Press Release

University of Maine at Farmington Student Katharine Gergosian Named 2007-08 George J. Mitchell Peace Scholar

FARMINGTON, MAINE (August 16, 2007)--Katharine Gergosian, a junior from the
University of Maine at Farmington, will study in Ireland this fall as the
2007-08 George J. Mitchell Peace Scholar. This is the fourth consecutive
year that a UMF student has been selected for a George J. Mitchell Peace
Scholarship.

This prestigious award was created in 1998 in tribute to former U.S.
Senator George J. Mitchell for his work in helping to facilitate a peace
accord between Ireland and Northern Ireland and his lifelong devotion and
commitment to public service. Both the University of Maine System and the
Maine Community College System award either one full scholarship or two
one-semester scholarships each year.

After a competitive process, Gergosian, a native of Topsham, was selected
based upon her strong academic ability, commitment to community service,
and exceptional leadership skills. As a recipient of the scholarship, she
will attend University College Cork, Ireland, for one semester, where
academic fees will be waived and she will receive free tuition, room and
board, and a $1,000 travel stipend.

At UMF, Gergosian majors in secondary English education. She has been
active in the new student orientation program, has mentored youth in the
community and was involved in the study of the campus tobacco policy. She
is a member of the UMF Modern Dance Company and is employed as both a
residence hall assistant and a security assistant in the Office of Public
Safety. She is currently working in the UMF Office of Admission.

According to Gergosian, an appreciation of leadership skills and community
involvement came naturally to her, since her parents, Jim Hoover and Jo Ann
Gergosian, were active in their town ever since she can remember. "Through
their example, my parents taught me true power is grounded in respect and
humility with strong ideals and knowledge. It comes from bringing together
people from different backgrounds to create intelligent dialogue that
results in profound consensus and resolution. It is simply talking with
compassion, rather than pushing your point of conviction," observed Gergosian.

UMF has been a perfect fit for Gergosian and her personal philosophy of
making a difference. "At orientation my first year, I was inspired by
President Kalikow's opening speech. She encouraged us to get into the
rhythm and get involved," said Gergosian. "There are so many leadership
opportunities at UMF. This college really gives you the framework you need
to succeed."

One of Gergosian's UMF Public Safety supervisors and co-workers, Jill
Orcutt, described her in a letter of recommendation. "Katie Rose exhibits,
though her life, all the qualities of a genuine leader, including honesty
and integrity, and she does it with a humble, grateful attitude. Her
maturity and scholarship have shown us that she will be an excellent
representative and ambassador for the University of Maine at Farmington and
the University of Maine System."

Gergosian's career goal, after graduating from UMF in 2009, is to teach
secondary English in Maine.

About Former U.S. Senator George J. Mitchell

At the request of the British and Irish governments, Maine native and
former U.S. Senator George J. Mitchell served as chairman of the
International Commission on Disarmament in Northern Ireland. He later
served as chairman of the Peace Talks in Northern Ireland, which led to the
adoption of the peace accord in May 1998.

George J. Mitchell was born in Waterville, Maine, and earned his bachelor's
degree from Bowdoin College. He later served as an officer in the U.S. Army
Counter Intelligence Corps and earned a law degree from Georgetown
University. He worked as a lawyer, served as U.S. attorney for Maine in
1977, became a U.S. district court judge and was appointed to the U.S.
Senate in 1980, eventually becoming senate majority leader. He retired from
the Senate in 1995. During his 14-year career in the Senate, he championed
major legislation, including the first significant acid rain bill,
reauthorization of the Clean Air Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act,
Superfund toxic cleanup legislation, campaign finance reform and universal
health care. He also served on the joint congressional committee to
investigate the Iran-Contra Affair in 1987.

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For more information, please contact UMF Dean of the College of Arts and
Sciences Robert Lively at 207-778-7431, or lively@maine.edu.


EDITOR'S NOTE: You will find photo at
http://www.umf.maine.edu/campus/docs/RP067-053.jpg

Photo Credit: UMF photo

Photo Caption:
Katharine Gergosian receives George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship from UMF
President Theodora J. Kalikow.