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76-Year-Old Port Clyde Resident Receives B.F.A. at USM Commencement

May 12, 2004

Ruth Thomas graduated from Maine Central Institute (MCI) in Pittsfield, Maine, in 1946 and dreamed of earning an art degree. Lack of money for tuition, marriage, and a family of five postponed Thomas' dreams for 58 years. On Saturday, May 15, she fulfilled her dream of receiving a B.F.A. at USM's 124th Commencement held in the Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland.

Thomas, a resident of Port Clyde, rented an apartment in Gorham for three years while she earned her degree with a double concentration in drawing and painting, working realistically with oils. She describes herself as "always curious" with a joy of learning, which she feels was instilled at MCI, and for which she will "always be grateful." Thomas earned a bachelor's in business administration from the University of Maine in Augusta in 1976.

She describes the mix of ages in her classes at USM as interesting, with some students being the age of her own children, and others the age of her grandchildren. This April, she was pleased to learn that she was the recipient of an Art Discipline Award for academic achievement in printmaking at USM's Student Recognition ceremony.

Her future is undecided, but Thomas plans to enjoy the summer visiting friends, working in her garden, and of course, painting.

Thomas will be one of nearly 1,000 USM graduates marching Saturday. The speaker is the founder and CEO of Interface, Inc., Ray Anderson, who has become one of the nation's leading advocates for sustainability. Guilford of Maine, a manufacturer of commercial fabrics with headquarters in the Piscataquis County town of Guilford, is part of the Interface Fabric Group.

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