Must-Know UNE Traditions

Fun fact: there are currently six awesome alumni working in our Undergraduate Admissions office. How cool is that?

What better way to get to know UNE than from the experts themselves. So, we asked them…

What’s your favorite tradition at UNE?

Here’s what a few of them had to say:

Teddy Bear Toss

“The best tradition is the Teddy Bear Toss. It has without question been the single biggest sporting event for students, even rivaling the football games. The Teddy Bear Toss allows students, friends and families to have a little extra fun during a UNE hockey game by throwing stuffed animals on the ice when the Nor’easters score their first goal. The stuffed animals are then picked up and donated to the United Way of York County. It’s a great night for an even better cause.”

— Seth Semmelrock
B.S. Business Administration, ’19

Thanksgiving Dinner

“My overall favorite is the Thanksgiving dinner, just before Thanksgiving break every year. I think it really adds to the community feel that is already present on campus and can really bring people together during that time of year. The dining hall staff does a great job going above and beyond your everyday turkey dinner. Faculty and staff members (and sometimes their kids!) serve desserts and drinks right to students’ tables. The dinner is more wholesome because of this and it always made me appreciate the extra effort everyone puts in to the event. It made me more thankful to be a part of the UNE community.”

— Andrew Winston
B.S. Biological Sciences, ’19

“My favorite tradition we have here at UNE is our annual Thanksgiving dinner. Every year, right before the holidays, UNE’s faculty and staff come together to serve the students a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Students look forward to this event every year because it brings the UNE family together before heading home to their families for break. Also, the pies deserve an honorable mention… gotta love that chocolate cream pie!”

— Kate St. Peter
B.S. Environmental Science, ’14
M.S.Ed Educational Leadership, ’17

Orientations and Outdoor Adventures

“As a student orientation leader, I loved welcoming the incoming first-year class every summer. Watching the students connect and make friends and memories was the best part… besides the awesome dance party on the last night! I also loved being a trailblazer orientation leader. I was able to go sea kayaking, backpacking in the White Mountains, and sailing on the Saco River. It was so easy to bond with incoming students when everyone was outside of their comfort zone.”

“My friends and I even made traditions of our own. We enjoyed weekly trips to Aroma Joe’s, going for drives along the coast and checking out natural preserves in the area. My favorite off-campus location is Timber Point where you can walk out to an island during low tide. I also loved going down to Freddy Beach in August to watch the bioluminescence in the water and sand. I would run along the wet sand and see my footprints light up at night.”

— Trevor Faulkner
B.S. Environmental Science, ‘17

Events, Reunions and More

“During my first year at UNE, I met my friend Chris, who has turned into one of my closest friends through our passion for music. We started to perform together on campus at Open Mic Nights. Seven years later, we now perform at local cafes and restaurants in the greater Portland area.”

“I then applied for a student employment position on a whim without much knowledge of the position. After one year in the position, I was promoted to the Event Production Team Manager. I quickly developed a passion and excitement for the organized chaos of event planning and execution. Each year I looked forward to supporting the planning efforts of our largest student events. The most rewarding moments came after the events began. It was refreshing to always take a step back and simply observe the excitement and joy that was cultivated in those who attended.”

“From partaking in traditions as a student, to planning events for students, to supporting our prospective and current students as a staff member, planning Homecoming and Reunion Weekends completes the metaphorical circle of my UNE experience. Welcoming recent and past alumni to campus creates moments engulfed by nostalgia as alumni reconnect with peers and immerse themselves on campus.”

— Joshua Carbonell
B.A. Psychology, ’17

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