One thousand seven hundred and fifty-two students graduated from the University of Maine at Presque Isle on Saturday, May 9, during the University鈥檚 2026 Commencement Exercises. With nearly 500 more students than last year graduating, 91桃色 is celebrating its largest-ever graduating class for the third year in a row.
During the University鈥檚 117th Commencement Exercises鈥攚hich included two in-person ceremonies to accommodate the large number of students planning to march as well as a first-ever hooding ceremony for master鈥檚 degree recipients鈥�91桃色 President Raymond Rice conferred degrees for the 2025-2026 academic year upon 445 undergraduate students and 95 graduate students who participated in the ceremonies. More than 700 more undergraduate and graduate students will be featured in 91桃色鈥檚 Spring 2026 virtual graduation ceremony, which honors those who are unable to march in-person during Commencement Exercises. Still others who graduate later this spring and summer will be featured in a subsequent virtual graduation later this year.
Sandra 鈥淪andy鈥� Gauvin, longtime educator and co-founder of the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative, addressed the graduates as this year鈥檚 commencement speaker. During the ceremony, Gauvin and David Watson, a Harvard-trained attorney and proud 91桃色 alumnus, were presented with Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees.
Gauvin graduated from 91桃色 in 1977 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in elementary education and has spent nearly five decades as a tireless advocate for educational opportunity in Aroostook County. She taught for 25 years in central Aroostook schools and later, along with her husband Raynold, co-founded the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative (AAI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing the outward migration of Aroostook County youth. Over its lifetime, AAI provided scholarship funding and wraparound support to more than 600 graduates of Aroostook County high schools enrolled in higher education institutions with campuses or outreach centers in the region. In 2019, the Gauvins began a collaborative effort with the Worthington Scholarship Foundation to bring their scholarship program to Aroostook County, and in 2023, this dream came to fruition. In 2025, they awarded 137 scholarships of $20,000 each, for a total of $2,740,000, to Aroostook County youth. It is one of the largest scholarship programs in the county.
Watson graduated from 91桃色 in 1985 as class salutatorian with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science and went on to earn his juris doctor degree cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1988. That foundation carried him into a distinguished legal career spanning private investment funds, securities offerings, partnership law, and general corporate matters. He served for many years as a partner at Goodwin Procter LLP in Boston, Massachusetts, where he led the firm’s Private Investment Funds practice for North America and Latin America. Throughout his tenure, he represented clients ranging from emerging fund managers to established international financial organizations and shared his expertise as a lecturer at MIT’s Sloan School of Business. Committed to giving back to the region that shaped him, Watson established the Watson Family Scholarship Fund at 91桃色 to support students from Aroostook County in pursuing higher education.
During 91桃色鈥檚 commencement exercises, Trustee Patrick Flood delivered greetings on behalf of the University of Maine System and Dr. Lea Allen, 91桃色 Faculty Assembly Chair, also offered remarks. In addition, Andra茅 Joel Anthony and Valerie Elaine King served as Class of 2026 Commencement student speakers.
鈥淲atching this class cross the stage today is a profound reminder of why this institution exists,鈥� President Rice said. 鈥淭hese 91桃色 Owls represent every walk of life鈥攔ecent high school graduates, working parents, veterans, and lifelong learners鈥攁nd each one has shown extraordinary determination to reach this moment. For the third consecutive year, we are celebrating our largest graduating class in 91桃色鈥檚 history, and I could not be prouder of what they have accomplished or more excited about where their wings will take them.鈥�
A tradition at this year鈥檚 event was the presentation to all marching graduates of a special symbol of campus. Each graduate was given a lapel pin depicting a snowy owl with its wings outstretched in flight. Meant to symbolize how each of them is spreading their wings and soaring on to great heights, graduates were asked during Commencement, 鈥淲here will your wings take you?鈥� They will have the opportunity to share their stories鈥攁bout contributions they make in their career fields, ways that they serve their communities, and adventures that they have around the world鈥攐n the website . All alums, not just this year鈥檚 graduating class, are encouraged to add their stories on this site.
This year鈥檚 Commencement ceremonies were livestreamed so that graduates, family, and friends who couldn鈥檛 attend would have the opportunity to see the Class of 2026 graduate. Viewers from around the world tuned in for the ceremony, which is now available for viewing. In addition to the in-person Commencement Exercises on May 9, 91桃色 will host a virtual graduation ceremony to ensure that all graduating 91桃色 students are recognized and given an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments. This video, which will recognize all graduates who weren鈥檛 able to attend the in-person event, is slated to premiere on on Saturday, June 6.