Mitchell Scholar Alumni: Events & Projects
Mitchell Institute Alumni Council Holds
Third Annual Professional Development Day
Mitchell Institute Alumni Council held its Third Annual MILE II: Personal & Professional Development Day, on Saturday, February 28, 2009. Unum hosted and supported the event that was designed to bring Maine businesses and community leaders together with Mitchell Scholars and Alumni. MILE II: Personal & Professional Development Day was created, organized and planned by the Alumni Council to help Scholars and Alumni gain knowledge about establishing a professional life in Maine, concrete tools for shaping life decisions, information about Maine industries, and awareness of non-traditional professional choices. It is supported by the generosity of Unum.
MILE II 2009 opened with a morning keynote from Joseph Foley, the Senior VP & Chief Marketing Officer for Unum. Mr. Foley discussed the impact of our country's economic situation on job prospects and job searching, reminding the crowd that "you will get a job" and giving tips for standing out from the crowd.
The day continued with a panel discussion involving seven accomplished professionals from various fields, including technology, healthcare, engineering, law, politics, education, and the trades. Each individual spoke about their career pathway, their industry in Maine and gave helpful tips on gaining employment. Four of the seven panelists were Mitchell Scholar Alumni.
The time after lunch was spent in break-out groups, wrestling with issues such as personal finances, starting your own business, joining the workforce in an uncertain economy, and how the Mitchell Institute can be helpful to its Scholars and Alumni as they make their way into their professional lives.
The day closed with an afternoon keynote from Matt Jacobson of Maine & Company, who spoke about the economy in Maine and the United States, and how Maine can better position itself for future prosperity by working with its greatest natural assets and making sure it has educated individuals ready to fill the jobs created.
The day has become an annual event for the Mitchell Institute Alumni Council. MILE II: Personal and Professional Development Day showed the scholars and alumni the wonderful opportunities in Maine and helped focus Mitchell Scholars and Alumni on what Maine has to offer them. The Mitchell Institute Alumni Council is truly grateful to Unum for their assistance in producing a successful event and for their continued support.
To see the agenda of the 2009 event, including a full speaker's list, please visit www.mitchellinstitute.org/pdfs/MILE-II-2009-Agenda.pdf.
Other Alumni Council Projects
- The Mitchell Institute Alumni Council (MIAC) is involved in many programs that support Mitchell Scholars and Alumni, as well as community service projects that involve Alumni in the broader communities of Maine. The past year has marked enormous developments within MIAC. We hosted our first Personal and Professional Development Day (also known as MILE II), which was sponsored by Unum. This program has become an annual event for junior and senior Mitchell Scholars and Alumni. 2007 was also the first year of the Alumni Council Award Program (ACAP), which offers financial assistance to Scholars and Alumni for personal and professional opportunities. Applications are available by contacting Patty Higgins at phiggins@mitchellinstitute.org. The Council has participated in several fundraising efforts on behalf of the Mitchell Institute, and regularly takes part in Read for ME, a volunteer program that encourages kindergarteners to become lifelong readers.
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The Alumni Fund was established in the summer of 2006. It was created in response to Scholars' and Alumni's desires to apply for grants from the Mitchell Institute for projects not currently covered by the Institute's programs and scholarship awards. Such projects could include: application fees for graduate school testing, study abroad opportunities, conference fees, and many more. If you are willing and able to donate money to the Fund, please do so through the Mitchell Institute's secure website, which is accessible at www.mitchellinstitute.org/donate.html.