FARMINGTON—The University of Maine at Farmington has announced that Bangor Savings Bank will continue its foundation support of UMF’s Partnership for Civic Advancement for another three years, with a grant of $45,000.

“We are indeed proud of the considerable accomplishments of the UMF Partnership for Civic Advancement,” said Kathryn A. Foster, UMF president, “and deeply grateful for the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation’s valued support of the community-university partnerships we have formed to take our students beyond our campus and immerse them in learning experiences that address local, regional, state and global issues under the guidance of their faculty and community mentors.”

The goal of UMF’s Partnership for Civic Advancement is to engage students in meaningful community-based activities. These are designed in collaboration with the western Maine community to address community needs and economic and community development priorities, and with students and faculty, to achieve specific learning objectives of the students.

According to Yellow Light Breen, executive vice president and chief strategic officer for Bangor Savings Bank, “The program has been a tremendous success, impacting dozens of community and business organizations throughout the region, in addition to the students and the university, and at the same time has become a signature program in western Maine for Bangor Savings.”

The community-based student internship program is a key component of the partnership by matching the skills and interests of undergraduate student interns and faculty mentors with the needs of small businesses and community organizations. Through these internships, students gain valuable work and life experiences and develop the professional, civic and leadership skills they need, while small businesses and community organizations have access to important resources that help them be successful.