Two UNE students named ‘outstanding future professionals’ by Maine recreation group
Two University of New England students received the Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD) Outstanding Future Professional Award at the association’s conference awards banquet on Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Samoset Resort.
Senior Brendan Curley, an outdoor business and innovation major, and senior Carson Roberts, an exercise science major, were each nominated by UNE faculty mentors in their respective majors.
The Outstanding Future Professional award recognizes Maine undergraduate students studying health, physical education, recreation, or dance for their accomplishments and involvement in university organizations; contributions to the community; professional potential/leadership qualities; and individual accomplishments, honors, and awards.
Curley was nominated by Aimee Vlachos, Ed.D., teaching professor in the UNE College of Business and founder and director of the Outdoor Business and Innovation program, who praised Curley in her nomination letter for deliberately lining up his academic pursuits and internships with his career goals. Vlachos pointed to Curley’s internship with the American Saltwater Guides Association and his role as a Maine Outdoor Brands ambassador, which Vlachos helped to facilitate.
Vlachos also pointed to a project Curley pursued in her Outdoor Business and Innovation course in which he and fellow classmates helped a Maine charter captain develop a customizable website, created promotional materials, and explored ways to expand the company’s digital presence and online visibility —, a project, Vlachos said, that “went well beyond a traditional classroom assignment” and helped increase the Maine guide’s business.
“Brendan represents exactly the type of emerging professional our industry needs: someone who is passionate about outdoor recreation, understands the importance of environmental stewardship, and recognizes the connection between sustainable business practices and thriving outdoor communities,” Vlachos wrote.
Curley said the recognition by the association highlights how, throughout his time at UNE, he was able to align his passion for the outdoors with his professional goals through the outdoor business marketing skills he learned in the classroom.
Established in 2023, the UNE College of Business is Maine and New England’s innovation business school, designed to engage business students in enriching experiences that prepare them for leadership positions with some of Maine’s and the nation’s largest employers.
“This award is a great reminder of why I chose this field of study and motivates me to continue working toward a career in the outdoor recreation industry while making a positive impact on the resources and communities that make it so special,” Curley said. “I’m very grateful for this recognition and for the people at UNE, along with my amazing family, who have helped me along the way.”
Roberts was nominated by Katie Hawke, M.S., clinical professor and coaching minor coordinator in the Westbrook College of Health Professions at UNE. And, like Curley, Roberts found pathways at UNE to meaningful internships that showcased the keen industry knowledge and innovative, problem-solving skillset he honed during his education.
To fulfill a requirement of his coaching minor, Roberts completed an internship with the South Portland High School boys soccer team, where he was invited to return as an assistant coach.
Roberts also landed a strength and conditioning internship with the wildly popular professional soccer team in Portland, Maine, the Hearts of Pine. And, as a certified personal trainer who holds a strength coach certification, Roberts also has worked with youth athletes at Southern Maine Athlete Academy in Portland.
“Carson is an exceptional student and emerging professional who has consistently demonstrated leadership, dedication, and a strong commitment to personal and professional growth,” Hawke wrote in her nomination letter.