University of Maine at Farmington

History

In March 1863, a Normal School Act passed into law, and that fall, Farmington was chosen from a list of possible locations for a normal school. Founded in 1864 as the state's first publicly funded normal school, the first class graduated from the Western State Normal School in 1866. Over the following hundred years, the school's name would change several times: Northern State Normal School (1878), Farmington State Normal School (1889), Farmington State Teachers College (1945), and Farmington State College (1965).

Farmington State College merged into the University of Maine System in 1968, initially known as the Farmington State College of the University of Maine, before taking on its current name in 1971.

Many early graduates attended the school for its liberal arts offerings alone. Among these were the Stanley brothers, famous for building the Stanley Steamer automobile, and John Frank Stevens, engineer of the Panama Canal. Comedian Bob Marley also graduated with a degree in community health.

In 2016, the University of Maine at Farmington Education Center was named in honor of its longtime president Theodora J. Kalikow, who served from 1994 to 2012. Now called the Theodora J. Kalikow Education Center, the LEED-Silver certified building is home to the UMF College of Education, Health and Rehabilitation.

Athletics

The UMaine Farmington Beavers compete in the NCAA Division III North Atlantic Conference. The school's official colors are maroon, gold, and gray.

UMaine Farmington has 12 NCAA varsity teams, including men's teams in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, and soccer; and women's teams in basketball, cross country, field hockey, soccer, softball, and lacrosse. The university also fields skiing and snowboarding programs that compete through the United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association (USCSA).

In addition to outdoor athletic fields and Dearborn Gymnasium, UMF has a Fitness and Recreation Center that houses a cardio fitness area, a weight room, courts, a walking track, and a 25-yard swimming pool open to students and the community.

Notable alumni

• Sharon H. Abrams, executive director, Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers
• Steve Clifford, professional basketball coach
• Lance Harvell, state legislator
• Jared Golden, United States Representative
• Otis Wells Johnson, Wisconsin state legislator
• H. Scott Landry (born 1948 or 1949), Maine state legislator
• Sam Leal, college basketball coach
• Bob Marley, comedian
• David Miramant, Maine state legislator
• Francis Edgar Stanley, inventor of the Stanley Steamer
• Freelan Oscar Stanley, inventor of the Stanley Steamer and builder of the Stanley Hotel
• John Frank Stevens, designer of the Panama Canal
• Charlotte Warren, Maine state legislator and former mayor of Hallowell, Maine
• Alexander Willette, Maine state legislator
• Chandler Woodcock, politician

References

References

1. "A History of Leadership". mantorlib.mainememory.net.
2. "University of Maine at Farmington".
3. (28 September 2014). "University of Maine at Farmington celebrates 150 years of excellence". Portland Press Herald.
4. "University of Maine System – Farmington".
5. (11 April 2016). "Farmington college adds geothermal energy system". Bangor Daily News.
6. (29 August 2023). "UMF president Joseph McDonnell outlines new initiatives". Sun Journal.
7. (21 September 2019). "Fitness & Recreation Center remains vital to campus and town". Portland Press Herald.