If you plan to complete your degree this Spring or Summer, be sure to submit your Application for Graduation Form by April 1.

Students completing their program in December 2025, May 2026, or August 2026 are eligible to participate in the May 2026 Commencement Ceremony. To ensure your eligibility and avoid surprises, meet with your faculty advisor before submitting the form, but remember, it’s ultimately your responsibility to confirm all degree requirements in the UMA catalog.

If you plan to graduate but not participate in the ceremony, you should still apply to graduate before the end of your final semester.

For assistance with the application, contact umaadvising@maine.edu.

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.

When Shannon “Mac” McNamara made the decision to start over, she didn’t know exactly where that path would lead. What she did know was that she was ready to build something — something bold, something purposeful, something that reflected who she really was.

Originally from upstate New York, Mac had already served as an Intelligence Specialist in the U.S. Naval Reserves and worked in government contracting as an imagery analyst. But during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, she took a leap of faith and enrolled at the Â鶹APP to pursue her passion for architecture and art history.

“I was drawn to UMA because of the flexibility and focus on real-world learning,” Mac said. “It gave me the opportunity to start fresh, and to do it on my own terms.”

That fresh start quickly evolved into something remarkable.

At UMA, Mac has thrived as both a student and a leader. She served as President of Â鶹APP chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students, representing the university at national conferences and advocating for student voices — especially those from smaller, more intimate programs like Â鶹APP. Through her leadership, Mac helped shape a more inclusive and engaging experience for future architecture students.

Her academic achievements are just as impressive. In 2023, she earned top honors at Â鶹APP Student Research Conference, winning both the Top Presentation Award and the Top Qualitative Research Award for a paper exploring the portrayal of the female nude in art history and its ties to modern sexual assault culture. Her faculty mentor, art historian Dr. Amy Rahn, described her as “an outstanding researcher, writer, thinker, and community member; someone with both brilliance and generosity of spirit.”

But Mac’s impact extends beyond accolades. She embodies Â鶹APP mission to meet students where they are and help them grow into who they’re meant to be. Her story reflects the university’s belief in transformation, civic engagement, and the power of accessible education. She’s the kind of student who uses every opportunity — not just to advance her own future, but to uplift others.

UMA Rockland held it’s annual ‘URock Graduation Celebration’ to recognize their local grads on Saturday, April 27th.

13 of our 30 graduates attended, along with their family & friends. The program included a Message from a Graduate – Courtney Green, BS Nursing, as well as Keynote Address from John Viehman, Former President – United Midcoast Charities.

Student awards were also presented.

The Graduation Celebration dinner for Ellsworth Center graduates was a really special evening with many unique stories and some having worked on their degree for nearly 30 years! One graduate now runs the office at the cooperative that she used to sell to. “Now I get to sign the owner’s check!”. Many are already working professionally in their chosen field. We are so proud of our 17 grads!

Opening Reception and Artist Talk in the Danforth Gallery
Saturday, May 14, 2022, from 12 – 2 p.m.

Each spring the Charles Danforth Gallery at the Â鶹APP (UMA) exhibits the work of its graduating art majors, who complete their studies at the university with a final year-long body of work. This year’s show, titled Start to Finish, features works in illustration, graphic design, painting, drawing, and collage. This year’s artists are Creed Griffin, Cassidy Penney, and Sally Wagley.

Creed Griffin is an illustrator from Camden, Maine who is developing the illustrations for a children’s book, Boy in the Brambles, in collaboration with writer Michele Cox. The story follows a young boy and his dog who venture out into the woods and get caught in a storm.

Cassidy Penney is an artist who lives in China, Maine. Her vibrantly colored work focuses on mountain landscapes through a mix of painting and graphic design. She highlights her view of the natural world and her emotional responses through these two media in a series titled “Energetic Peacefulness.”

Sally Wagley is a mixed-media artist from Brunswick, Maine who explores her struggles with insomnia through a series of pastel drawings and photo collages which couple images of a restless female figure with text, symbols, and images reminiscent of both Renaissance art and features of modern technology.

