Celebrating the Stats and Stories of Another Successful Year
As 2024 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on a remarkable year — 365 days shaped by our community’s passion, creativity, and dedication to making the world a brighter, healthier place. Together, we’ve celebrated milestones, tackled challenges, and shared stories that inspire.
Here, we highlight the moments that brought UNE, and its people, into the spotlight. From local collaborations to global achievements, these aren’t just UNE’s successes — they’re yours.
Let’s revisit the stories and accomplishments that made 2024 a year to remember.
228 Stories Published to 鶹ýNews
Our Writers’ 3 Favorite Stories of the Year:
5,000+ Mentions in Global News Media
The 鶹ý was included in over 5,000 pieces of news media in 2024, from small, local publications run by a single person to some of the country’s largest newsrooms.
Notable Placements Include:
Dozens of Quotable Moments from our Faculty
Our faculty are regularly tapped by news media for their leading expertise in the areas of health and medicine, business, marine, environmental, and biomedical sciences, and the humanities, leading to representation in some of the nation’s most recognizable papers and online publications.
Some From Our Top Placements:
2 Million Views across Instagram and TikTok
Nor’easters love to scroll, and in doing so watched record amounts of video content this year. They also embraced UNE’s new TikTok account, which launched in January and has amassed over 75 videos.
Here are 5 of Your Favorites:
27,350 Issues of the 鶹ýMagazine Printed
Research: For the Health of Our World
The 2024 edition of the 鶹ýMagazine showcases UNE's emergence as a research powerhouse through the eyes of faculty researchers, students, and administrators whose innovative, strategic work embodies the University's commitment to improving the health of people, communities, and our natural world.
10 years among the nation's best colleges and universities ...
鶹ýhas been named to The Princeton Review’s annual book, “The Best 390 Colleges,” for . The company commended 鶹ýfor creating a supportive and collaborative environment for students through small class sizes, internships, and opportunities to participate in impactful research with professors who are experts in their field. Our locations — on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean — also received a shout-out.
... And 10 years of Moroccan exchange
In October, 鶹ýcelebrated the 10th anniversary of its Tangier Campus in Morocco with a special ceremony commemorating a decade of global education. Since its opening in the spring of 2014, the Tangier Campus has welcomed 745 students, including 591 undergraduates.
321.6 Kilowatts of Solar Power
In April, 鶹ýcelebrated a new, 321.6-kilowatt solar array atop the Harold Alfond Forum, marking the construction of UNE's fourth solar installation and the third installed on the Biddeford Campus. The development builds upon the University’s national reputation as a leader in sustainability — in October, The Princeton Review named UNE one of the nation’s most environmentally responsible colleges for the eighth year in a row.
panels, our largest investment in renewable energy to date.
kilowatt-hours generated annually, enough to power 32 area homes.
metric tons of carbon dioxide that the array will offset each year.
14,000 Baby Lobsters Hatched
鶹ýlaunched a novel research initiative in January to better understand the genetic reasons behind why some lobsters turn orange, yellow, blue, and even purple. This fall, the University’s Arthur P. Girard Marine Science Center became a nursery for thousands of lobster larvae that are now being raised and studied by faculty and student researchers using non-invasive, non-harmful methods.
Photos courtesy of Markus Frederich
The larvae were hatched from UNE’s famed orange lobster, Peaches, as well a normal-colored lobster aptly named Norma. They are currently being raised by UNE’s Markus Frederich, Ph.D., an invertebrate physiologist, and marine sciences student Ruby Motulsky ’25, who received $5,000 from the Bioscience Association of Maine to fund their studies. Learn more about this novel DNA research happening at UNE
29,728 Members of Nor’easter Nation Stormed the Gates
From the field to the frosty ice, the 鶹ýcommunity came out in droves to support Nor’easters Athletics this year, with nearly 30,000 guests attending Athletics events in 2024 — including over 2,100 students, friends, and fans at the University’s Homecoming football game in October.
112 Presidential Pushups
It has become canon that 鶹ýPresident James Herbert completes a pushup for every point scored by the University’s football team while at home. This season, the president completed 112 pushups, including an impressive 68 during the Nor’easters’ Homecoming game against Dean College, which resulted in .
the number of pushups completed during the 2024 football season.
the record number of pushups completed in a single game.
and finally ... one UNE
United by our shared commitment to building a better, healthier planet for all, We are One UNE — in the spring, summer, fall, and forever.
Wishing the 鶹ýCommunity a restful winter break filled with joy and light.
This has been a project by the Office of Communications, which provides strategic and creative leadership and support for the 鶹ý across all media and communications platforms. We want to tell your story — just let us know where to begin. Contact the Office of Communications.