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USM President Richard Pattenaude, Soon to be Chancellor of the UMaine System, "Worked Hard, Did Well, Had Fun."

May 12, 2007

Combining his own background with the stories of USM graduates, USM President Richard L. Pattenaude told nearly 1,000 graduates at his 16th and final USM commencement, “It is you, and the more than 15,000 other graduates I have congratulated on this stage, who remind me that public higher education opens doors…to opportunities we could not have imagined and to places we never knew existed.” 

Pattenaude, who will be leaving USM in early July to become chancellor of the statewide University of Maine System, was selected to give the keynote address at the University of Southern Maine’s 127th Commencement, held Saturday, May 12, at the Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine.

Pattenaude, who grew up in Seattle, spoke of his working class background and how his parents’ desire for him to attend college led to academic achievements and a rewarding career. “Worked hard, did well, had fun,” was the formula for success, which he repeated throughout his address. Graduates chanted those words during Pattenaude’s speech. “What really made this wonderful journey possible?” he asked. “Education. It is what made your journey, and my journey, happen.”

Student speaker Lori Royer of Lovell cited USM's diversity as its great asset. “I’ve teamed up with a Cambodian in an operations management class,’ she said, “brainstormed with an athlete from Morocco, conversed with a philosophy student from Chile . . . and was even given the opportunity to live for a semester in Portland Hall with a brilliant woman from Beijing.”

Royer was awarded a degree in business administration and a minor in music. She was joined on stage by her mother, Vicki Royer, who received her degree at the ceremony in Library and Information Technology from the University of Maine at Augusta.

Among the graduates were Sharon Timberlake of Portland, who received a USM Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management, the first doctoral degree to be awarded in USM’s history.  Hong Xie a Portland resident originally from China, received a University of Maine doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology for her work in a program collaboratively offered at USM through an agreement with the University of Maine.

Community leader Lisa Gorman and her husband, L.L. Bean’s Chairman of the Board Leon Gorman of Yarmouth, were recognized with honorary doctorates of humane letters for their public service to USM and other organizations. Among their many philanthropic activities, the Gorman’s established a $1 million USM scholarship fund, known as The Gorman Scholars Fund, to help Maine citizens earn undergraduate and graduate degrees.  They, other family members, and L.L. Bean established an endowed chair in memory of the late Leandro “Lee” Surace, a USM alumnus and longtime L.L. Bean senior vice president and chief financial officer. The endowed chair allows USM’s School of Business to hire a senior faculty member in accounting.

Distinguished Achievement Awards were presented to United Way of Greater Portland President Meg Baxter of Cape Elizabeth, for her exemplary leadership and commitment to community service, and to artist Robert Shetterly of Brooksville for his outstanding contribution to the arts.

Retired faculty and staff members honored during commencement with emeriti status for exemplary scholarship and public service were: Samuel G. Andrews, chief financial officer emeritus; Marijane Fall, professor emerita of human resource development; Charles M. Lyons professor emeritus of special education, who is currently president of York County Community College; Richard G. Stebbins, professor emeritus of chemistry.  

Executive Director of USM Advising and Academic Resources Elizabeth M. Higgins was recognized as the 2007 recipient of the Distinguished Professional Staff Award. Administrative Assistant in Environmental Science and Policy Therese Martin, was named the 2007 recipient of the Distinguished Classified Staff Award.

The ceremony opened to the march, “Processional for Spring,” during which 22 members of the Class of 1957 entered the Civic Center.

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