Not every career path begins with a clear plan.

For Amy Marston, the journey started with a setback. After being turned away from her top-choice college, she found herself searching for another way forward. That search led her to the Â鶹APP.

What began as an alternative became the foundation for a two-decade career in Maine’s business sector. That journey of resilience and leadership led UMA to name Amy Marston the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. 

A Different Kind of Classroom

At UMA, Amy found a learning environment that broadened her perspective. Her classmates came from all walks of life, bringing professional and personal experiences that shaped how she understood the world.

She earned her degree in Business Administration in 2004, but the lessons extended beyond the classroom. That experience influenced how she approached leadership, teamwork, and the role organizations play in building strong communities.

Building a Career in Maine

Following graduation, Amy built a long and impactful career at Central Maine Power. Over two decades, she developed a deep understanding of workforce development, leadership, and organizational growth.

Today, she is the founder of Edison Public Relations, where she works with businesses across Maine, including those in the workforce and trade sectors. Her work focuses on helping organizations grow, connect, and build strong teams.

Giving Back to Community and Industry

Amy’s impact extends beyond her professional work. She remains actively involved in efforts that create opportunity for others across the state, including:

• Maine Blue Collar Scholarship Foundation
• Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG)
• Augusta Food Bank

Through this work, she continues to support the next generation of Maine’s workforce while strengthening her local community.

A Full Circle Moment

Now, as a member of Â鶹APP Board of Visitors, Amy has come full circle. She is investing in the institution that helped shape her path and helping ensure others have access to the same opportunity.

Beyond Commencement Day

Amy’s story is a reminder that the impact of a UMA education does not end at graduation.

For many students, UMA is more than a place to earn a degree. It is where a path forward begins.

Most aviation students choose between flying or repairing aircraft. Casey Raymond chose both.

Casey is graduating from the Â鶹APP with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation paired with an Aviation Maintenance Technician School certificate, an uncommon paring that requires significant technical training, discipline, and adaptability. 

From Discovery Flight to Dual Qualification

A 2020 discovery flight first sparked Casey’s interest in aviation while she was still in high school. When a medical diagnosis temporarily grounded her plans, she turned to Â鶹APP early college program to get a jumpstart on her academics until she could begin flight training.

That adaptability continued to shape her experience at UMA. While enrolled in Â鶹APP flight program, Casey joined the inaugural cohort of the university’s Aviation Maintenance Technician School and is now among the program’s first 12 graduates.

Today, Casey is qualified to fly commercial aircraft, teach as a flight instructor, and repair a wide range of aircraft, including airliners and helicopters. Her combined training gives her experience from both the flight deck and the hangar, opening opportunities across multiple areas of aviation.

Leadership and Entrepreneurship

Beyond her studies, Casey co-founded the Wild Shore Aviation flight school, was an active member of Women in Aviation International, and, at just 20 years old, served as chair of the Katahdin Wings Chapter of the Ninety-Nines.

One of the experiences she values most has been working with aviation summer camps, helping young people discover aviation,  while encouraging the next generation to see themselves in the industry.

Staying Open to Opportunity

Rather than following a single, rigid path, Casey has built a career around curiosity and a willingness to explore new possibilities. 

“It is important to keep yourself open and not be blind to opportunity,” she said. “I don’t constrain myself with hard goals. There are jobs I want to do, and I prepare for them and work toward them because they are fun, and I want to be happy.”

Looking ahead, Casey plans to fly humanitarian missions serving remote communities, where her ability to both pilot and maintain aircraft could prove especially valuable. 

Friend and flight instructor Jonathan Ward once said, “Sometimes you meet people in life that you know are going to change the world. Casey is one of them.”

Casey’s path reflects the kind of hands-on, community-focused experience UMA encourages students to bring into their careers. Congratulations, Casey, on your award and all you have accomplished! Great things are on your horizon.

The university will award honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees to two leaders whose service and partnership have strengthened opportunities for UMA students and communities across Maine.

As the Â鶹APP celebrates the Class of 2026 and closes its 60th anniversary year, the university will also recognize two leaders whose work has made a lasting difference for UMA students and communities across Maine.

At this year’s commencement ceremony, UMA will award honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees to Major General Diane L. Dunn and Chad Everett Morris.

