media experience, and networked with local officials
and statewide leaders. A new component of YPI was
the Maine Young Professional Exchange, a trip to Orono
organized by Momentum Aroostook, Fusion Bangor
and the Realize Maine Network that brought together
YPI participants and other young business people from
around the state to talk about issues important to
Maine’s future.
In April, UMPI celebrated its 10th annual
University Day. The theme was A Decade of Learning:
Showcasing 10 Years of University Day, 2001-2011. As part
of the day’s events, several alumni who participated in
previous University Day presentations spoke about their
experience and its impact on their careers. University
Day is an event that heightens students’ awareness of
the work being done by peers in all of the disciplines
represented on campus. During University Day, Michael
P. Johnston was presented with the Young Alumni Award
and Dr. Anthony D. Cortese, founder and President of
Second Nature, served as the evening’s Distinguished
Lecturer.
Also this spring, the UMPI chapter of the
Criminal Justice honor society was officially chartered
as Chapter Mu Nu. There are fewer than 400 Alpha Phi
Sigma chapters in the United States. Founded in 1942 at
Washington State University, Alpha Phi Sigma is the only
national honor society for criminal justice students.
To cap things off, UMPI is heading into the summer
with a major renovation project underway. Work has
begun at Pullen Hall, which will soon have solar panels
on the roof, a biomass boiler system in the basement
and many energy efficiencies in between. Crews under
general contractor A&L Construction are installing
energy efficient windows, updating the aging heating
and ventilation system, and adding temperature control
in Pullen, one of the University’s two major classroom
buildings. A ͥ