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The University of Maine at Fort Kent Alumni Association will honor three individuals who have made an impact on the campus community and society, at its annual Alumni and Friends Banquet to be held this year on Saturday, September 14 in Nowland Hall.

Donald Raymond, a 1975 graduate of UMFK, will be presented with the 2013 Outstanding Alumni award; Justin Dubois, a 2005 graduate, will be presented with the Outstanding Young Alumni award; and Sierra A. Daigle, who will graduate next May, will be presented with the Outstanding Future Alumni award.

2013 Outstanding Alumni Award - Donald M. Raymond ('75)

Donald Maurice Raymond hired on at the University of Maine at Fort Kent a month after graduating from the University. By the time he formally retired at the end of the fall semester in 2011, he had become an institution. Along the way he also befriended many students from across the St. John Valley, the state of Maine, and around the world. Raymond's retirement at the end of 2011 actually was his second retirement. He “officially” retired in June 2011, but agreed to stay on through the end of the year to “show the ropes” to his successor.

Raymond began his career at UMFK in June 1975 as a full-time data processing machine operator, a month after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree with high honors. Back then he worked in the basement of Cyr Hall. The following summer he became the University's director of Financial Aid and its coordinator of Computer Services. That fall, he became acting Registrar, as well. He was named UMFK's permanent Registrar in July 1977, a post he held until his retirement. Along the way he filled posts in computer services, and institutional research, as well.

Don was easy to work with, knowledgeable and helpful. He possessed a positive attitude, and always seemed to find the best in any situation. He registered more students for college classes during his career at UMFK than the human mind can comprehend.

It was not uncommon for Raymond to put in 12-hours days, and 60-hour weeks. During his tenure at UMFK he prepared innumerable reports for state and federal agencies, and worked to produce the University's first statistical abstract. Throughout his career he demonstrated a faithfulness and allegiance to the institution's overall health and well-being. And through it all, he always made time for the students.

2013 Outstanding Young Alumni Award - Justin Dubois ('05)

This year's Outstanding Young Alumni, Justin Dubois, graduated from UMFK in 2005 with a Bachelor of University Studies. He is employed as the IT Director and Director of Advertising and Sales at Quigley's Building Supply in Fort Kent.

While enrolled at UMFK, Justin was recognized in “Who's Who Among American College Students,” and was the recipient of the Maine Higher Education Assistance Foundation scholarship. In the short time since his graduation, Justin has been busy in the business world, as well.

He has been honored as the Young Retailer of the Year by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA); received the NRHA Outstanding Achievements Award. His accomplishments through the NRHA brought Justin recognition in the pages of the “Saturday Evening Post,” “Hardware Retailing Magazine,” and “ProSales Magazine.”

On the community front, Justin organized the lighting of Downtown Fort Kent for the World Cup Biathlon; he is a member of the Downtown Development Committee, serves as vice chair of the UMFK Board of Visitors, is a member of the Greater Fort Kent Area Chamber of Commerce, and is actively involved in many Fort Kent festivals.

2013 Outstanding Future Alumni Award - Sierra A. Daigle ('14)

Sierra A. Daigle is the 2013 Outstanding Future Alumni. This 2014 candidate for graduation is enrolled in Business Management with a concentration in Human Resources. She has a minor in French and carries a grade point average of 3.6.

Sierra is a very active member of the UMFK Student Senate, currently serving her second year as Senate President. In that role she sits as a member of the President's Cabinet, conducts Senate elections and trains newly-elected Senators, holds a position on the Enrollment Management Committee, and serves as a liaison and representative between students and the faculty, staff, and community.

Sierra has been a work study assistant within the UMFK Acadian Archives since coming to campus in September of 2009, and also worked in a work study assistant capacity for two summers with the Information Technology office.

During the evening, the following graduating classes will be recognized, 1943, 1953, 1963, 1973, 1983, 1993, and 2003.

The social will begin at 6 p.m. in the Bengal's Lair followed by dinner and ceremony at 7 p.m. in Nowland Hall. The banquet is open to the public.

Tickets to the Alumni and Friends Banquet are $20 each. They may be purchased through the UMFK Alumni Affairs office, located at the Madawaska House, or by calling Susan Tardie at (207) 834-7557.