Events

President Linda Schott has announced that J. Duke Albanese—a national leader in the effort to redesign public education and learning for all students—will deliver the commencement address during the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s 106th Commencement Ceremony, to be held on Saturday, May 16, 2015. During the event, an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree will be presented to Albanese.

The University of Maine at Presque will host the 3rd Annual Safe Homes Aroostook “Move to End Homelessness” fundraiser on Sunday, May 3, 2015, from 12-3 p.m. The 5K fun run/walk, which will be held rain or shine, will start at 1 p.m. and end at Gentile Hall and wind along the city’s sidewalks and bike path.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Social Sciences will host Jason Grass for an evening presentation on Monday, May 4 at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center. Grass’ talk, titled The People of the Hill: Then and Now, will focus on Pagan culture, history and contemporary practice, and is free and open to the public.

The University of Maine at Presque’s Ceramics I & II class invites County residents to attend the area’s second Empty Bowls fundraiser, which gives participants the opportunity to purchase unique homemade bowls and enjoy cups of soup, all to benefit Martha and Mary’s Soup Kitchen. The Empty Bowls fundraiser will be held at the William V. Haskell Community Center (Presque Isle Recreation Center) on Tuesday, April 28 from 6-8 p.m. Doors will open and bowls will officially go on sale at 6 p.m.

Live classical music returns to the University of Maine at Presque Isle when contemporary classical composer and pianist John Newell plays in the Campus Center on Thursday, April 30, at 7 p.m. Presented by the UMPI Cultural Arts Committee, this special night of music is free and community members are invited to attend. Donations will be accepted at the door to support future cultural arts activities.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Reed Fine Art Gallery will present the student curatorial project, Human Form, from May 1 through June 13, 2015. The public is invited to view the exhibition throughout the show’s run and attend the Opening Reception on May 1 from 5- 7 p.m., which is being held in conjunction with the First Friday Art Walk. A Curator’s Talk will take place at 5:30 p.m. during the reception.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle Fine Art Program faculty members are pleased to announce the four solo exhibitions developed through the 2015 Fine Art Senior Thesis Exhibition course. The series of exhibitions will be hosted in the Pullen Art Gallery starting in April and continuing through May.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s newly re-formed University Players theater club is proud to present its first production—the dramatic comedy The Big Meal. Shows will be presented Friday through Sunday, April 24 to 26, in the Campus Center Multi-Purpose Room. The Friday and Saturday shows will take place at 7 p.m.; the Sunday show at 5 p.m. Admission is free with an UMPI ID, and, for the general public, there is a $5 suggested donation.

From social media and wage equity to food scarcity and the power of persuasion, students at the University of Maine at Presque Isle will showcase their academic research, scholarly work and community service on Wednesday, April 15, during University Day. The theme of this year’s event is Transformers: Students Changing The World.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle is pleased to present Byron Hurt, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, published writer, and anti-sexist activist, as the next speaker in the 2014-2015 Distinguished Lecturer Series. His talk will focus on his most popular documentary, Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and has been broadcast on the PBS series Independent Lens. His talk, which also serves as the keynote address for UMPI’s 14th Annual University Day, will take place on Tuesday, April 14, at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center. This event is free and the public is invited to be a part of this special evening.