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A music player graphic overlaid on a photo of pink magnolia blossoms and a white campus building, with the text "Pack Chat Playlist" and paw print icons inside a rounded rectangle frame.

Spring Semester in Songs: A Pack Chat Playlist

The Pack Chat playlist is here — songs on repeat from students, alumni, interns, athletes and more across the USM community. Keep reading to hear what the Pack has been listening to this semester.

Sunrise over the McGoldrick Student Center and Portland Campus.

Starting College in Summer? One Student’s Guide to Enrolling at USM Off-Cycle

Starting at USM during summer session is more common than you might think — and one current student says it gave them a head start they did not expect. Keep reading for five tips from a student who has been there.

A graduate in a cap, gown, and gold USM stole stands in the staging area at Cross Insurance Arena, looking ahead before the processional begins.

The Class of 2026, by the Numbers

On May 9, thousands of people packed Cross Insurance Arena for USM’s 146th Commencement ceremony. Keep reading to see the Class of 2026 by the numbers.

Najmo Ahmed smiles in front of a wall of bookshelves.

Class of ’26: Meet Najmo Ahmed, USM’s Student Commencement Speaker

Najmo Ahmed has a lot going on. She’s finishing her bachelor’s degree in social and behavioral sciences at the University of Southern Maine, interning at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, and working toward a master’s in public health — all while preparing a commencement address her mother doesn’t even know about. Keep reading to hear how she got here, what drives her, and what she wants people to take away from her story.

Bridgette Toland smiles in front of a flowering pink tree. Text reads "Dear USM," with an illustrated graduation cap drawn above her head.

Class of ’26: A Love Letter to USM

For four years, USM has been more than just a school — it’s been the place where I found my people, my purpose, and myself. Keep reading to hear what I wish I’d known sooner, and what I’m carrying with me as I go.

Lisa Struebing references a quantum mechanics textbook while writing an equation on a whiteboard in the Dubyak Center on USM's Portland campus.

Class of ’26: How One Adult Student Kept Her Promise — and Earned Two USM Degrees Along the Way

When Lisa Struebing was in her twenties, she made a promise to her mother: she would finish the college degree that she’d started and set aside. Keep reading to hear how decades of determination, two USM degrees, and one introductory physics class led her here.

A portrait of USM senior Deklin Fitzgerald with illustrated graduation cap and tassel, part of the Class of '26 commencement series.

Class of ’26: Where There’s a Will, There’s Deklin Fitzgerald

Last September, USM senior Deklin Fitzgerald stood in front of more than 700 people and told his story — and when he stepped offstage, strangers approached him one after another to say the same thing: “I feel seen.” Keep reading to find out how four years of saying yes to just about everything led him there.

Thumbnail graphic with a blue background and colorful paper scrap overlays featuring three photos: a student photographing the ocean at the beach, the exterior sign for Portland Lobster Co., and Portland Head Light with the ocean in the background. Text reads "One Husky's Local Favorites" with white paw prints in the corner.

Class of ’26: My Favorite Places to Go and Things to Do as a USM Student in Southern Maine

From coffee dates and karaoke nights to beach days and ski trips, one graduating Husky shares her favorite ways to make the most of Southern Maine. Keep reading to find your next favorite spot.

Zoe Barnes mentally preparing with shot put loaded on shoulder ahead of her heat.

Meet Zoe Barnes: USM Nursing Student and National Champion

Zoe Barnes is preparing to graduate from the University of Southern Maine in August 2026 with a nursing degree and a national title in shot put. Now in her fifth and final year, the New Gloucester native is reflecting on her athletic and academic career. Like many students, she navigated uncertainty before ultimately finding her path in the classroom and in competition.

We caught up with Zoe to find out how it all came together — and what it took to finish strong.

Karoline Brechter as Sally Bowles and Ensemble in USM 2026 production of Cabaret.

Behind the Curtain: Cabaret

Take a look behind the scenes at how University of Southern Maine students, staff, and faculty turned Cabaret from an idea into a full production. Keep reading to see the process through the eyes of a lead performer and the stage manager who helped bring it all together.