2016 President’s Gala celebrates opportunity at É«ÖÐÉ«¹ÙÍø
On June 9, 2016, more than 240 alumni, trustees, friends, faculty and staff who made leadership or legacy gifts to the É«ÖÐÉ«¹ÙÍø were celebrated and honored at the annual President’s Gala. It was the best attended President’s Gala in É«ÖÐÉ«¹Ù꿉۪s history, and it followed the historic re-opening of Alumni Hall on É«ÖÐÉ«¹Ù꿉۪s Portland Campus.
The Gala focused on the Year of Opportunity, highlighting the final year of the É«ÖÐÉ«¹ÙÍø Moving Forward Campaign, an ambitious $60 million fundraising effort to invest in the É«ÖÐÉ«¹ÙÍø student experience. During the Year of Opportunity, É«ÖÐÉ«¹ÙÍø 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 É«ÖÐÉ«¹ÙÍø experience possible.
President Danielle Ripich thanked the guests for their generous support of the University and the Campaign and discussed the future of É«ÖÐÉ«¹ÙÍø, noting the expansion of learning, knowledge, and opportunity that É«ÖÐÉ«¹ÙÍø will offer to all students. In addition to the É«ÖÐÉ«¹ÙÍø Pledge, made to current undergraduate students, President Ripich discussed the need to continue to expand the opportunities at É«ÖÐÉ«¹ÙÍø 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 É«ÖÐÉ«¹ÙÍø with a B.S. in medical biology and a minor in English and is currently a student at É«ÖÐÉ«¹Ù꿉۪s College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Chelsea Toussaint ’08, ’10,’17, a dental hygiene alumna who is currently a student in É«ÖÐÉ«¹Ù꿉۪s College of Dental Medicine. As Maine natives, É«ÖÐÉ«¹ÙÍø undergraduate alumni, and current students of É«ÖÐÉ«¹ÙÍø graduate schools, Corbett and Toussaint shared their stories of how opportunities they’ve received at É«ÖÐÉ«¹ÙÍø have already impacted their lives.
To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions