Kelly,
You have established a legacy of excellence with the UBMS and you have made that program what it is today! Best wishes for all your future endeavors :)
- Rusty

Rusty R. Brown, M.Ed., NCC
Director
TRiO Student Support Services Program
123 Maine Hall
207.974.4866
354 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 04401


-----Original Message-----
From: - MEEOA-L - Maine Educational Opportunity Association members communication [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kelly Ilseman
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2017 1:56 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: happy trails

Good Morning MEEOA,


It is with bittersweet emotions that I let you know I have decided to attend acupuncture and herbal medicine school in Portland, Oregon, starting in September!


I’m fully grateful for my time with and connection to the University of Maine Upward Bound Math Science Program, and to the students and staff who have been a part of it over the years, and to the TRIO community. You have all been my home since 2001. Each of you has served as a huge inspiration to me, and it has been a pleasure and a gift to work with every single one of you. Each student and staff member who came to the program back in the days of regional UBMS from all over New England and now from our 8 schools in Maine, have desired to learn, to grow personally, to create the foundations for their academic futures, and to shape their personal paths and professional visions – seeing and knowing these things within them and also within you has given me confidence, encouragement, and inspiration.
Watching students undertake advanced research projects fueled by their own interests, literally creating the reality they want to exist for themselves, has shown me that I can do the same. I have been so inspired by you all, have been so grateful for you all to share your life journeys with me in close confidence. Your passions for self-growth, discovery, and actualization are mine as well, your aspirations and your successes embolden me and give me strength, direction, and satisfaction. I feel your struggles too. I admire all of you every day and will continue to have hope for your best realizations my heart.


UBMS has been the most tremendous personal and professional growth experience I could ever have hoped for and I will always gather inspirational energy from my TRIO family. I have learned as much as any student from being part of the program. There is always more work to be done, and it is beyond hard to sever ties and to discontinue projects for which I still have great passion and energy. But I know that others will continue these with new vision and creativity. I thank you TRIO family for the 17 years of my life I have spent with you. I will forever hold TRIO and all of you dear to my heart, forever be a resource to you, a help to you if needed, always willing to write a recommendation letter, or to provide humble life coaching direction if I might, and will always, always love to hear where you are, what you are doing, and how you are doing. I want to you know this sincerely. Your journeys have been my delight; it has been my honor and pleasure to take part in them.


In many ways, I am not leaving, but simply building and growing on the strong foundation you have given me. I will always continue to believe in the educational and social justice work that you are all doing. Our inherent belief in the value, worth, and potential for growth in every individual are one and the same. The challenges tha arise to prevent access to educational opportunity are still mine to rally for alongside you everyone has equal access to the things they need. Activism and educational opportunity will always be at the center of what I hold dear and I will raise my voice and offer my support for TRIO for ever.


So, it is with love, sadness, and utmost gratefulness that I embark on my new journey. It’s time for me to take on new challenges! I am seeking the next adventure of my education, studying Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. This degree, Master’s of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAcOM), will afford me opportunities to move more fully into education, health, and healing. It will also allow me to be involved with some incredibly valuable cutting edge medical research and community outreach. It is a very exciting time to be involved with this medicine as east now truly meets west, and the integration and acceptance of both modalities gains traction at a fast pace.


Leaving the gorgeous state of Maine, and all it’s beautiful, lovely, creative people - all of you, and my profession, feels as scary as the first day of nursery school. When I think ahead to September, it seems foreign to think of being anywhere but in Maine. There is so much yet to unfold, but I'm looking forward to the new connections that I will make, trusting in the direction this path is leading. I am truly and always will be a lifelong learner seeking adventures in the spirit of the 2016 UBMS
theme: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Dream.
Explore. Discover."


In love and gratitude,
Kelly




--------------------
Kelly Ann Ilseman
Upward Bound Math/Science Program
Assistant Director/Academic Curriculum Coordinator/Academic Counselor

Best ways to reach me:
call or text: 617.784.2320
kelly.ilseman@m <[log in to unmask]>*aine.edu <http://aine.edu>*

other ways to reach me:
800.581.2522
207.581.3720
fax: 207.581.2710

snail mail:
University of Maine
Upward Bound Math/Science Program
5713 Chadbourne Hall, Rm 224
Orono, ME 04469-5713

http://umaine.edu/ub/


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