The exhibit will feature the finished artworks as well as information on the artists’ creative processes: labor-intensive work entailing research, preliminary sketches, and much trial and error.

The exhibition is on display from May 6 – 26, and the public is welcome to visit the gallery in Jewett Hall, which is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The UMA community and the general public are invited to the opening reception on Saturday, May 14th from 12 – 2 p.m., immediately following the Â鶹APP’s commencement ceremonies. Refreshments will be served, and the artists will talk about their work.

Follow Danforth Gallery on and , and visit the gallery’s website: .

United States Senator Angus King

President Rebecca Wyke is pleased to announce that United States Senator Angus King will provide the Commencement Address at UMA’s 52nd graduation ceremony on May 9, 2020.

In January 2013, Angus King became Maine’s first Independent United States Senator, filling the same seat once held by storied Maine leaders Edmund Muskie, George Mitchell, and Olympia Snowe.

He is a member of the Armed Services Committee, the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Senator King also served as the 72nd Governor of Maine, and during his two terms in the Blaine House, he focused on economic development and job creation. Then-Governor King also achieved significant reforms in education, mental health services, land conservation, environmental protection, and the delivery of state services.

Senator King is married to Mary Herman and has four sons, Angus III, Duncan, James, and Ben, one daughter, Molly, and six grandchildren. He attended Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia Law School. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the Maine outdoors – either on his Harley or with his family in their camper.

As part of commencement program, Honorary Degree of Humane Letters will be awarded to SSG Travis Mills.

SSG Travis Mills

UMA will recognize SSG Travis Mills with an Honorary Degree in Humane Letters. Mills is a recalibrated warrior, motivational speaker, actor, author and an advocate for veterans and amputees.

On April 10, 2012, United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne was critically injured on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan by an IED (improvised explosive device) while on patrol, losing portions of both legs and both arms. He is one of only five servicemen from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ever to survive quadruple amputee injuries.

Thanks to his amazing strength, courage, an incredible will to live, the heroic actions of the men in his unit, the prayers of thousands, and all the healthcare providers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, near Washington D.C., Mills continues to overcome the obstacles of living life as a quadruple amputee. Every day is a battle, but Mills continues to astound everyone with his progress and with his amazing spirit. SSG Travis Mills is a genuine American hero, and for his incredible sacrifice, we are forever in his debt.

In September 2013, Mills founded the , a nonprofit organization, formed to benefit and assist wounded and injured veterans. Mills and the foundation are actively involved with several veteran organizations namely, the Travis Mills Foundation Retreat in Maine. The Travis Mills Foundation supports recalibrated veterans and their families through long-term programs that help these heroic men and women overcome physical obstacles, strengthen their families, and provide well-deserved rest and relaxation.

The retreat located in the Belgrade Lakes Region provides an all-inclusive, all-expenses-paid, barrier-free vacation in Maine where they participate in adaptive activities and bond with other veteran families.

Â鶹APP

UMA transforms the lives of students of every age and background across the State of Maine and beyond through access to high-quality distance and on-site education, excellence in student support, civic engagement, and professional and liberal arts programs.

UMA is the third largest public university in Maine. In addition to its main campus in the state’s capital, UMA also serves students at its campus in Bangor (UMA Bangor) and through UMA Centers around the state. With its multiple locations and long-term expertise in online and distance learning, UMA is generally considered the university of choice for Mainers of all ages who want to attend college without uprooting their lives.

During the ceremony, two Associate Degrees and two Bachelor’s Degrees were conferred by University of Maine President Rebecca Wyke. Additionally, Washington County Community College’s Dean of Business and Industry, Nichole Sawyer conferred a Production Technician Certification to one graduate. This rigorous five-course, nationally recognized credential prepares students for positions in high-tech manufacturing settings.

The ceremony included remarks by Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, Randall Liberty and UMA Saco Center Director Daniel Philbrick.

In addition to the degrees conferred to the graduates, two certificates of academic recognition were presented to women who have completed a lengthy and challenging computer coding program, a first of its kind in Maine.

