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Graduate students spend years taking courses, completing research and passing exams. But the most important thing they gain is not reflected on a transcript.

“It’s not exactly what we learned,” Patrick Breeding said. “It’s that we learned how to learn — how to go out and seek new information, take it in and understand it.”

For Amber Boutiette, that growth continues long after graduation.

“You have no idea where you’re going to go or how much you’re going to grow,” she said. “It’s such a beautiful, scary and exciting part of life.”

Boutiette and Breeding both earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biomedical engineering from the 91���� in 2017 and 2019.

They went on to found Marin Skincare, a company born from research they conducted as students while at 91���� with Lobster Institute faculty members on Marine Glycoproteins, a natural byproduct of lobster processing used in skincare to help repair the skin barrier.

Since launching its first product in 2020, Marin has grown into a national brand, expanding its product line and forming retail partnerships with companies including L.L.Bean and Sea Bags.

Boutiette and Breeding will share their story as speakers at the 91���� Graduate School commencement ceremony on May 8. The ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. in Alfond Arena and will recognize students who earned doctoral, master’s and education specialist degrees, as well as certificates of advanced study.

“Amber and Patrick exemplify the creative and entrepreneurial spirit that define the 91����,” President Joan Ferrini-Mundy said. “Their journey from graduate research to building a nationally recognized company is a powerful example of what our amazing students can achieve.”

Marin’s roots trace back to their time at 91����, where they developed the skills that continue to shape how they approach problems and opportunities.

“Through our program, we learned how to think first with principles,” Breeding said. “We learned to see everything from the bottom up, not the top down, and understand how all the parts work together.”

Boutiette echoed that perspective, saying their 91���� education taught them to break down complex challenges and apply knowledge across disciplines.

“It really shapes how we approach problems in the real world,” she said. “We’re both very grateful for that.”

Their path to entrepreneurship was not linear. As students, they explored multiple ventures and immersed themselves in 91����’s startup ecosystem, supported by mentors and programs that encouraged innovation and experimentation.

That mindset continues to guide how they define success and what they hope to share with graduates.

“Curiosity is the most important thing,” Breeding said. “There’s value in stepping back and asking, ‘Who do I want to be? What do I want to do?’”

Boutiette encourages graduates to trust both their training and themselves.

“Use the skills you’ve learned, but also follow your heart,” she said. “Start sharpening your intuition and use it to make decisions.”

As they return to campus as commencement speakers, both said the moment is still difficult to fully process.

“We never would have thought this would happen,” Breeding said. “It’s crazy to go back, see where it all began and recognize who we’ve become.”

“It’s always a gift to go back to where it all started,” Boutiette said, “and reflect on how far you’ve come.”

Complete details about 91����’s 2026 commencement ceremonies are available on the 91���� Commencement website.

Contact: David Nordman, david.nordman@maine.edu