President Linda Schott has announced that Ellis Paul — a nationally-acclaimed singer-songwriter who hails from Presque Isle and has spent more than 20 years touring as a musician — will deliver the commencement address during the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s 105th Commencement Ceremony, to be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, in Wieden Gymnasium. During the event, an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree will be presented to Paul.
“We are honored to have a Presque Isle native who has achieved so much in the world of music address our graduating class this year,” Schott said. “Ellis Paul is a powerful example of achieving your dreams through hard work and perseverance. We look forward to hearing the message he will share during our commencement exercises and hope they will inspire our graduates as they prepare for the next step in their journey. We are also very pleased to be honoring Ellis for his contributions to the arts by conferring upon him an honorary doctorate degree.”
A veteran, constantly-touring troubadour, Paul is one of the most respected artists in the folk genre. The New York Times has said of Paul: “Despite his success and sense of history, Mr. Paul remains an artist with his eye on the future and an interest in discovering the transformative power of his music.”
As one of the top American singer-songwriters, Paul has won numerous national awards including an unprecedented 14 Boston Music Awards. His literate streak has inspired the frequent use of his songs in TV shows as well as several blockbuster Hollywood films with stars such as Jim Carrey, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jack Black.
Paul has returned home for several performances and honors. His last visit in 2012 included a concert fundraiser, a mini-performance and musical activity for children, and his induction into the Presque Isle High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He graduated from Presque Isle High School in 1983. He was a star athlete, the state champion in cross country and he still holds school track records. Ellis attended Boston College on a track scholarship and was the captain of the cross country team. It was there after a knee injury that he started playing guitar and making his mark in the Boston folk scene, which eventually launched his national career. Paul was honored by his college and received the Boston College Arts Council Alumni Award for Artistic Achievement in 2004.
When he’s not on tour, he resides in Charlottesville, Va., with his two children.
During his hometown visit, Ellis Paul will also present a benefit concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, in the Campus Center to help the university raise funds for its Auditorium Renovation Project. For more information, visit www.umpi.edu/ellispaul.