Their careers are different, but they share a common thread: both have used their leadership to serve Maine and help create opportunities for others.

Major General Diane L. Dunn: Leadership Grounded in Service

Major General Diane L. Dunn has spent more than three decades serving the people of Maine through the Maine Army National Guard and in public leadership.

As Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard and Commissioner of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, she is responsible for the readiness of Maine’s National Guard, the state’s emergency response, and support for veterans and their families.

Her leadership has also made history. She is the first woman to serve as Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard and the first woman to reach the rank of Major General in its history.

That example matters at UMA.

UMA serves many military-affiliated students, including veterans, currently serving National Guard members, active-duty service members, and their families. Many are building their next chapter through education.

Through her service and her leadership as vice chair of Â鶹APP Board of Visitors, General Dunn has helped keep the university connected to the needs of Maine’s military community, workforce, and students.

At commencement, UMA recognizes her distinguished service, leadership, and direct impact on the university and the people it serves.

Chad Morris: Building Opportunity from Classroom to Cockpit

Chad Everett Morris has helped shape aviation education in Maine.

A Navy veteran, pilot, and entrepreneur, Morris is the owner and CEO of Maine Instrument Flight and a key partner in Â鶹APP aviation program.

When he acquired Maine Instrument Flight, Morris made a clear decision that the success of Â鶹APP aviation program would be central to the future of his company.
That decision has had a lasting impact.

Through the partnership between UMA and Maine Instrument Flight, students can complete their training from first flight through instructor certification, gaining the skills and experience needed to launch careers in aviation. Many go on to serve as instructors and pilots across the country.

Morris’s leadership has strengthened Â鶹APP aviation program and expanded what is possible for students preparing to enter a high-demand field.

At a commencement that also marks the first graduating class of UMA Aviation Maintenance Technicians, his recognition reflects the growing role of aviation education in Maine’s workforce future.

UMA recognizes Morris for his service, partnership, and commitment to helping students move from classroom to cockpit.

A Commencement Moment Focused on What Comes Next

Honorary degrees are among the university’s highest recognitions. They honor people whose leadership, service, and contributions reflect the values of the institution.
This year’s recipients fit that purpose well.

Their stories speak directly to Â鶹APP mission: opening doors for students, building strong partnerships, and preparing people to serve Maine in meaningful ways. Through military leadership, emergency response, aviation, and workforce development, both honorees have helped create opportunities that reach directly into the lives of students.

For graduates preparing to enter careers, continue their education, serve their communities, or begin a new chapter, these recognitions offer a reminder that leadership often means making opportunity possible for someone else.

As the university closes its 60th anniversary year, we honor not only two individuals, but the service and partnerships that continue to shape what comes next.

This Saturday, Valdete “Mimi” Cargill will walk across the stage at the Â鶹APP’s commencement ceremony, cheered on by 52 family members traveling from across the country to celebrate the completion of a goal decades in the making. Just two weeks shy of her 85th birthday, Mimi is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and a minor in Justice Studies.

A lifelong love of learning

Arriving in the U.S. from Brazil in 1964, Mimi was 22 with a fourth-grade education and limited English. She focused on building a stable life, then raising her family. Mimi often set her own aspirations aside to support others, but never stopped learning. Over time, she taught herself to fluently read, write, and speak five languages—English, Portuguese, Spanish, French and Italian.

When Mimi enrolled at UMA in her late seventies, she found the right place to pursue her goal. With the support of the senior tuition waiver and a community that welcomes students at every stage of life, she was able to fully engage in her studies and turn a long-held dream into a hard-earned degree. 

“It takes courage to take that first step,” Mimi says, “but if you really want it—if you crave that degree like I did—you go for it.”

Beyond the classroom

During her time as a student, Mimi didn’t just attend classes. She balanced her coursework with a deep commitment to her community, volunteering as an interpreter and delivering handwritten notes and home-cooked meals to neighbors in need.

The next chapter

For Mimi, graduation marks the start of her next chapter. She plans to increase her volunteer work helping people navigate legal systems in a new country and a new language, while pursuing projects like writing a pantry cookbook and a children’s book rooted in care and connection.

Mimi’s journey is Â鶹APP mission in action, expanding access to education and empowering students at every stage of life to grow, contribute, and make a difference in their communities.