Erica King, Senior Policy Associate at the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service delivered the keynote. Ms. King’s career in criminal justice reform and social justice policy has included more than 15 years of providing coaching, training and technical assistance to correctional agencies and populations. Her focus on gender responsive program development, evaluation, and implementation for women has been important for the DOC. The women involved in the graduation exercises have benefited from Ms. King’s work and support, and they were pleased she provided the keynote.

“As a Department, we recognize the immense value of education,” notes Commissioner Liberty, a graduate of UMA himself. “We were thrilled to honor the perseverance these women have shown to transforming their lives through education.”

The Department of Corrections has a long history of partnering with educational organizations to enhance the educational attainment opportunities of offenders.

In 2006 the DOC began the partnership with UMA, starting with a small group of students in the Maine State Prison. “Our relationship with DOC has grown, and rightfully so,” noted President Wyke. “At the heart of Â鶹APP mission is a commitment to transform the lives of its students, regardless of age or background. This program is a demonstration of our adherence to this mission.”

Speaking on behalf of Washington County Community College, Dean Sawyer indicated that the partnership with DOC helps the offenders turn their education into direct jobs. “Women enrolled in the Production Technician Certification are able to work in the field while finishing their sentence; allowing them to gain valuable on-to-job learning and a direct connection with an employer.”

Representatives from the Vera Institute of Justice, a think tank dedicated to building and improving a justice system that ensures fairness, promotes safety and strengthens communities, were also in attendance.

Coming together as educational partners to celebrate the positive decisions these graduates have made to prioritize a productive future while incarcerated, and upon release, is what the day was all about.

at Maine Correctional Center in Windham

The Â鶹APP (UMA) held graduation exercises on May 1, 2019 at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham.  During the ceremony, nine Associate Degrees and two Bachelor’s Degrees were conferred by UMA President Rebecca Wyke.

The ceremony included remarks by President Wyke and Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, Randall Liberty.

“We applaud the commitment of these men to turn their lives around through the power of education. UMA is proud to partner with the Department of Corrections and pleased to honor the accomplishments of these graduates,” stated President Wyke.

Fred Van Liew, a restorative justice advocate, delivered the keynote address.  Van Liew is an attorney, mediator, and justice consultant, currently a Restorative Practices Coordinator with the in Portland.  A former career prosecutor with the Polk County Attorney’s Office in Des Moines, Iowa, he has been involved in restorative justice practices since the 1990’s and recently published The Justice Diary: An Inquiry into Justice in America.

UMA began providing educational opportunities at the Maine State Prison in 2006 and the program was expanded in 2017 to the Maine Correctional Center in Windham through a Second Chance Pell Grant program.

“As a Department, we recognize the immense value of education. When incarcerated individuals take the initiative to prioritize their education while with us, as these 11 individuals have done, we celebrate their accomplishments,” noted Commissioner Liberty a graduate of UMA himself.

“At the heart of Â鶹APP mission is a commitment to transform the lives of its students, regardless of age or background,” said President Wyke. “It is not enough for us to say we believe in the power of education to transform lives, we must demonstrate it.”

Citing the 2013 RAND Corporation meta-analysis on education in prisons, Commissioner Liberty pointed out that the importance of education goes beyond the benefit to the individual.

“When offenders engage with correctional education they have 43% lower odds of recidivating than those who don’t. Reduced recidivism benefits families, communities, and our Maine economy. The benefits are far reaching.”

The Vera Institute of Justice, a think tank dedicated to building and improving a justice system that ensures fairness, promotes safety and strengthens communities, is a partner in the push for greater education at Maine’s correctional facilities. As Vera reports, the success of college education in prison depends on the “quality of partnerships between college and correctional agencies.”

A strong partnership between DOC and UMA seems to be exactly what has developed. Over the years many faculty involved in the collaboration have seen firsthand how education transforms the incarcerated.  The graduation on May 1, 2019 was a celebration of this powerful impact of education.

Others in attendance included UMA Deans and faculty.