Nominations are now open for student Rising Scholars

Begun in 2011, Rising Scholars are recognized at Convocation for both academic achievement and promise.

In lieu of the traditional Convocation event in 2025, we will be hosting Convocation as the Ceremonial Kickoff to the Academic Year as part of the Kickoff to UMA’s 60th Year program on September 12th, 2025.

Faculty are strongly encouraged to nominate up to two students as Rising Scholars. Staff are also invited to nominate students for the academic honor.

Rising Scholars nominated and selected in previous years will be invited to the event as Returning Rising Scholars. These Rising Scholars will be seated in a special section and recognized as a group during the program.

Rising Scholars nominated and selected this year will join the faculty in the Processional, and will be recognized individually during the event program.

View other tabs above for more information on the Rising Scholar program and how to nominate a student.

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Rising Scholars is an initiative that began in 2011 as a means to:

  • Recognize at Convocation both student achievement and student promise/potential;
  • Better engage students at Convocation;
  • Reinforce mentoring relationships between faculty and students;
  • Create another gateway for students to consider applying for the Honors Program.
  • Complete the Nomination Form.
  • The deadline for nominations is September 7th. However, the sooner nominations are made the smoother the communication process with Rising Scholars will be.
  • To nominate a student as a Rising Scholar, you must be either a full-time or part-time faculty member, or a member of the UMA staff.
  • The criteria for nominating a Rising Scholar is deliberately broad, enabling you to choose up to two students who, in your opinion, have either excelled in or out of the classroom, or whom you believe show great potential and promise as student scholars.
    • Student must have completed one semester at UMA (full-time or part-time, even if just one semester-long course).
    • Student must be enrolled at UMA for Fall 2025.
    • Student may not have graduated as of Fall 2025.
  • Nominees will be approved for selection as a Rising Scholar pending a Registrar review to ensure the nominee is a student in good standing.
  • Any students nominated by you and approved by the Registrar will be formally notified by the Convocation Committee that they were selected as a Rising Scholar. These students will also be notified that they were specifically nominated by you, and that they will be attending Convocation as your special guest.
  • Faculty members are strongly encouraged to nominate up to two Rising Scholars. You will be notified if any students you nominate have already been nominated by another faculty member.
  • Because nominated Rising Scholars will be notified that they are attending Convocation as your special guest, there is an expectation that you will attend.
  • Staff, especially those who work directly with students in the areas of advising and academic support, may also nominate up to two students as Rising Scholars. You will be notified if any students you nominate have already been nominated.
  • While we recognize that students shine in many areas, we ask that staff keep in mind the academic focus of the Rising Scholar honor as they consider nominating a student.
  • Because nominated Rising Scholars will be notified that they are attending Convocation as your special guest, there is an expectation that you will attend.
  • Returning Rising Scholars (those selected in previous years) will be seated in a special section and recognized as a group during the Convocation program.
  • Rising Scholars nominated and selected this year will be recognized by name during the program, with the added distinction of joining faculty in the processional.

If you have further questions about Rising Scholars or the nomination process, please contact Carolyn Anderson at carolyn.anderson@maine.edu.