News Releases

USM’s Outstanding Seniors Hail from Caribou and Greene

May 4, 2007

USM announced two Outstanding Seniors for 2007 in a ceremony that took place in the Portland Museum of Art on Thursday, May 3. These students will be recognized for their achievements during USM’s 127th Commencement, taking place Saturday, May 12, in Portland’s Cumberland County Civic Center.

Andrew Bossie of Caribou will graduate with a degree in political science.  He began his academic career at USM with a Merit Scholarship awarded for his exemplary work during his time at Caribou High School. When first arriving at USM, he became involved with acting, dance and singing, eventually performing in a variety of USM productions. 

Anxious to become part of USM’s decision-making process, he became involved in student government. He served as Student Senate vice chair in 2004, Student Senate chair in 2005, and then became USM’s second Student Body president in 2006. He has worked to increase student advocacy on the local, state, and national levels.

Among his many activities while a student at USM, he is perhaps best known for being founding president of Opportunity Maine, an organization that recently gathered more than 70,000 signatures to place on the ballot a proposal which will create Maine tax credits for college loan repayments. His work for Opportunity Maine led to his speaking about student debt from the State House in Augusta to Washington D.C.

Bossie currently holds an internship as a lobbyist with Moose Ridge Associates, representing a variety of non-profit clients with a focus on social justice, environmental sustainability, and economic prosperity.

Bossie is the son of Rick and Lynne Bossie of Caribou, and Malene Bossie of Fort Myers, Florida.  He is a 2002 graduate of Caribou High School.

Joshua David Chaisson of Greene will graduate with a degree in economics.  He says he began his career at USM with “a commitment to academic performance, professional experiences, community service, and support of other students.”

He worked as an assistant resident director for the past three years, was a member of the Southern Maine Outing Club, Leadership Development Board, the Circle K Club, and was one of two campus representatives from Maine to the Center for American Progress.

He became the first USM Student Body president in 2005, and in 2006 co-founded the University of Maine System Student Government, an organization that addresses academic and financial issues for students attending Maine’s Public Universities.  He testified online to Congress and in person to U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings on strategies to keep tuition costs down.

He volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Alternative Spring Break, Toys for Tots, and Oxfam.

Chaisson. a 2003 graduate of Leavitt High School, is the son of David and Lillian Chaisson of Greene.

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