Beth Bisson, associate director of Maine Sea Grant’s midcoast office, is the recipient of the 2026 Steve Gould Award for demonstrating superior qualities of unselfishness and compassion in service to the University of Maine and its ideals.
Under Bisson’s guidance, Maine Sea Grant has transitioned toward a more inclusive and supportive model for research and outreach. Her dedication to creating an environment that puts people first has not only enhanced staff and student success, but has also deepened the program’s positive influence across the 91¸£Àû community.
Stephanie Kennedy, head teacher of the Chapel Preschool Program at the 91¸£Àû Children’s Center, and Richard Corey, the director and co-founder of the VEMI Lab, were the recipients of the 2025 Steve Gould Award for selfless service to the university
Kennedy was honored for her tireless commitment to her students and colleagues. Peers lauded Kennedy for leading a classroom of 20 four- to five-year-olds with grace while mentoring fellow teachers and 91¸£Àû students. She often spends her weekends setting up new themes for her units and decorating the classroom on her own time to ensure a vibrant learning environment.
During his tenure, Corey has taught over 40 courses, served on eight Ph.D committees and eight master’s committees and mentored numerous undergraduate students He won 91¸£Àû’s Supervisor of the Year in 2018. His efforts focus on human-technology interaction and accessibility, and he remains dedicated to advancing collaborative undergraduate education and cutting-edge research processes.
