Annually, the Bangor campus recognizes individuals who have exemplified academic scholarship, service, governance, overcoming personal hardships, and contributions to campus life.

In addition to these, we are also accepting applications/nominees for the Bangor Rotary Scholarship and the UMA Bangor Scholarship.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to submit nominations for any (or all!) of these awards before 12:00 PM on Friday, April 3, 2026.

In addition to these scholarships, the Bangor campus also recognizes individuals who have exemplified academic scholarship, service, governance, overcoming personal hardships, and contributions to campus life at their annual Graduate & Awards Banquet.

Nominations for these awards are solicited from students and employees with recipients being determined by the designated entity. Please review the information below and nominate anyone you feel should be considered before 12:00 PM on Friday, April 3, 2026.

Questions about any of these awards or the nomination process may be directed to Alissa Gervais at alissa.gervais@maine.edu.

Spring in Maine can make people eager to get outside, even when the weather is still cold and muddy. At the Â鶹APP’s Bangor campus, community members have found a bright, welcoming way to stay active and connected: pickleball.

Every weekday morning, the fitness center hums with the sound of paddles tapping and sneakers moving across the gym floor. Laughter and friendly exchanges fill the air as people of all ages gather to play, building friendships and finding a sense of belonging along the way.

Pickleball’s appeal goes beyond the rules of the game. It is approachable, social and continually engaging, blending movement, coordination and strategy in a way that keeps bodies and minds active. For many players at UMA Bangor, the biggest draw is not just the sport itself but the community that forms around it.

Joy Steward, Â鶹APP coordinator of student life for wellness and co-curricular enrichment, has watched that community grow. “It started with just a few players,” Steward said. “Now it’s the most popular activity we offer. People love it because it’s welcoming, fun, and as competitive as you want it to be. There’s no pressure, just a great way to move and connect.”

Retired Newburgh resident Shirley Shannon treats pickleball as a lively part of her new routine. “I’m up at five every morning,” she said. “I play three times a week. If I were still working, I would resent my job,” she said. “This is my job now, and I love coming here. It gets my morning going, keeps me active and I feel great afterward.”

After years of full-time work, Shannon says pickleball gives her something to look forward to. For regulars like her, the game brings structure, motivation and a strong start to the day.

The energy on the courts is contagious. Newcomers are welcomed with smiles, helpful tips and lighthearted banter. That open atmosphere turns a simple game into a shared experience where neighbors, students and visitors become friends.

For Kim Johnson, the joy of pickleball is found in what players give and receive. “We’ve been playing for just over a year, and it’s amazing how inviting everyone is,” Johnson said. “We have players from 14 to 80, and everyone’s included. I usually play on Thursdays when beginners come in. Someone once did that for me, and now I get to do that for someone else.”

Those shared rallies and small moments of encouragement create bonds across generations and help everyone, regardless of age or skill level, feel that they belong.

Cheryl Dubois, who discovered pickleball in Florida, was glad to find that same spirit in Bangor. “Everyone here is so kind and encouraging. The staff is wonderful, the facility is spotless and I’ve made new friends,” she said. “We even go out to dinner sometimes. It’s great exercise and a wonderful way to stay active while spending time with some great people.”

Travis Wood, a documentary filmmaker (pictured at the top), first tried pickleball with his aunt’s encouragement and quickly became a regular. “The players here are top notch,” Wood said. “Everyone shows up ready to play, no matter their age or skill level. You’ll see teenagers and seniors on the same court, smiling together. It’s the mix of focus and fun that makes it so great. You play hard, and you leave happy.”

Together, those moments of challenge and camaraderie show what makes the courts at UMA Bangor a true community gathering place.

By opening its doors to players of all backgrounds, UMA Bangor’s fitness center helps strengthen community connections in the region. The public is invited to join, with memberships starting at $25 a month or $5 a day. Each morning, new and returning players fill the gym with activity, encouragement and connection. Whatever the season, pickleball offers a welcoming place to stay active, build friendships and enjoy being part of the community. 

Information about the fitness center, pickleball, membership, and more is available on the UMA Bangor Fitness Center webpage.

Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are welcome to stop by and use the facility during regular operating hours.

For more information, contact Joy Steward at joy.steward@maine.edu.

The one-day clinic is part of a national initiative led by the American Dental Association and responds to a documented access gap in children’s oral health care. In Maine, many families face barriers to routine dental visits, particularly those covered by public insurance.

During the clinic, students in Â鶹APP Dental Hygiene program will provide cleanings, exams, X-rays, fluoride treatments, sealants, and oral health education under the supervision of licensed professionals. The event combines hands-on clinical training with direct community impact, helping prepare students to meet ongoing oral health and workforce needs across Maine.

The clinic will be open from 8 to 5 p.m. at the UMA Dental Hygiene Clinic, located at 201 Texas Ave. on the Bangor campus.

Appointments are required.

For more information or to schedule, contact Valerie Clotts, administrative specialist, at 207-262-7872 or umadental@maine.edu

The UMA Bangor Fitness Center invites all UMA students, employees, and fitness center members to participate in the Olympics Challenge, a fun and flexible wellness challenge running now through February 23, 2026.

With the Olympics kicking off, this challenge is a great way to get moving, try something new, and focus on well-being. Participants are asked to complete at least 17 activities from the challenge list—one for each day of the Winter Olympics—for a chance to win prizes.

Activities range from fitness and movement (like holding a plank or trying a new sport) to mindfulness and everyday wellness (such as journaling, volunteering, or getting a full night’s sleep). You can complete activities at your own pace and choose the ones that work best for you.

How to Submit

After completing at least 17 activities, submit your form by Noon on February 23 by:

• Dropping it off at the UMA Bangor Fitness Center, or
• Emailing a photo or scan to joy.steward@maine.edu

For questions or more information, contact Joy Steward at joy.steward@maine.edu.

Have fun, and good luck!

Hungry Moose Café opens at Bangor campus

The Â鶹APP officially celebrated the opening of the Hungry Moose CafĂ© with a ribbon cutting at the Bangor campus, marking an important step in strengthening student-centered campus life.

Created in partnership with Sodexo, the café fills a long-standing gap in on-campus food service and offers a welcoming space where students can eat, study, connect and recharge. More than a place to grab a meal, the Hungry Moose Café serves as a central gathering spot that helps make the Bangor campus feel more complete, vibrant and connected.

UMA extends gratitude to Sodexo and the many staff members, partners, and students whose ideas, collaboration, and commitment helped turn this vision into a welcoming campus space.

“This café exists because people listened, worked together, and stayed focused on what our students need,” said UMA President Jenifer Cushman. “We are proud to add the Hungry Moose Café to the Bangor campus, and even more proud of what it symbolizes: a continued investment in accessible, student-centered spaces that help our students thrive.”

The Hungry Moose CafĂ© is located inside Eastport Hall, 128 Texas Ave, in Bangor. Regular hours are Monday to Friday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact uma.dining@maine.edu or text UMADining to 82257 (along with your question or feedback) to opt into the text messaging service.

Tickets are required for this event. .

The bus will depart Eastport Hall (Bangor) at 5:00 PM and return passengers to campus after the event has concluded. We estimate this to be between 9:30-9:45 PM. Students, faculty, staff, and their guests are welcome.

All individuals will be required to sign a Risk & Release form. Minors must be accompanied by an adult (18+) or obtain a complete release prior to departure.

. Please fill out a separate form for each member of your party.

UMA has received a $250,000 gift from Northeast Delta Dental to launch the Northeast Delta Dental Workforce Development Fund for Dental Hygienists, a new initiative to reduce financial barriers for students and strengthen Maine’s dental hygiene workforce at a time of critical shortage.

The fund will provide scholarships, licensure fee support and emergency microgrants to students in Â鶹APP Bangor-based dental hygiene program, Maine’s only public program and a vital pipeline for the state’s oral health workforce. By easing financial barriers, the initiative aims to ensure more students graduate and begin serving communities that urgently need oral health professionals.

