Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 19 : Winter 2014 | Page 77

UNDERTAKES NEW AND IMPORTANT INITIATIVES The next day, volunteers were on hand at a dozen sites throughout the community for the Purple Pinkie Project. For a $  donation, Rotarians and UMPI and NMCC students colored people’s pinkies purple. The dollars helped to raise money for Rotary International’s End Polio Now efforts and each purple pinkie served as a symbol of one child’s life saved from polio. The event raised approximately $,. Participating Purple Pinkie sites, sponsors and supporters included UMPI, UMPI’s Houlton Higher Education Center, TAMC, TAMC’s North Street Healthcare, Northern Maine Community College, MMG Insurance, the Aroostook Centre Mall, Graves Shop ’n Save, Bradley’s Citgo, Maine Public Service Company, Star City Coffee, Presque Isle High School, and University Credit Union. An important first happened for the University on Nov.  when officials announced the establishment of the first rotating professorship created especially for UMPI faculty members. The Donald and Linda G. Zillman Family Professorship, ABOVE: Dr. Chunzeng Wang, far right, UMPI Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Science, is the first recipient of the Donald and Linda G. Zillman Family Professorship. Taking part in the announcement were, from left, Don Zillman, former UMPI President and Edward S. Godfrey Professor of Law at the University of Maine School of Law, and UMPI Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Sonntag. RIGHT: Members of the Presque Isle Fire Department proudly display their purple pinkies. From left are Chief Darrell White, Firefighter Kyle Bartley, Code Officer George Howe, Captain Vince Baldwin, Firefighters Dale Morrison and Dave Lovley, and Administrative Assistant Penny Anderson. Photo: Presque Isle Fire Department # established with annual proceeds from a designated fu