FORT KENT – Mademoiselle Marie-Anne Gauvin’s message to the University of Maine at Fort Kent’s graduating class was to “be proud of who you are.”

Gauvin – an advocate for the preservation and use of the French language in the St. John Valley, founding member of Le Club Francais, and 2004 inductee into the Maine Franco-American Hall of Fame – received an honorary doctorate of humane letters and gave the keynote address on Saturday during commencement exercises at the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

A total of 253 degrees were awarded for the 2005-2006 academic year, with President Richard W. Cost conferring 228 bachelor’s and 25 associate degrees, Susan Tardie of the university relations and alumni affairs office said on Sunday.

Nearly 60 percent of this year’s graduates hail from Canada, while others from Bermuda, India, Spain, Argentina, China and Lithuania were part of the Class of 2006. Tardie said that a full house turned out at the university’s Sports Center on Saturday afternoon to watch graduates receive their degrees.

In addition to Gauvin, several individuals addressed the crowd, including Bethany Phinney, senior class president; state Sen. John Martin; Gregory G. Cyr, University of Maine System board of trustees member; and UMS Chancellor Joseph Westphal.

During the ceremony, Cost presented Fort Kent couple Lucien and Marie Theriault with the annual distinguished service award, which is bestowed upon a deserving recipient who has rendered service to the campus and local, regional and state communities.

The couple is well-known for supporting “just about every event in town.” Lucien Theriault has designed, built or coordinated projects with the kiddie tow, timing hut and other additions at Lonesome Pine Trails, as well as projects at the Maine Winter Sports Center lodge and biathlon stadium. Marie Theriault has donated hundreds of ski hats to the Fort Kent Green Bean ski club. Both are known for volunteering at local hospitals and elderly homes. They also are involved in the annual Can-Am sled dog races, ski and biathlon races and Chamber of Commerce events.

While the service award was one of the graduation highlights, so was Gauvin’s keynote address.

Gauvin told students that while they have attended UMFK and have been exposed to the food, music, language and festivals of the local French culture, they may not really know what it is like to live French.

Born in New Canada and raised in Madawaska, Gauvin talked about growing up with French heritage and how the language and traditions were stifled by laws that made English the only language of instruction in Maine schools. As a result, she explained, feelings of insecurity, inferiority and low self-esteem took hold. What hurts, she said, is that nowadays many still can speak French, but don’t read it. Gauvin said she is working on a project that will help those who speak French fluently learn how to read it.

But, she asked, what does all this mean to the graduates?

“Cultural diversities are encouraged and recognized on most campuses today,” she said. “Whatever the characteristics, such as religion, language, origin or race, of the ethnic group that you belong to, be proud of who you are. At the same time respect other ethnicities. In French we say ‘vive la difference!’ I like to make that plural. Long live the differences!”