FARMINGTON – University of Maine Farmington student Misty Marston of West Farmington, was chosen to present on a panel at a national rehabilitation education conference held recently in Washington, D.C.

Marston, along with six other UMF Rehabilitation Services students, accompanied Associate Professor Karen Barrett to the annual meeting in D.C., which featured three key national rehabilitation organizations: the Rehabilitation Services Administration, the National Council on Rehabilitation Education, and the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Conference organizers were so impressed with the UMF students’ professionalism, they specifically requested that one of the undergraduates join the panel presentation. A senior majoring in Rehabilitation Services, Marston was the only undergraduate college student asked to join the panel. She spoke to a national group of 250 educators, government officials and state administrators about her personal reflections on choosing a career in rehabilitation.

Other students from the UMF Rehabilitation Services program, many of whom were offered full scholarships for their graduate study in the field, attended the conference to network with representatives from graduate schools from all over the country. Those attending from UMF included: Brandon Fuentes and Katherine Kemp of Farmington, Amy Hoisington of South Paris, Tabitha Jackson of Waldoboro, Angela McInnis of Rumford and Emily Reinholt of Cornville.

The conference is designed to offer opportunities for federal grantors, educators and state administrators to collaborate on issues of importance, including discretionary grants for long-term training in the field or rehabilitation.

UMaine Farmington students in many fields of study regularly accompany their professors to national and regional professional conferences, gaining insight into their chosen academic area and making professional contacts.

“The fact that the conference organizers requested Misty to participate doesn’t surprise me,” said Barrett. “She’s a wonderful student – bright, articulate and passionate about the field of rehabilitation services.”

For more information about the conference, contact Barrett at 778-7111.