FARMINGTON – University of Maine at Farmington President Theodora J. Kalikow announced Wednesday that Richard T. and Judith F. Bjorn of Farmington have made a $300,000 leadership gift to the Education Matters! Campaign for the new UMF Education Center.

“We believe that every child deserves a well-prepared teacher,” Richard Bjorn said. “Because UMF is a nationally recognized leader in teacher education for Maine, we are pleased to help make the new UMF Education Center project a reality.”

The project came into being when Maine taxpayers voted to support a $36.7 million bond package for a number of University of Maine System projects, of which UMF will receive $4.8 million for the construction of the Education Center. The remaining $3.2 million required to fund the project will come from contributions given by alumni, the community, and various foundations.

With the Bjorns’ gift, the campaign for the new Education Center surpassed the $2.45 million milestone. “This was the largest single donor gift we’ve received for this project,” said Tom Donaghue, the university’s director of public information.

In addition to this week’s gift, the Bjorns have supported many projects in the Farmington community through the years. According to a UMF prepared statement, they have provided computers for elementary schools, encouraged new businesses to relocate to Farmington, and supported the UMF Health & Fitness Center and the joint campaign for the Farmington and UMF libraries.

The Bjorns have “always stepped up for the town of Farmington and for the university. They’ve always been there for us, and we are very appreciative,” said Donaghue.

Richard Bjorn manages Kyes Insurance Agency of Farmington. Judy Bjorn, a Farmington native, served as secretary to the principal at Farmington’s Mt. Blue High School for 21 years.

“The Bjorns’ generosity demonstrates their commitment to education and to the strong partnership between the Farmington community and UMF,” Kalikow said. The new center is touted as a place where community classroom teachers, UMF students and faculty, and parents of area school children can meet to share and learn.

A “distance learning classroom” will have the transmitting and receiving technology to allow UMF faculty to share “best practices” with others. New, improved UMF classroom space will help the Western Maine Partnership offer continuing education programs here.

Everyone’s Resource Depot will have new quarters, too, a larger space to accommodate the groups of school children and their teachers who frequently want to come and visit.

When completed at the corner of High Street and Lincoln Street, the building will be the second-largest structure on the Farmington campus. It was designed by PDT Architects of Portland. The center will be one of the first buildings in Maine to earn the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The environmentally friendly “green” design should provide significant savings in operating costs. For more information about the campaign or the new center, phone Mary Sylvester, UMF director of development and alumni services, at 778-7509.