Our 38th annual Culturefest held on Saturday, November 8, 2025, was another success. We had more than 100 participating students represent the culture, food, and traditions of over 30 countries. More than 1,000 people were in attendance from the University and local communities. It was a wonderful celebration of international talent and tradition! Enjoy the by News Center Maine, who captured this special event.

Thank you so much to everyone who showed up, and we look forward to hosting the 39th annual Culturefest event in 2026. We hope to see you there!

In October 2025, the University of Maine’s Office of International Programs had the pleasure of hosting the annual University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) Summit. We welcomed 55 international educators, including USAC’s central office leadership, 18 resident directors from USAC programs around the world, and education abroad colleagues from USAC affiliate universities in the United States. Over two days, participants engaged in dynamic workshops, networking, and discussions that advanced collaboration in international education. It was a great honor for our office to host this vibrant and inspiring event on our campus.

Visit website to learn more about USAC and their amazing programs.

The Special Collections and Projects Department in Fogler Library has added new records from the  to the online archival content management tool . The records include copies of the SHAC constitution, bylaws, and mission statements. There are also SHAC meeting agendas and minutes; funding requests; reports; and promotional material, including event posters, fliers, and newsletters. 

The records also contain posters; photographs; constitutions and bylaws; reports; and meeting material from some of the different multicultural and multi-faith organizations on campus for which SHAC has been an umbrella group. These include the African Student Association; American Indian Student Organization; Asian Student Association, Black Student Union; Capoeira Club; Caribbean Club; Hillel; Muslim Student Association; and Saudi Arabian Students Organization.

Photos: Members of the Latin-American Student Organization (2002–2003) from the SHAC record group

Kannan Sockalingam ’00, ’02G was an involved international student at 91���� while working on his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering. Two decades after graduation, Kannan remains involved with his alma mater by serving on the OIP Advisory Board and through his philanthropy. His friendships from his student days at 91���� remain strong. Last year, he took his younger son for a 91���� visit, visited several of his 91���� friends, cheered at a 91���� men’s ice hockey game, and went ice fishing. 

Kannan and his brother Senthil Sockalingam ’08, ’10G, also a 91���� alum, created the Sockalingam Family Scholarship as a way to say thank you and pay it forward. Kannan shared, “I truly believe that my success in career and family has a lot to do with my time at 91����, learning to be an adult, thousands of miles away from home. I fostered long lasting friendships and mentorships from my time there. I still cherish my time at 91����, and I am in a place in life where I can give back. My guiding questions, if not now, then when? And if it’s not me, then who? This really helped me (with my brother) start an endowed scholarship fund in hopes to give back to the future generations on what we received when we were starting out. Just wanted to say “Thank you.”

If you’d like to join Kannan and Senthil, you can add to their fund at this link: 

Rehearsals for the 2025 International Dance Festival are underway!  The performers are excited to showcase their cultural traditions on stage at the Collins Center for the Arts on February 22 with the usual matinee and evening performances.  This year we  have 14 groups performing, representing 12 countries.   It is amazing to see the progress each group has made in just a few short weeks and to observe the lasting friendships that are forming.  Dedication and collaboration are the hallmarks of this event and the key to its 21 years of success.  If you would like to support this year’s event please visit the .

Along with them came Gbolahan Olayinka who attended 91���� 2017-2018 before going to George Washington University, and Oluwajoba “Joba” Adeyemi who attended 91���� in 2017-2018 before going to Iowa to finish his degree.

Also visiting was Coraly Igiraneza, a 2021 graduate.  While at 91���� she studied Political Science, Sociology and Economics and was an active participant in the International Dance Festival. She is now living and working in the Boston area.

Asif Sharazi also stopped by for a visit.  He completed his PhD in Chemical Engineering in December 2018 and worked in Georgia for a few years before returning to work in Northern Maine a few months ago. We’re so glad to have him back in our great state! We love seeing you, so please stop by and visit soon!

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For Casey Faulkingham of Houlton, it was a chance to live in a bustling European city and to work with children and refugee families from Afghanistan, Russia and Morocco. For Aiko Van Landeghem of Belgium, it was an opportunity to experience campus life and hometown culture in Maine and to understand the universal challenges of homeless teens. For both young women, the Global Work with Immigrant Kids (GWIK) exchange program, offered through the University of Maine School of Social Work with partner schools in North Carolina, Rhode Island, Spain, Denmark and Belgium, has opened the door to personal and academic growth, global travel, deeper commitment to social service, and a network of new friends.