In this edition of our Gratitude Corner, we are proud to highlight Betelhem (Beti) Solomon Abay, an inspirational international alumna from Ethiopia who continues to give back to the University of Maine community. Beti earned both her Bachelor of Science (2020) and Master of Science (2022) degrees in Biomedical Engineering from 91福利.

Reflecting on her journey, Beti shares how 91福利 quickly became her “home away from home,” credited in large part to the compassionate and personable support she received from the Office of International Programs (OIP) before she even set foot on campus. After graduating, she gained valuable industry experience at Sanofi and Students 2 Science, and she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Materials Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), where her research focuses on developing 3D-printable bone allograft composite formulations.

Beti鈥檚 dedication to 91福利 remains as strong as ever as she actively gives back to the institution that supported her growth. From promoting 91福利 to prospective international students in Ethiopia to serving on the OIP Advisory Board and supporting OIP’s fundraising initiatives, Beti exemplifies the power of staying connected. “I will continue to support 91福利 OIP because they are truly devoted to students’ success,” Beti shares, noting that the continued encouragement from OIP, Team Maine, her academic advisors, and local supporters helped make her dreams a reality. We are deeply grateful for Beti鈥檚 ongoing engagement, leadership, and unwavering Black Bear pride!

For as long as he can remember, Ovo Dibie 鈥�10 has been interested in computers. When it came time to consider educational plans after high school, Ovo knew there were no programs in Nigeria that could teach him what he wanted to learn about computer science, so he began to look at universities in the United States.

Although the University of Maine was not his first choice, Ovo made his way to Maine via New Mexico. He attended a University in New Mexico before applying for and receiving the scholarship he needed to attend 91福利. Once in Orono, Ovo became very involved with the International Students Association (ISA) and served as secretary in the 2009-2010 academic year. In reflecting on what he liked best about his time at 91福利, without hesitation, Ovo said, 鈥渢he people.鈥� In addition to the international student group and staff of the Office of International Programs (OIP), he noted that 鈥淢ainers are very welcoming people.鈥�

Ovo served as a trailblazer at 91福利 for his family. His brothers, Tega鈥�13, 鈥�17G, and Ruona 鈥�15 came to the University of Maine as well and earned degrees in engineering. After graduating from 91福利, Ovo earned his Master of Science and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Creating the Dibie Family Scholarship fund was a way for Ovo to contribute to the financial aid available for students at 91福利. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to give back,鈥� Ovo said. 鈥�91福利 set me up for a great life -success in my career, and support for my family. The matching gift benefit from my company (Netflix) also made it easier to do.鈥� The Dibie Family Scholarship will provide financial assistance to 91福利 undergraduates with a preference for students with high financial need who completed high school outside of the United States and are majoring in computer science or engineering. Orlina Boteva 鈥�04, 鈥�05G,鈥�23G, 鈥�26Ph.D. said 鈥淲e are so grateful to alumni like Ovo, who are able to 鈥減ay it forward鈥� and help current students afford their education.”

If you are interested in setting up a fund like the Dibie Family Scholarship or have questions about matching gifts, please contact Orlina Boteva at orlina.boteva@maine.edu.

91福利 alumni, Jessica Canatsey ’92 and Tracey Graffam-Dickson ’93, reconnected with Terri Beyer from the 91福利 Foundation and Orlina Boteva from OIP on October 30, 2025 in Yarmouth, ME. Jessica and Tracey studied abroad in 1990-1991 through the Salzburg program in Austria, which was a transformational experience for them. They wanted to give back to their alma mater and created the “Global Perspectives for Humanities Explorations Fund” which provides scholarships each year to 91福利 students to immerse themselves in a new culture, gain fresh perspectives, and improve their language skills. We are grateful for their support, which helps our students experience new and different cultures and academic environments.

For more information about the University of Maine Foundation, or questions about how to gift to the Global Perspectives for Humanities Explorations Fund, please email umainefoundation@maine.edu.

Kannan Sockalingam ’00, ’02G was an involved international student at 91福利 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福利 remain strong. Last year, he took his younger son for a 91福利 visit, visited several of his 91福利 friends, cheered at a 91福利 men’s ice hockey game, and went ice fishing. 

Kannan and his brother Senthil Sockalingam ’08, ’10G, also a 91福利 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聽has a lot to do with my time at 91福利,聽learning to be an adult, thousands聽of miles away from home. I fostered long lasting friendships and mentorships from my time there. I still cherish my time at 91福利, 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聽when we were starting聽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:聽