In our latest installment of our Student-Athlete Alumni Spotlight, we visit with former basketball and soccer player Katie Poirier. Katie, who started for UMA from 2009 -2012 was the first UMA women’s basketball player to garner Yankee Small College Conference Player of the Year honors in 2012, as well as the first female basketball player to be named First Team USCAA All-American. Poirier currently ranks second all-time in points scored with 1199 and is second in career rebounds, and fifth in points scored in a season, with 462 during her senior campaign.

She remains first in the UMA record books for field goal percentage in a single-season, shooting over 50% from the floor (.545) in 2011-12. 

What was your major at UMA?

Biology.

Why did you choose UMA?

I was at USM and it wasn't the right fit for me. I decided to go to UMA because I liked how small it was and how  everybody knew each other. It was a very close knit community and the education was more personalized and individualized for my specific needs. 

What is your fondest athletic memory at UMA?

So I have a lot of fond athletic memories. It's hard for me to pick one, but I think that one of the best ones was at the University of Maine Machias game that we played at UMM in my senior year. Before the game Coach Laney gave us blue and white ribbons to put on our shoes. It represented our team and ourselves as players. I believe this game was our last regular season game and it was a really hard game. We played really well as a team. I fouled out of this game which was upsetting for me, but I got to watch and cheer on my teammates as they came together and worked as a team to beat Machias, a team that was in a higher division than us at the time. This was a huge win for us and we became regular season champions. Being regular season champions was the best feeling! We won so few games in my first year at UMA, so it was pretty incredible to come that far as a team in just a few years.

Who had the biggest influence on you during your athletic career at UMA?

I think that a lot of people influenced me during my athletic career at UMA. Coach Laney and all of my teammates from the 2011-2012 season influenced me the most. Everybody was so dedicated that season. We accomplished so much with the help of each other and Coach Laney, who was always pushing us to the next level. 

What is the most valuable thing you gained or learned from your time at UMA?

I think that my experience at UMA shaped my work ethic as well as my career path. Athletics teach discipline, hard work and respect and being a student athlete also teaches organization and responsibility. I think that shaped my work ethic and as for my career path, I am still working on that. I would like to go back to school in the near future to continue my education. 

What advice would you give to current and future student-athletes at UMA?

Give 110% everyday, in athletics and academics. Enjoy every minute of it because it goes by so quickly and you will miss it so much!!

Where are you working now? 

I am working at New England Dental Center in Augusta.