A moment of pure magic
“At one point, Emmanuel cracked up the audience when he joked that he aspired to have his name on a building, but all he was offered was a picture with Champ. That moment was pure magic…Later that evening, I had an idea.” Prof. Richard Bilodeau ’96, ’98G
Scholarships have superpowers
“When I dropped out of college 30 years ago, I told myself I was just taking a year off. But one year turned into five, and before I knew it, I was married, a mom, a business owner, and a published author. Then, seven years ago, my world was upended.” Jenny Siler ’24
Food for thought
“We know that hunger affects our students’ ability to focus and learn and the need is exploding. Oakhurst’s donation of dairy products will go a long way in ensuring that our students can concentrate on their studies and not on their next meal.” Dr. Sarah E. Holmes ’96, ’02G, ’19G
Staying the course
“In my sophomore year, Covid was really intense. We weren’t fully back to school. We were living on campus, but we had virtual classes…it was hard on my mental health. I thought I would have to take the semester off, and I worried about losing my scholarship. So, I reached out to my advisor, hoping he could help keep me going.” Gigi Beninati ’24
Crossing the finish line
“When Covid-19 interrupted my sophomore year, I decided to return home to Maine and commute to USM. But in 2022, my mother passed away and my family was struck with financial and emotional hardship. In the bigger picture, my scholarship helped three students and their widowed father develop a game plan.” Athan Gikas ’24
Local heroes
“You’ve never been to a Zoom meeting until you’ve been to a first-grade Zoom meeting,” recalled former teacher Jill Blackwood ’83, who, in the midst of the pandemic, was regularly helping her grandkids with their online assignments. Read how Jill and Bob Blackwood ’78G, ’82 have been helping the next generation reach their potential for over 20 years.
Composing a legacy
“I had driven a long way for an audition for the Portland Youth Wind Ensemble. I felt like I had no business being there, but I showed up and pulled my battered, beaten, school-rented horn from its tattered case. I played my audition and won the principal chair. That one day set me on a course, because USM’s Dr. Peter Martin believed in me.” Josh Newton ’10, ’13G