The University of Southern Maine (USM) invited members of the community to its annual Gorham Night event on January 29. Al Bean, Director of Athletics at USM, shared that many business leaders, educational leaders and government leaders from the Town as well as USM president Glenn Cummings and members of his administration are in support of the collaboration between the Town and the university, and he hopes to continue to improve upon its success with their help.

Prior to the women’s basketball game against the University of Massachusetts Boston, there was a short program featuring comments from USM and Gorham leadership, as well as Michelle Rowe (GHS ’18), a current USM student and member of the team. Eighth and ninth graders from Gorham Middle School and Gorham High School performed the National Anthem.

The big excitement of the evening came during the halftime of the women’s game when third and fourth grade girls and boys from the Gorham Rec Department basketball program, donning their brightly colored team shirts, played exhibition games in front of the home crowd. The kids could be heard cheering loudly for the USM players as they waited in the tunnel to run out; then they sat patiently on the sidelines to have their color called out so they could rush the floor and show off the skills they have learned this season.

Cindy Hazelton, Gorham Rec Director, said, “I think that the opportunity to bring the Town and USM together on occasion is so very beneficial to both groups.” She added, “Any time we can bring both together only increases the opportunities for our citizens and students/faculty/staff to interact in positive ways.”

Bean said he hopes to continue to work together and to discuss ways the Town and university can continue to enhance each other’s mission and goals. Following the event, he shared that several people approached him and indicated they would like to help grow the event next year. One of the ideas to increase participation is coordinating a GHS varsity hockey game during the event.

While there was a good showing for the night, parking is undeniably an issue for the university. Bean felt that perhaps some who RSVP’d to the event, arrived and couldn’t park so they simply went home. Should they combine USM Gorham Night with a varsity hockey game in the future, parking issues would need to be remedied.

In the end, a good time was had by all, including third grader Keagen Beaulieu from the Royal Blue team. His mother Jess, a teacher at Village School, said he really enjoyed being there but liked being on the court the most.