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BIDDEFORD, Maine

University of New England U-EXCEL Program Receives 2010 Maine Fitness Award

A unique program of the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine's Geriatric Medicine Department has been awarded the Maine Governor's Council on Physical Activity 2010 Maine Fitness Award in the Special Populations Category.  

Called U-ExCEL, for UNE-Exercise & Conditioning for Easier Living, the program was designed and implemented by Marilyn R. Gugliucci, Ph.D., U-ExCEL program director, and Kelley J. Duffy, MS, senior fitness specialist, who conducts all U-ExCEL programming. Both participated in the ceremony held April 27, 2010 at the State House Hall of Flags in Augusta.  

Emcee of the ceremony was Erik Steele, DO, of Eastern Maine Medical Center, co-chair with Joan Benoit Samuelson, for the Maine Governor's Council on Physical Activity.  Governor Baldacci and Dr. Steele presented the award for the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine's U-ExCEL Program for older adults. Dr. Steele is an alum of the UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine.  

U-ExCEL is a functional fitness program that promotes the broad spectrum of health for older adults living in the community, in nursing homes, assisted living settings, or in independent housing on life care campuses. U-ExCEL encompasses individual's health and fitness goals, along with current medical diagnoses to improve or maintain function through the provision of functional fitness techniques, including strength, balance, endurance and nutrition. U-ExCEL's motto is: "ANYONE willing to exercise can." UNE student research, scholarship and training are also advanced at U-ExCEL sites.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.