Dr. Dora Anne Mills, who grew up in Farmington, stands with her son, Anthony Fiori, and his father, Michael Fiori, as freshmen are welcomed to the University of Maine at Farmington on Friday.

Ginny Wilson of Oxford attends welcoming ceremonies for freshmen at the University of Maine at Farmington on Friday. Her granddaughter, Caitlyn Lord, is starting her first year at the university.

FARMINGTON — It was the first day for 567 students entering the University of Maine at Farmington on Friday.

After moving boxes bulging with necessary belongings, students and their families gathered in Dearborn Gymnasium for a traditional matriculation ceremony.

Matriculation is from the Latin word meaning list, UMF President Kathryn A. Foster told the Class of 2021. “Here, it means you are registered onto campus and added to the list,” she said. 

Jared Cash, vice president for enrollment, said the 448 freshmen and 119 transfer students includes 19 from Spruce Mountain High School in Jay, 16 from Mt. Blue in Farmington, 16 from Leavitt Area High School in Turner and 14 from Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in Paris.

Others came from Tanzania and France, Texas, Colorado, California and Georgia, and every New England state.

“Six of you share a birth date and the same last name with another classmate,” he said. “There are three sets of twins in the Class of 2021 at UMF.”

The new students count among 1,850 undergraduates, Cash said. Adding graduate students, this year’s total count is 2,000 students.

An Academic Convocation ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. Monday prior to classes starting at 1:10 p.m.

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Bagpipers Dan Mason, left, a senior at the University of Maine at Farmington, and Robert Underwood lead students during opening ceremonies for freshmen at the University of Maine at Farmington on Friday. F. Celeste Branham, vice president for student and community services, left, and UMF President Kathryn A. Foster follow the bagpipers.

Bagpipers Dan Mason, left, a senior at the University of Maine at Farmington, and Robert Underwood lead students during opening ceremonies at the University of Maine at Farmington on Friday. Following them are F. Celeste Branham, vice president for student and community services, and UMF President Kathryn A. Foster.

The Class of 2021 at the University of Maine at Farmington was formally welcomed to the campus Friday. Each freshman held a maroon cord to be worn at graduation.

A first-year student poses for a photo Friday as members of the Class of 2021 were officially welcomed to the campus.

First-year students move into dorms at the University of Maine at Farmington on Friday.

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