“We are deeply grateful to Northeast Delta Dental for this generous investment in our students,” said UMA President Jenifer Cushman. “This fund will ease the financial pressures our dental hygiene students face, allowing them to stay on track, graduate and serve the communities that count on them for care. It’s a powerful example of how partnerships can strengthen Maine’s health care workforce.”

The newly established fund will support students in three primary ways:

• Retention Scholarships: covering tuition and fee gaps for juniors and seniors after all other aid is applied
• Licensure Fee Assistance: helping students pay for board examinations and licensing fees that can exceed $2,200
• Emergency Microgrants: providing small, flexible grants for unexpected expenses that might otherwise disrupt a student’s education

Tom Raffio, president and CEO of Northeast Delta Dental said, “with this fund, UMA is enabling us to realize our mission of improving access to dental care by increasing the dental hygiene workforce. We are grateful for their commitment to easing the financial burden of their students, enabling them to complete their training and ultimately serve their community.”

Â鶹APP dental hygiene program has a proven record of serving Maine’s needs. Between 2018–2024, the program graduated 124 hygienists, with 98% remaining in-state to practice. From 2022 to 2025, graduates achieved a 100% pass rate on their board exams, underscoring the program’s exceptional quality and rigor. This gift will help more students cross the finish line and enter the workforce more quickly, expanding access to care in communities that need it most.

“This funding ensures more students can complete their program and enter the field where they’re urgently needed,” said Nancy Foster, professor of dental health, program coordinator and director of the dental hygiene program at the Â鶹APP. “Too often we lose exceptionally talented individuals to financial barriers that prevent them from finishing their education. With targeted support through scholarships, licensure assistance and microgrants, we can help students graduate and join Maine’s workforce where their skills are in high demand.”

Students agree the fund will make a difference.

“As a student in Â鶹APP dental hygiene program, I’ve seen firsthand how challenging it can be to balance the heavy workload, clinical hours, and costs such as tuition, textbooks, dental equipment and housing,” said Hannah Blanchette, a senior at Â鶹APP Bangor campus. “Knowing that this support will be available means students like me can focus more on our studies and training and graduate prepared to serve Maine communities as licensed dental hygienists.”

According to licensure data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023), the number of dental hygienists practicing in Maine declined from 1,040 in 2019 to 840 in 2023. The shortage is most acute in rural areas and is expected to worsen as the workforce ages and fewer new professionals enter the field.

Student support through the Northeast Delta Dental Workforce Development Fund for Dental Hygienists will begin in the 2025–2026 academic year. UMA will track and report outcomes including retention, graduation, licensure and post-graduation employment to measure impact and inform future efforts.

For more information about Â鶹APP Dental Hygiene program, visit .

About Delta Dental

Northeast Delta Dental administers dental benefits in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, offering dental insurance programs for businesses and nonprofits of all sizes. The company, comprised of the Delta Dental Plans of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, serves 1,123,037 people, with a network of 1,926 participating dentists, or 86% of the total dentists in the tri-state area. The company’s mission is to advance the dental health and overall wellness of its customers and the communities it serves. In addition to funding oral health initiatives, the company supports numerous organizations and events important to the communities through a corporate grant application process. Visit for more information.

The Food for Thought Pantry, located in Lewiston Hall Room 116 on Â鶹APP Bangor Campus, is open to students, employees, and their families.

Fall 2025 hours are:

• Tuesdays 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
• Wednesdays 8:30–11 a.m.
• Thursdays 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

If you need a different time, call 262-7912 to arrange a visit.

Made possible through a partnership with Good Shepherd Food Bank and generous donations from UCU, the pantry helps provide essential food support. Please bring your own reusable bags. When you arrive, we’ll only ask for the last four digits of your phone number to help us track the number of families we serve.

If you’d like to join the coalition or volunteer, contact Joy Steward at joy.steward@maine.edu.

Built on a Learning Commons model for easy access and collaboration, the space brings together the Faculty Development Center (FDC), student Tech Hub, and IT Helpdesk at staffed service points.

Whether you’re troubleshooting technology, building courses, or need student tech support, the Technology Hub is your new go-to spot.