FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington kicks off its yearlong 150th anniversary celebration with a Charter Day commemoration Wednesday, Oct. 9.

The festivities are free and open to the public and are in observance of the 1863 signing of the university’s charter by the Maine Legislature, making UMF the first public institution of higher education in Maine.

“We are so excited to invite the public to join us for this remarkable celebration of UMF and the path it’s forged for public higher education in Maine,” said Kathryn A. Foster, UMF president. “UMF has served as a model of academic excellence, student success and strong town-gown relations for 150 years. It is such an honor to be sharing this moment in our history with the campus, the community and the State of Maine.”

The day’s events will begin with a 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting at Rollo Pond in Abbott Park on the UMF campus. Foster will speak on the valuable partnership between UMF and Farmington while unveiling a student community service project that recently revitalized the widely used campus and community space.

At 11:35 a.m., the church bells of Farmington’s “Old South” First Congregational Church and Henderson Memorial Baptist Church will call students, faculty, staff and community members to the 11:45 a.m. Charter Day ceremony. There, Foster will be joined by local and state dignitaries on the front steps of Merrill Hall. Craig Larrabee, UMF Class of 1992 and CEO of Jobs for Maine’s Graduates, will serve as master of ceremonies.

Held 150 years to the day since the original charter was signed, the commemorative event will feature remarks by honorable dignitaries,  including Gov. Paul LePage; Carlene Tremblay, state office representative for U.S. Sen. Susan Collins; state Sen. Tom Saviello; Ryan Low, UMF Class of 1997 and University of Maine System executive director of governmental and external affairs; Paul Mills, Farmington attorney and local historian; and Gerald Cayer, UMF Class of 1985 and executive vice president of the Franklin Community Health Network.

Immediately following the ceremony, the public is invited to a campus and community picnic lunch at the Emery Community Arts Center. Later that afternoon, the UMF Class of 2014 will commemorate the 150th anniversary by burying of a time capsule on the lawn of Merrill Hall, the site of the original Farmington State Normal School.

A reception filled with vibrant art and performances will begin at 5 p.m. at the UMF Art Gallery and the Emery Community Arts Center. About Then, the title of the UMF Art Gallery exhibit, portrays the 150-year history of UMF through photographs, artifacts, video, sound and performance. It is curated by Sarah Maline, UMF associate professor of art.

About Now, an exhibit in the Emery Community Arts Center, features works by UMF alumni, students and projects by current classes in a variety of mediums. Curated by Kate Randall, UMF associate professor of art, this exhibit presents diverse interpretations of the show’s three themes, exploring such subjects as relationships in the UMF community, the progress of women’s equality in the world and rural poverty.

Appetizers and beverages will be served.

For more information on UMF’s 150th anniversary celebration and event details, please visit UMF’s sesquicentennial website at 150.umf.maine.edu/

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