FARMINGTON — Elizabeth Glidden of Palermo is celebrating her graduation from the University of Maine at Farmington with a haircut. She plans to give nearly 12 inches of her waist-length locks to help chronically ill children.

“I have it, so why not,” she said. “It’s going for something good.”

Her donation will go to Locks of Love. The nonprofit organization provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis, according to its website.

Glidden, a secondary-education major in social studies student, taught at Mt. Blue High School and Mt. Blue Middle School in Farmington this year. She said, “Students struggle with self-image.” It’s even harder for a child who’s suffering an illness and lost their hair, she said.

This isn’t the first time she’s donated her hair to others. When she graduated from eighth grade and four years later after high school graduation, 10 inches were cut and sent to the national organization.

“This is a simple thing that I can do that can make a big difference in a child’s life and how they feel about themselves,” Glidden said.

For Glidden, the haircut represents a fresh start following a significant time in her life.

As for her experience at UMF, “I love it. Farmington is a nice place to call home for four years.”

Along with her studies, she has served in the student senate for four years and as a student ambassador and orientation staff member.

“It’s the people,” she said she’ll miss the most as she and nearly 400 students graduate this year.

[email protected]