USM Public Affairs

Student Commencement Speaker Serena Dawn Gosbee

Serena Dawn Gosbee of Sebago, Maine, was selected to give the student commencement speech. Gosbee, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications, was inducted into the Golden Key International Honour Society and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Earlier this spring, she was named the 2011 recipient of the Outstanding Senior in Communication Award. She is a 2005 graduate of Lake Region High School who transferred to USM from Southern Maine Community College. After graduation, she plans to continue working at AMEC Earth and Environmental in South Portland while exploring opportunities to work with children. Both of her parents, Robin Gosbee ’82, and the late Lane Gosbee ’03, graduated from USM.

Commencement Speaker Linda Greenlaw

Isle au Haut resident, best-selling author and swordfishing captain Linda Greenlaw delivered the keynote address at USM’s 131st Commencement. USM also awarded her an honorary degree in recognition for her contribution to the cultural heritage of the coast of Maine. Greenlaw first came to public attention in 1997 when she was one of the swordfish captains profiled in Sebastian Junger’s best-seller, The Perfect Storm. She is the author of four books about life as a commercial fisherman, The Hungry Ocean (1999 New York Times best-seller), The Lobster Chronicles (2002 New York Times best-seller), All Fishermen are Liars (2004 New York Times best-seller) and Seaworthy: A Swordboat Captain Returns to Sea. Time Magazine called her 2005 Recipes from a Very Small Island, co-authored with her mother Martha Greenlaw, a “must-have cookbook.” She also is featured in the Discovery Channel series Swords: Life on the Line.

Josephine Okot ’10, School of Social Work

Josephine Okot came to Portland from Sudan. She enrolled in USM with a goal “to work very hard, become a social worker…” and help others in the refugee community. “Everybody has different goals,” she told us, “but we all have the same dream. We want to be out there helping our community…so we can live a better life in Portland. I feel like I belong here.”

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Dan and Lynn Philbrick ’10, Lewiston-Auburn College

Lynelle and Daniel Philbrick of Auburn are parents who worked full time at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College while earning their master’s degrees in leadership studies.

Daniel explains that LAC is big on students being lifelong learners, and this degree is something he and Lynelle can use in their daily lives — at work, at home, with their family and community. Lynelle says the program allowed her to “develop her own personal philosophy of leadership and leadership style.

“Most of us are full-time students with lives outside of school,” says Daniel. They agree LAC’s faculty knows and understands that fact, and make everything work for students.

Lynelle says she’ll miss her classmates, and Daniel agrees, saying, “It really is a home away from home.”

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Jamesie Morgan ’10, College of Education and Human Development

Jamesie Morgan of Harpswell earned a master’s in teaching. She was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease, which left her legally blind. “I have had a lot of people doubt my abilities to be able to do things over the years,” she said. “The minute I found USM it was like a new start for me. It has been an amazing experience. They have been more accepting of me than I think a lot of people have. The professors have been behind me 100 percent. It’s definitely my goal to prove that somebody with a vision impairment can be a teacher, and I know that teaching is definitely what I want to do.”

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John Coons '10, School of Music

John Coons of Corinna has sung opera, jazz, musical theatre, even the national anthem at Fenway Park. “I can’t even remember the number of concerts I’ve been able to do,” said John, who earned a master’s in music performance. He does, however, remember vividly a weekend when the USM School of Music hosted a high school chorale day. He performed in an opera workshop, led a tenor sectional, and gave a master class. “I realized that can actually can do this as a career. USM has allowed me to be the person that I should be.”

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Monique Lefebvre '10, Environmental Planning and Policy

Monique Lefebvre of Westbrook, an environmental planning and policy major, admits she’s always been a tomboy who spent a lot of time outdoors when explaining why she chose her major. But this outdoor enthusiast also represented Maine in an international beauty pageant, using civic engagement as her public service platform. Her next step is to find a post-graduate internship in environmental education.

Monique says, “I’ll miss just being here next year and experiencing what USM is all about – being actively engaged in your community.”

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Ina Basha '10, College of Nursing and Health Professions

Ina Basha of Portland came to America from Albania 13 years ago when her parents won a lottery. A graduate of USM’s nursing program, Ina feels nursing runs in the family. Her mother is a physical therapist, who was also trained as a labor and delivery nurse in Albania. Her sister is a nurse who graduated from USM. Ina came to USM after she saw the great experience her sister enjoyed while a student here.

While there are things that bother her about nursing (for example, she doesn’t like needles and has always been afraid of shots) she says, “you find ways to get over it … it’s necessary for the patient’s care so you put your fears aside and you do it.”

Is she ready to become a nurse and take the world by storm? She believes so, knowing that USM gave her groundwork needed to “continue to grow.”

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Troy Williams '10, School of Business

The Line, a business specializing in custom-made, long board skateboards, opened nine years ago in Troy Williams’ basement. Nothing unusual there except Troy was 13 and the basement actually belonged to his parents. “My parents thought it was a hobby at first,” said Troy, “but then I opened a store.” Today, nine years later, The Line still is going, along with a tour business and a property management business in Troy’s hometown of York, Maine. The 22-year-old recently earned his degree in business management and entrepreneurship from the University of Southern Maine. “For once I had people I could talk with about what’s going on in the business world,” said Troy of his time as an undergraduate in the USM School of Business. “It has opened up a whole new universe. The professors were awesome,” he said, “and they seemed to all have experience in the field to back up what they taught in the classroom.”Upon graduation, the young entrepreneur may sell The Line. “I built it from the ground up, so I want to make sure I sell it to someone who will take care of it like I did.” And for his next venture? “Real estate,” said Williams, a 2005 graduate of York High School. “It’s down right now and a number of agents have gotten out, making it a good time to get in.”

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Award-winning author Phillip Hoose of Portland advised graduates to learn from rejection, be adaptable, support the arts and to unplug their laptops during his keynote address at USM’s 130th Commencement ceremony. He was also presented with an honorary doctor of humane letters. Advocating they take time off from work, Hoose led the audience in a rendition of the Charlie King song, “Bring Back the Eight Hour Day.” Last November his book, “Claudette Clovin: Twice Toward Justice” received the National Book Award in the young readers category. In January, he received the Newbery Honor for a prominent contribution to literature for young readers.