EASTON, Maine – Easton High School graduates who choose to further their education will benefit for years to come from a newly-created scholarship fund.
According to Town Manager Jackie Bradley, the town received a $1 million check Jan. 2 from an anonymous donor to establish the Hayden Family Trust that will be used to provide scholarships for seniors wanting to go to college.
“Isn’t that something?” said an amazed Bradley. “I was surprised to learn that the town was receiving such a wonderful donation. This will help a whole lot of kids.”
The scholarships will be awarded annually by the board of selectmen after consulting with the high school principal, faculty, and the alumni association. Money will be available for all forms of post-secondary education including both two- and four-year colleges and trade schools.
Bradley said the town will be investing the $1 million, and the income from the trust will be used for scholarships.
“We’re working with some banks and trust companies to see how best to invest the donation,” she said. “Right now, it’s invested into an account that’s paying 5 percent which makes it a $50,000 scholarship.”
Though unsure of just how much money, Bradley said there will be scholarship money available to seniors this year.
Scholarships will be awarded only to students residing in Easton and graduating from Easton High School or a successor school.
“Should Easton High School ever close, this money will follow Easton students wherever they go to high school,” said Bradley.
The individual scholarships will be named in honor of Verna Fuller and Keith Thompson, two former teachers who made a difference in the life of the donor.
“The board of selectmen, the school board, and the townspeople are very thankful to the donor for such a generous gift,” said Michael Corey, chairman of the Easton board of selectmen. “It will have a huge impact on the students’ ability to continue their education after high school.”
Superintendent Frank Keenan agreed.
“For a small community like Easton it’s just wonderful to have a benefactor like that out there,” he said. “It’s going to make a tremendous difference as far into the future as one can see to help kids further their education.”
Keenan said the Class of 2007 has 19 seniors.
“That’s higher than it was last year, and higher than it will be next year,” he said, “but overall it’s average. We typically have a graduating class of 17 to 19 seniors.
“We have a very high percentage of our kids go onto college, so it’s going to impact a significant percentage of the classes every year,” said Keenan. “With education getting more and more expensive all the time, this is one more benefit to the kids’ decision-making process to keep them from maybe making the wrong decision not to go, but rather give them the opportunity to have some help and go.”
The board of selectmen will determine exact scholarship criteria at a later date.
