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PORTLAND, Maine

2016 President’s Gala celebrates opportunity at ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ

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 ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ were celebrated and honored at the annual President’s Gala.  It was the best attended President’s Gala in ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ’s history, and it followed the historic re-opening of Alumni Hall on ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ’s Portland Campus.

The Gala focused on the Year of Opportunity, highlighting the final year of the ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ Moving Forward Campaign, an ambitious $60 million fundraising effort to invest in the ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ student experience. During the Year of Opportunity, ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ 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 ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ experience possible.

President Danielle Ripich thanked the guests for their generous support of the University and the Campaign and discussed the future of ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ, noting the  expansion of learning, knowledge, and opportunity that ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ will offer to all students. In addition to the ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ Pledge, made to current undergraduate students, President Ripich discussed the need to continue to expand the opportunities at ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ 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 ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ with a B.S. in medical biology and a minor in English and is currently a student at ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Chelsea Toussaint ’08, ’10,’17, a dental hygiene alumna who is currently a student in ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ’s College of Dental Medicine. As Maine natives, ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ undergraduate alumni, and current students of ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ graduate schools, Corbett and Toussaint shared their stories of how opportunities they’ve received at ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ 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.