USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College

Joshua Ferguson, a graduate student at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College, has been awarded one of two C. Donald Sweeney Veterans Scholarships from the National Association of State Approving Agencies in the amount of $1000 for the fall semester. Ferguson is enrolled in the Occupational Therapy program at USM LAC and previously served in the United States Army as a combat medic. The purpose of the scholarship is to honor the service of soldiers and veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

To be eligible, a currently-registered University of Southern Maine undergraduate or graduate student must be a soldier or veteran receiving VA educational benefits, and have a proven record of excellence in leadership, scholarship, and service. The intent of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to a veteran who is pursuing a post-secondary education. Ferguson’s award was one of two $1000 scholarships given to a USM student.

Donald Sweeney is shown here (right) presenting a $1000 scholarship check to Joshua Ferguson, a graduate student in the Occupational Therapy program at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College.

The Student Government Association at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College recently participated in the 2009 “Holiday Mail for Heroes” program sponsored by the American Red Cross. The program provides holiday greeting cards to military service members, veterans, and their families in the United States and around the world.

Pictured signing cards are left to right: Becki Quimby, Ian Ashland, Caitlin Durgin, Michael Akerly, Sarah Martin, Christine Berry, Jonathan Warner and Lynn Poor.

Dr. Joyce Gibson, Dean of the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College, has been appointed to serve on the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

“I am pleased to be a new member of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce, an organization for which I have tremendous respect”, says Dean Gibson. “The Chamber offers many opportunities for the development of USM LAC as a stronger community partner, and new ways for the University to serve other organizations.”

Prior to coming to USM, Dr. Gibson served as Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Education at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Florida, Gainsville and an MA in Rehabilitation Counseling from George Washington University. She has served as Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Services at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell and was responsible for service development for students, staff and faculty, as well as developing strategic plans for improved efficiency and effectiveness. She has extensive experience in retention programs and conflict management and has taught courses in leadership, organizational change, and managing diversity.

Dr. Joyce Gibson, Dean of the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College.

The Master’s in Occupational Therapy program (MOT) at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College recently filled all openings it had for the fall of 2009 and has just expanded its facilities on campus. The MOT program at USM LAC is completed in a 2 ½-year full-time or 3 ½-year part time sequence and also enjoys a “jump-start” option where students can earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years.

Occupational Therapy has been identified as one of the health professions that is “recession proof”, and was identified to have the highest wage increase percentage (6%) of all of the “hot jobs” outlined in the latest Forbe’s report. USM’s Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program on the Lewiston campus is the only public post-baccalaureate program in the state of Maine. The program enjoys a national and international reputation for excellence, and has recently been described as “stellar, and one of the best in the world” by international OT scholar, Dr. Michael Iwama, who has visited and worked with OT programs on five continents.

For more information about the Master’s in Occupational Therapy program at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College, please visit their website at www.usm.maine.edu/lac/ot or call 207-753-6523 for more information.

Students from the Master’s in Occupational Therapy program at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College practice hand-splinting techniques in the newly expanded OT lab. Left to right are Marion Russell of Portland, Amanda Bryant of Lewiston and Amber Levesque of Gray.

THIS EVENT S HAS BEEN POSTPONED. A DATE WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER RE-SCHEDULING THE EVENT

The University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College will be holding an Ulster Scots heritage event. The campus is located at 51 Westminster Street in Lewiston. The event’s special guest will be BBC Radio Ulster’s Alister McReynolds.

The day’s events will include live music with performances by Castlebay, Maine Premier Celtic Music Duo including a presentation of Scots-Irish musical roots in Maine by Member Julia Lane, lectures by Alister McReynold’s from BBC Radio Ulster’s “A Kist o Wurds”, Author and Maine St. Andrew’s Society Ulster Scots Project Chairman, John Mann, and a panel discussion of the exciting collaborative archaeology project on the Kennebec River featuring guest speakers and USM Professor and archaeologist Barry Rodrigue, Archaeologists Pam Crane and Peter Morrison, Principal of Robbins Historical Research Jay Robbins, and Humanities Student Rebecca Graham. Coffee social hour and Pot Luck lunch will provide opportunities to meet the authors and presenters.

Alister McReynolds has written extensively on Scots-Irish history and culture, and in particular about the achievements of the diaspora in the United States. His book, Legacy on the subject of Scots-Irish achievement in America, was published in June 2009. He has lectured at many venues across the United States, including at The Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. His articles have been published in numerous journals including, The Ulster Scotsman and The Pine Tree Highlander as well as in The Belfast Telegraph and The Newsletter. He is a regular contributor to various media projects including the weekly programs on BBC Radio Ulster.

More program information is available on the University’s event web page at usm.maine.edu/lac/events. For more information about the event please Rebecca Graham at 207-837-9830 or email rebecca.graham@maine.edu