Aroostook Aspirations Initiative Doubling Number of Scholarships
With the capability of offering as many as 16 Gauvin Scholarships per year since their startup in 2014, Aroostook Aspirations Initiative is nearly doubling that number this year.
With the support of their Sustaining Strategic Partners, Scholarship Partners and community support, AAI is offering as many as 43 scholarships to graduating seniors in 2017 that live in Aroostook County, and are staying in The County for college.
The 16 original Gauvin Scholarships come from AAI’s endowment fund each year, which was established by Founders Ray and Sandy Gauvin. AAI grew with the support of their Sustaining Strategic Partners; Bangor Daily News, WAGM-TV, The Aroostook Medical Center, Cary Medical Center, Pineland Farms and Katahdin Trust, offering additional scholarships. The Health Services Foundation, a scholarship partner, added one scholarship per year, and The Hampton Inn, also a scholarship partner, added three scholarships per year. With the support for the organization growing, Kristen Wells, who is AAI’s Executive Director says she is thrilled to announce the new support they are receiving in 2017.
“This is an exciting time for the organization, and something that wouldn’t be possible without our scholarship partners,” said Wells. “It’s amazing that the organization, and the support for the organization and our scholars, has grown so quickly. We have great momentum to help more students stay for college and professional opportunities here in Aroostook.”
New in 2017 are 10 anonymously donated scholarships. In addition, four scholarships have been added by scholarship partner Acadia Federal Credit Union. To qualify for this scholarship, students must be graduating from high schools in Fort Kent, Madawaska, Wisdom or Ashland, which are all branch locations. The student applicant or parent/guardian of the student must also be an active member of Acadia Federal Credit Union.
Two scholarships have also been added by scholarship partner KFC/Taco Bell, operated by M.D.L. Inc. This organization has been operating for about 36 years. Also new to the 2017 scholarship offerings are two Colonel Judy-Ann Carroll Veteran Scholarships. The scholarships are meant for high school seniors attending college in Aroostook County that are a child or grandchild of a veteran.
The 2017 scholarship application officially opens on Wednesday, January 25th. The application can be found at gauvinfund.org. The closing date of the application is May 1st, 2017. All County seniors planning to attend college at The University of Maine at Presque Isle, The University of Maine at Fort Kent or Northern Maine Community College, are encouraged to apply.
If you would like to learn more about this innovative program, visit gauvinfund.org, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter AAI/GauvinFund or e-mail them at info@gauvinfund.org. Donations can be made online, in person at AAI, 754 Main Street Presque Isle, or by mail: 26 North Street Box 138, Presque Isle, ME 04769.
This information was submitted to us as part of a press release. If you would like to share your community news or event with our audience, please email newspi@townsquaremedia.com.
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