PRESQUE ISLE – The University of Maine at Presque Isle is hosting a jam-packed Homecoming 2008 celebration from Friday, Sept. 12, to Sunday, Sept. 14, offering everything from entertainment by comedian George Hamm and jazz quartet, Spoke, to socials, alumni games and the annual Hall of Fame dinner. Festivities kick off at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, in Wieden Auditorium when President Don Zillman discusses current and future campus initiatives as part of a new campus tradition, the State of the University Address. President Zillman, who has served as the University’s president for two years, accepted a permanent appointment extended this spring by the University of Maine System Board of Trustees and is moving forward on several important projects. The campus and community are invited to attend this event.
Friday evening offers two events: the jazz quartet Spoke at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center – admission is free for UMPI, NMCC and SAGE students and UMPI alumni; $10 for adults and $5 for all other students – and an Alumni Social at 8:30 p.m. at the Irish Setter Pub. The social is being hosted by alumnus Sharon Roix ’64, Laura (Bouchard) Gardiner ’82 and Keith Madore ’95.
Saturday includes a tour of the Mars Hill Wind Farm, campus tours, a chance to view the Andy Warhol Photo Exhibit in the Reed Fine Art Gallery, a social work brunch, no less than five athletic games, an alumni luncheon and the Hall of Fame reception and dinner starting at 5 p.m. in the Campus Center. Alums Heather (Brewer) Richards ’96 and Jeffrey Joseph ’00 will be inducted, along with county and state sports contributor Dwight Hunter. Tickets are $15 per person. That night at 8:30 p.m., comedian George Hamm will take the stage at Wieden Auditorium. Hamm has performed everywhere from the Comedy Connection in Portland to the Improv in Los Angeles. He has appeared in the movie “Pennyweight” and on television. Tickets are $10 per person.
The last day of Homecoming will serve as an alumni sport day, with baseball, cross country and soccer games under way throughout the morning and early afternoon. An alumni athlete hotdog roast will be held at noon at the Park Family Field.
For more information about Homecoming 2008, contact Keith Madore at 768-9568.