By A.J. HIGGINS
Staff Writer Wednesday, May 09, 2007

What convinced her was the experience of being held up on the job nine times.

"The area that I worked in was drug-infested," she said. "I walked out of the door at work one day and a crack addict threw me to the ground and stole $30. The police blamed me because I was wearing my store uniform back and forth to work."

During less hectic moments at the store, she and a co-worker would fondly recall quieter lives in their respective home states, Michigan and Maine.

Both places sounded good to Emch.

"One Sunday night, I flipped a coin and Maine was where I ended up," she said.

On Saturday, Emch, 40, will join approximately 600 students receiving a degree from the University of Maine at Augusta when the school conducts its 39th commencement exercises at the Augusta Civic Center.

Emch, of Randolph, will be among those receiving a baccalaureate degree during the 10 a.m. ceremonies Saturday as UMA and University College of Bangor, an affiliated school, confer two-year and four-year degrees in majors representing nearly 20 different programs of study.

The 40-year-old Randolph resident maintained a 3.28 grade-point average during her four-year quest for a bachelor's degree in computer information systems.

Emch said she achieved her goal while raising two young children and devoting a significant amount of personal time to campus organizations. She currently serves as president of the Student Government Association and has also served as vice chairwoman of the UMA General Assembly and vice president of fundraising for the UMA Honors Program Student Association.

Emch's story strikes a common chord with many of the UMA faculty who have become accustomed to seeing hard-working, nontraditional students become a legitimate tradition at the university's ceremonies.

UMA President Richard J. Randall will preside during the commencement exercises that will also feature greetings from Marjorie Murray Medd, a member of the University of Maine System Board of Trustees.

Augusta Mayor Roger J. Katz will deliver the commencement address, which will be followed by a musical presentation from the school's UMA Jazz on Tour ensemble.

As part of the commencement, musician Don Campbell will receive the Distinguished Achievement Award for academic, extracurricular and community participation.

A reception for graduates and their families will be held on the commons immediately following the ceremonies.

A.J. Higgins -- 623-3811 Ext. 431

ajhiggins@centralmaine.com