UM among colleges to hold graduations

The University of Maine and three technical colleges in the region will hold commencement ceremonies today and Saturday.

In Calais, 160 students from Washington County Technical College will receive degrees starting at 1 p.m. today. The graduation speaker will be retired U.S. Army General Peter Berry of Roques Bluffs.

Eastern Maine Technical College in Bangor will hold split graduation ceremonies at 10 a.m. and at 2 p.m. Saturday in Johnston Gym. Former state Rep. Catharine K. Lebowitz will speak at the morning ceremony. Joyce Theriault, chairwoman of EMTC’s Advisory Council, will speak at the afternoon commencement.

A total of 257 graduates will receive degrees. Also speaking at the 37th graduation will be Thomas H. Maynard, EMTC’s Student of the Year. He will receive an associate degree in applied science.

Northern Maine Technical College in Presque Isle will hold a commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday when 195 graduates will receive degrees. The speaker will be Kris Doody-Chabre, chief executive officer for Cary Medical Center in Caribou.

Gov. John Baldacci, a 1986 University of Maine graduate, will return to his alma mater Saturday to give the commencement address at 10:30 a.m. at Harold Alfond Sports Stadium. Nearly 1,800 students are expected to receive degrees including 35 who have earned doctorates.

Honorary degrees will be presented to Pulitzer prize-winning author Richard Russo and Julia Watkins, president of American University in Bulgaria.

In case of inclement weather, two ceremonies will be held inside Alfond Arena. Graduates from the College of Business, Public Policy and Health; the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and the Division of Lifelong Learning will attend a 10:30 a.m. ceremony. A 2:30 p.m. ceremony will be held for those receiving degrees from the College of Education and Human Development; the College of Engineering; and the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and Agriculture.

A decision on whether to hold an outdoor ceremony will be made by 7 p.m. today. That information will be available on a recorded message at 581-SNOW (1-800-581-SNOW outside the Orono-Bangor area). It also will be posted on the Web at http://www.umaine.edu.