As the Â鶹APP wraps up its 60th anniversary year, this weekend’s commencement adds a vital surge of talent to the state’s workforce. These graduates provide a significant boost to Maine’s economy and the local communities where they live and work.

This Saturday, 540 graduates will cross the stage at the Augusta Civic Center. With degrees in 47 academic programs, they are prepared to fill the high-demand roles that Maine’s employers are looking for, helping to meet the needs of our local communities.

Supporting Maine’s Workforce

Â鶹APP top programs this year align closely with some of the state’s most critical workforce needs. Graduates are entering fields that are essential to the health, stability, and growth of Maine’s communities:

• 56 nursing graduates, entering a healthcare system facing sustained demand
• 43 graduates in mental health and human services, strengthening behavioral health support across the state
• 37 interdisciplinary studies graduates, bringing adaptable, cross-sector skills
• 35 business administration graduates, prepared to contribute to Maine’s economy and small business landscape

A Milestone for Maine’s Aviation Industry

This year’s commencement also marks a historic first.

UMA will graduate its first class of 12 Aviation Maintenance Technicians, completing training in the state’s only FAA-approved program of its kind.

These graduates represent a new and critical workforce pipeline for Maine’s aviation sector and reflect Â鶹APP ongoing focus on aligning programs with emerging industry needs.

The UMA Student Profile

The Class of 2026 reflects the realities of today’s learners and the communities UMA serves.

• Many are adult learners, balancing education with careers and family responsibilities
• A significant number are first-generation college graduates
• With 67% of students learning online or at a distance, graduates are prepared to contribute across all regions of the state

This is a student body defined by resilience, determination, and purpose.

Built on Access. Focused on What Comes Next.

As UMA closes its 60th anniversary year, this graduating class proves the long-term value of the university’s mission.

For decades, UMA has focused on making higher education accessible to everyone in Maine. We see the direct results of that commitment today as this graduating class puts that mission to work where Maine needs it most.

We have extended the deadline – Please send nominations for this year’s student commencement speaker by March 15th

Nominations must come from faculty or staff. Students you nominate should have, in your opinion, the writing and speaking skills necessary to deliver compelling remarks. If you are interested in submitting a nomination, here is what you need to do:

• Talk to the student first and make sure they are willing to deliver remarks five minutes in length to an audience that numbers in the thousands.
• Make sure the student has a GPA of 3.0 or higher (you can check with the Registrar’s Office at 621-3144).
• Make sure the student is graduating this year with either an Associate’s or a Bachelor’s degree.
• Complete the online nomination form, which can be found below.
• If your nominee is selected, you will be asked to work with that student as needed with their remarks, in collaboration with Virginia LaFlamme, Marketing Content Specialist.

The deadline for submitting a nomination is March 15th.

Finalists will be contacted and asked for a writing sample of commencement remarks and asked why they are interested in speaking at commencement. The Commencement Committee will review the finalists’ responses and make their selection for student speaker.

UMA is pleased to announce that Aaron Rosenblum will deliver this year’s commencement keynote address at the Augusta Civic Center on May 9th, 2026.

UMA will welcome Aaron Rosenblum, engagement and education coordinator at the ACLU of Maine, as the keynote speaker for the 2026  commencement ceremony. 

Before joining the ACLU of Maine in 2025, Aaron worked as an adult services librarian at the Portland Public Library and previously with the  Louisville Free Public Library, where he developed community programs and outreach initiatives designed to connect diverse audiences with information and civic life.   

Aaron is also an artist whose performances and media work have been presented across North America and internationally. 

He holds a Master of Library and Information Science from McGill University and a Bachelor of Arts in music and cultural studies from Hampshire College.

Rosenblum will address the Class of 2026 at commencement, sharing reflections drawn from a career rooted in community engagement, creativity, and public service.

The Â鶹APP (UMA) will recognize two exceptional graduates with Distinguished Alumni Awards during its 2025 Commencement Ceremony, to be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, at the Augusta Civic Center.

This year’s honorees are Justin Chenette ’21, a public servant and communications leader, and Mary E. Gibson ’07, a nationally recognized archivist and advocate for Indigenous cultural preservation.

Chenette, a graduate of Â鶹APP Public Administration program, made history as the youngest lawmaker in Maine and the youngest openly LGBTQ+ legislator elected in the entire country. He currently serves as a York County Commissioner and works as Senior Director of Public Relations and Advancement at Sweetser, one of Maine’s largest and oldest mental health organizations. His career has been defined by breaking barriers and creating opportunity for others.

