 1934 at the University of Maine at Machias and a bachelor’s degree in education at UMF in 1974.

The student speaker will be Meredith Gauthier, senior class president.

In case of inclement weather, commencement will be held inside the UMF Health and Fitness Center.

Eastern Maine Technical College in Bangor will hold its graduation ceremony at 1 p.m. at Bangor Auditorium, when 190 students will receive degrees, diplomas and certificates.

Speaker during the 35th commencement will be humorist Gary Crocker, director of state and federal programs for the Maine Technical College System. Crocker has spoken across the country on the power of humor and has been invited to address the Legislature.

The student address will be given by EMTC Student of the Year Mark Griffard of Searsport, a retired commander in the U.S. Army.

Approximately 200 seniors will graduate from Northern Maine Technical College in Presque Isle at 10 a.m. in the gymnasium.

The guest speaker will be Glynn Willett, co-owner of ATX Forms in Caribou, a tax preparation software company on the list of the 500 fastest-growing privately owned businesses.

Also speaking will be Christine Smith, who is graduating from the legal office administration program and will continue her education in the fall at in the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s international studies program.

Kennebec Valley Technical College in Fairfield will graduate 230 seniors at 11 a.m. at the Augusta Civic Center.

The speaker will be Richard Bennett, president of the Maine Senate.

Daniel Wathen, former chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, will speak at Southern Maine Technical College’s commencement at 10 a.m. on the South Portland campus when 420 seniors will graduate.


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