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PORTLAND, Maine

2016 President’s Gala celebrates opportunity at »¨Ó°Ö±²¥

President Danielle Ripich addresses the attendees of the 2016 President's Gala
President Danielle Ripich addresses the attendees of the 2016 President's Gala.

On June 9, 2016, more than 240 alumni, trustees, friends, faculty and staff who made leadership or legacy gifts to the »¨Ó°Ö±²¥ were celebrated and honored at the annual President’s Gala.  It was the best attended President’s Gala in »¨Ó°Ö±²¥â€™s history, and it followed the historic re-opening of Alumni Hall on »¨Ó°Ö±²¥â€™s Portland Campus.

The Gala focused on the Year of Opportunity, highlighting the final year of the »¨Ó°Ö±²¥ Moving Forward Campaign, an ambitious $60 million fundraising effort to invest in the »¨Ó°Ö±²¥ student experience. During the Year of Opportunity, »¨Ó°Ö±²¥ will focus on raising funds for scholarships, student research, and global learning to ensure that every student has the opportunity to have the most  rewarding »¨Ó°Ö±²¥ experience possible.

President Danielle Ripich thanked the guests for their generous support of the University and the Campaign and discussed the future of »¨Ó°Ö±²¥, noting the  expansion of learning, knowledge, and opportunity that »¨Ó°Ö±²¥ will offer to all students. In addition to the »¨Ó°Ö±²¥ Pledge, made to current undergraduate students, President Ripich discussed the need to continue to expand the opportunities at »¨Ó°Ö±²¥ to ensure that students are prepared for the futures they will face in the 21st century through global experiences and flexible learning platforms that are in sync with the information age.

President Ripich then introduced the guest speakers, Ian Corbett ’14, ’19, who graduated magna cum laude from the »¨Ó°Ö±²¥ with a B.S. in medical biology and a minor in English and is currently a student at »¨Ó°Ö±²¥â€™s College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Chelsea Toussaint ’08, ’10,’17, a dental hygiene alumna who is currently a student in »¨Ó°Ö±²¥â€™s College of Dental Medicine. As Maine natives, »¨Ó°Ö±²¥ undergraduate alumni, and current students of »¨Ó°Ö±²¥ graduate schools, Corbett and Toussaint shared their stories of how opportunities they’ve received at »¨Ó°Ö±²¥ have already impacted their lives.

 

To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions

 

President Ripich looks on as student speakers Chelsea Toussaint and Ian Corbett take the stage.
President Ripich looks on as student speakers Chelsea Toussaint and Ian Corbett take the stage.
More than 240 alumni, trustees, friends, faculty and staff were celebrated and honored at the annual President’s Gala.
More than 240 alumni, trustees, friends, faculty and staff were celebrated and honored at the annual President’s Gala.
President Ripich poses with Arthur P. and Frances Girard.
President Ripich poses with Arthur P. and Frances Girard.

About the »¨Ó°Ö±²¥

The »¨Ó°Ö±²¥ is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.