He has authored and passed ethics reform legislation, founded a scholarship fund that has supported dozens of students over the past decade, and wrote a children’s book on civic engagement. Chenette has been recognized with several honors including being named to 40 Under 40 lists by Mainebiz and The Advocate magazine, earning a Harvard Kennedy School Fellowship, and receiving Presidential Volunteer Service Awards from two U.S. Presidents.

Gibson, who graduated summa cum laude from Â鶹APP Information and Library Science program, is the founder and Executive Director of the Noowuh Knowledge Center in Elko, Nevada. A proud member of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone, she has dedicated her career to protecting and promoting Newe language, culture and history.

Her work spans archiving, education and advocacy – from preserving collections of tribal history to representing her community at the United Nations and testifying on Native land and water rights. She also serves on advisory boards for the National Science Foundation and Great Basin Resource Watch, and she frequently mentors youth and educators through outreach and cultural programming.

UMA President Jenifer Cushman praised both alumni for their contributions to their communities and for embodying the university’s mission. “Justin and Mary represent the transformative power of education and the lasting impact UMA graduates have across the state, the nation and the world,” Cushman said. “We are proud to honor their achievements and leadership.” The ceremony will also feature keynote remarks from attorney Michael-Corey F. Hinton, an honorary degree presentation to Charles “Chuck” Hays, and remarks from student speaker Shannon “Mac” McNamara. The event will be held in person and live-streamed at , with ASL interpretation and ADA access provided.

UMA will celebrate the achievements of its Class of 2025 at this year’s commencement ceremony, recognizing approximately 500 graduates and honoring several distinguished leaders in the community.

UMA is honored to welcome Michael-Corey F. Hinton, a respected attorney and citizen of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik, as this year’s keynote speaker. Hinton leads the Tribal Nations Practice Group at Drummond Woodsum in Portland, advising Tribal Nations on federal Indian law, environmental policy and economic development. 

His career includes prior roles with the National Indian Gaming Commission and the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, as well as ongoing work as a trustee of the Abbe Museum and member of the Thompson Brothers’ 4 the Future Foundation Executive Committee. Hinton’s work reflects a deep commitment to service, advocacy and leadership.

UMA President Jenifer Cushman praised the graduating class for their dedication and perseverance. “Â鶹APP Class of 2025 represents the strength and determination it takes to pursue higher education in today’s world,” she said. “We are proud to celebrate their achievements and confident they will make a meaningful impact in their communities and careers.”

In addition to celebrating its graduates, UMA will recognize several individuals for their exceptional contributions to their communities and fields:

• Student speaker Shannon “Mac” McNamara, graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, will address her fellow classmates. Known for her creativity, perseverance and passion for using design as a force for good, McNamara embodies the innovative spirit of Â鶹APP architecture program.
  
• UMA will confer an honorary degree on Chuck Hays, a transformative leader in Maine’s healthcare landscape. UMA recognizes his longstanding commitment to accessible, community-based care.
  
• Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented to Justin Chenette and Mary Gibson.
  • Justin Chenette ’21, is a dynamic public servant, communications leader, author and founder of a nonprofit scholarship fund that empowers future leaders. Through his personal and professional work, Chenette champions civic engagement, mental health and expanding educational access. He has earned national recognition, including 40 Under 40 honors from The Advocate and MaineBiz, as well as Presidential Volunteer Service Awards from Presidents Bush and Obama. Chenette completed his postbaccalaureate in public administration at UMA in 2021.
  • Mary Gibson ’07, founder of the Noowuh Knowledge Center, is an advocate for Indigenous rights and cultural preservation. She works to protect the language, heritage and history of the Western Shoshone people while advancing human rights both locally and internationally. She has represented her community at the United Nations and leads youth and community efforts in cultural education and environmental justice. Her work reflects her commitment to keeping Indigenous knowledge alive through grassroots action and global advocacy. Gibson earned her bachelor’s degree in information and library science from UMA in 2007.

Â鶹APP 2025 commencement ceremony will be held Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m. at the Augusta Civic Center, 76 Community Drive, Augusta.

For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be livestreamed and available for later viewing at , where additional details about the event can also be found.

