USM Public Affairs

USM Alumni Amy Fish and Ryan Francis with Professor David Jones at the New England Therapeutic Recreation awards ceremony.

Two USM alumni and a professor in USM’s Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies were recently honored by the New England Therapeutic Recreation Association (NETRA) at its annual conference held in Sturbridge, Mass.

Amy Fish, CTRS (Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist) from Windham and a 2003 USM graduate, received the Up and Coming New Professional Award. She currently serves as the director of therapeutic recreation at RiverRidge Center in Kennebunk. It was noted in the presentation ceremony that, “Amy has mentored students, developed innovative programs, advocated for the profession, written for professional journals, and provided presentations all on behalf of therapeutic recreation.”

Ryan Francis, CTRS, of Old Town and a 2009 USM graduate, received the Outstanding Student Award. Ryan currently serves as a therapeutic recreation specialist at Sedgewood Commons, a long-term care facility in Falmouth. The presenter recognized that Ryan “has already developed innovative interventions, presented information, written for professional journals and newspapers, and gained valuable hand-on experiences while pursuing his education.”

Dr. David Jones, EdD, CTRS, a faculty member in USM’s Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, received the NETRA Award for Outstanding Educator. Jones, a resident of Yarmouth, was cited for his “dedication to innovative teaching” and “his commitment to provide play opportunities for children in countries torn by war and extreme poverty.” Jones is active in the International Childhood Enrichment Program, which provides safe playground environments for children in Afghanistan and Haiti.

The University of Southern Maine (USM) offers its 10,000 plus students more than 115 areas of undergraduate and graduate study. USM’s location in southern Maine, a region cited as one of the most liveable in the country, offers a range of educational, cultural and recreational opportunities.

“SHAPING THE TERRAIN”

Detail of "Layers," a map showing layered GPS information of Portland's peninsula.

The digital maps created by students in USM’s fall course “SHAPING THE TERRAIN: Digital Mapping of Portland Public Art Spaces” will exhibit their maps in Running With Scissors Gallery and Studio, 50 Cove St., Portland.  The exhibition, “SHAPING THE TERRAIN,” will open with a reception from 5-7 p.m., Friday, December 11 and will remain on view by appointment through Saturday, December 19.  Call Ariette Scott at 650-8661 for an appointment.

The course was taught by USM Professor of Art Jan Piribeck, whose students spent the semester creating an inventory of potential public art spaces located in the various neighborhoods on the Portland peninsula.  The exhibition features the student’s maps of Portland peninsula neighborhoods using Geographic Information System (GIS) equipment.  These maps indicate potential locations for future public art projects such as monuments, murals, environmental works, community arts activities, performances, projections and sculptures.

The maps were produced in cooperation with the City of Portland GIS Office and the USM’s GIS Lab, located in USM’s Bailey Hall, Gorham.

For more information about the exhibition contact Jan Piribeck at 780-5276 or janp@maine.edu (more…)

The public is invited to USM on Wednesday, December 9, for the annual Holiday Extravaganza. Featured will be a festive holiday meal with all the fixings; a Community Holiday Fair featuring 20 tables of crafts, collectibles, and gifts; and the annual Celebration of Light highlighting the winter celebrations of the world’s religions.  The event runs from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. in USM’s Woodbury Campus Center, Portland.

The Celebration of Light will be repeated 8 p.m.-11 p.m., Thursday, December 10 in the Brooks Student Center, Gorham.

USM Holiday Extravaganza – 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
USM, Woodbury Campus Center, Portland.

> Holiday Festive Meal, 11a.m. – 2:15 p.m., $6.30 per person.

> USM Community Holiday Fair: 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Shop at 20 tables for crafts, artwork, holiday arrangements and gifts, food, collectibles, and jewelry.

> Celebration of Light:  11a.m. – 2 p.m. Wednesday, December 9, Woodbury Campus Center Portland, and 8 p.m. – 11 p.m., Thursday, December 10, Brooks Student Center, Gorham.  This event highlights the winter celebrations of Diwali, birth of Baha’u'llah, Eid Al Adha, Hanukkah, Yule, Christmas and Kwanzaa.

The University of Southern Maine (USM) offers its 10,000 plus students more than 115 areas of undergraduate and graduate study. USM’s location in southern Maine, a region cited as one of the most liveable in the country, offers a range of educational, cultural and recreational opportunities.

On November 19, the American Journal ran a photo and story about a mural unveiled behind the Gorham Goodwill store on Main St. that was the result of collaboration among USM students working through USM’s Office of Community Service and Civic Engagement, Gorham Police Department, and students in the Sebago Educational Alliance. The mural’s purpose was to reclaim an area that was a loitering and graffiti-prone location.  (No link available.)

Read a November 19 Seacoastonline.com story about high school soccer teammates reunited at USM.

On November 18, the Portland Press Herald covered the first game of the women’s basketball season.

Jennifer Rooks interviewed Muskie Professor Charles Colgan for a MPBN “Maine Watch” about Maine’s economy that first aired on November 19.

The November 18 Portland Press Herald ran a story about USM’s Civic Matters Symposium.

A Muskie Policy Center study reports Maine citizens are the safest in the nation with regard to violent gun crime.  Read about it in the November 18 Bangor Daily News.

Associate Professor of Political Science Ronald Schmidt was interviewed by Minnesota Public Radio after the recent election and also took part in WMTW-TV Channel 8’s in-studio coverage on election night. (No links available.) He was part of a post-election wrap-up on MPBN’s “Maine Watch” that originally aired on November 5.