FARMINGTON – Frederick Liebfried, a University of Maine at Farmington senior, has been named a 2008-2009 George J. Mitchell Peace Scholar. He was recently honored at a ceremony at University of Maine at Augusta hosted by Richard Pattenaude, University of Maine System chancellor, and James Breece, University of Maine System vice chancellor.
This is the fifth consecutive year that a UMF student has been the recipient of one of only two one-semester George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarships awarded annually by the University of Maine System. This prestigious award was created in 1998 in tribute to former U.S. Senator George J. Mitchell for his work in helping to facilitate a peace accord between Ireland and Northern Ireland, and his lifelong devotion and commitment to public service.
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After a competitive process, students are selected for the scholarship based upon their strong academic ability, commitment to community service and exceptional leadership skills. “We are so proud of Fred’s success at UMF and his selection as a Mitchell Peace Scholar,” said Rob Lively, UMF dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “We are confident that he will make the most of this opportunity and be an excellent ambassador for UMF, Maine, the country and the ideals that the Mitchell Peace Scholarship represents.” As a recipient of the scholarship, Liebfried will attend the University of Cork, in Ireland, for the fall semester where academic fees will be waived and he will receive free tuition, room and board, and a $1,000 travel stipend.
A theater major at UMF with a concentration in directing, Liebfried is an honor student dedicated to excellence in both his academic studies and campus theater productions. “Fred is a dedicated student who leads by example,” said Peter Simmel, chair of the UMF Visual and Performing Arts Department. “He is a model of what commitment, hard work and love of your craft can accomplish.”
Liebfried has a long history of participation with university, community and regional theater, including Theatre UMF, Lakewood Theater of Maine and the Waterville Opera House. He has received multiple acting awards and recently received UMF’s Red Carpet Award for Best Actor for the second year in a row for his part in Theatre UMF’s production of Sam Shepard’s “Buried Child.”
A resident of Anson, Leibfried has a 4.0 grade point average at UMF with a career goal of continuing his theater studies in graduate school.