UMA is committed to making commencement accessible to all. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available throughout the ceremony, and the Augusta Civic Center is ADA compliant. Family members and guests who need accommodations are encouraged to contact Sydney Olson by April 28 at 207-262-7825, toll-free at 1-877-862-1234, ext. 7825, or via email at sydney.olson@maine.edu.

Charles Danforth Gallery
Jewett Hall, Â鶹APP
May 4 – May 23, 2024

Opening Reception and Artist Talk in the Danforth Gallery,

Immediately following Commencement on May 4, 2024, at Noon

The graduating Art students of the Â鶹APP will exhibit their senior thesis artwork in the Charles Danforth Gallery on Â鶹APP Augusta campus in an exhibition entitled Trust the Process. The exhibition includes the work of seven artists and will open at noon with a public reception immediately after Commencement on Saturday, May 4.

Trust the Process reflects the evolution of each artist’s concepts and work over the past semester, using the tools of self- and faculty-critiques. Exhibiting artists include Emily Allen, Julia Dry, Des Dumais, Bruce Forbes, Donald L. Patten, Sophia Reyes, and Jared Winslow.

Trust the Process is on view from May 4 – May 23, 2024, and the public is welcome to visit the gallery in Jewett Hall, which is open on Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The UMA community and the general public are invited to the opening reception and artist talk on May 4 at noon.

Follow the Danforth Gallery on and , and on their website: .

Artist Biographies

Emily Allen (Gardiner, Maine): Emily Allen is an aspiring illustrator who works primarily in 2-dimensions with media ranging from graphite and paint to digital drawings. Over the past three years, Emily developed a story that she is translating into a graphic novel. Several completed pages for this novel, along with a myriad of her preparatory sketches for this work are on view in the exhibition. After graduation, Emily will pursue a master’s degree in illustration, eventually publishing her complete graphic novel.

Julia Dry (Hallowell, Maine): Julia Dry is a mixed media artist who primarily works with sterling silver, enamel, and copper to create sculptures and jewelry pieces. While the subject of her work is often changing, her love for color has stayed consistent. Julia’s process centers experimentation and research to better understand her chosen materials. She hopes to pursue a master’s degree after graduation.

Des Dumais (Fort Kent, Maine): Des Dumais is a tattoo artist. She moved from Fort Kent to Augusta to pursue her dream of being a tattoo artist. Her fine arts education has given Des the tools and knowledge to excel in her career. Des creates tattoos that not only adorn the skin, but also resonate with the spirit within. Each session is an opportunity to forge a connection, leaving a mark that transcends the physical and becomes a part of the wearer’s identity.

Bruce Forbes (Philipsburg, Pennsylvania): Bruce Forbes is a photographer who moved to Augusta long ago for work reasons. He focuses on portraiture, but also engages in landscape photography, especially scenes from the Kennebec River and the city of Augusta. Bruce also pursues street photography during warmer weather. He brings his training in composition and color to his photographic work. In addition to his portraiture and landscape work, he hopes to photograph a series centered upon truck stops this summer.

Donald L. Patten (Belfast, Maine): Donald is a draftsman, oil painter, and ceramicist. In the past, old master painters would depict historically significant disasters that happened to them to cope. A student of the old masters, Donald has made a series of drawings that represent his pandemic experiences by referencing past masterpieces that depict the embodied experience of trauma. After graduating, he will display oil paintings and ceramic artworks at several art markets around Maine before pursuing an MFA degree.

Sophia Reyes (Houston, Texas): Sophia is an interdisciplinary artist residing in Maine. The Houston, Texas native primarily works with photography, digital art, and printmaking. With photography being her first love, she centers her printmaking practice on captured memories using the aid of digital tools and traditional printmaking techniques to bring these images to life. Her work explores the themes of home and identity through the navigation and reflection of personal narratives and experiences of a first generation Mexican American.

Jared Winslow (New Sharon, Maine): Jared is a mixed media artist who works primarily with inks, gouache and watercolor to create fine drawings and illustrations. Jared’s works feature a wide range of subjects, but one consistent theme is his passion for nature and plant life. His artistic process involves finding inspiration by immersing himself in natural environments, sketching intricate details, and then experimenting with compositions. His approach allows him to layer materials. After graduation, he hopes to pursue his master’s degree.