[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15572]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT FARMINGTON ON ITS SESQUICENTENNIAL

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                        HON. MICHAEL H. MICHAUD

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 9, 2013

  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University 
of Maine at Farmington as it begins celebrating its sesquicentennial 
this academic year.
  More than 150 years ago, teachers from Franklin County petitioned the 
Maine State Legislature to establish a State Normal School. In March 
1863, after heated debate, the Legislature passed the Normal School 
Act. That fall, Farmington was chosen as the site for the Western State 
Normal School, the first public institution of higher learning in the 
State of Maine. Originally a teachers' college with an emphasis on 
liberal arts, the Western State Normal School first opened its doors on 
August 24, 1864 to 31 students who convened in the attic of a building 
in downtown Farmington. Over 100 years and several name changes later, 
the school merged into the University of Maine System in 1968 and 
became formally known as the University of Maine at Farmington, or UMF, 
in 1971.
  UMF currently enrolls over 2,000 students from across the country and 
the world. It continues to be a national leader in producing 
exceptional teaching professionals that have a direct impact on the 
state of Maine. Approximately seventeen percent of Maine's educators 
earned their degree from the University of Maine at Farmington, 
including four of the last six Maine ``Teacher of the Year'' 
recipients. In addition to maintaining its commitment to training 
quality educators, UMF has made efforts to strengthen other academic 
areas, such as the arts and sciences, health, and rehabilitation.
  Today, October 9th, also known as Charter Day, marks 150 years to the 
day since the Maine Legislature signed the school's charter and is the 
highlight of the Sesquicentennial celebration. The day's events feature 
a ceremony honoring notable dignitaries, an array of cultural events, a 
ribbon cutting ceremony for the restoration of Abbot Park, and an 
evening of visual and performing art. The anniversary will continue to 
be observed throughout the academic year focusing on the six key 
academic disciplines of education, psychology, English, biology, 
mathematics and history. I am proud to have the opportunity to share 
the impressive accomplishments of the University of Maine at Farmington 
and look forward to watching the University continue its growth during 
the years to come.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me again in congratulating the students, 
alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the University of Maine at 
Farmington as they celebrate their sesquicentennial.

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