Grant helps Gauvin scholars stay the course

by Staff Pioneer Times
10 years ago

Aroostook Aspirations Initiative (AAI) recently received a $10,000 grant from the Maine Community Foundation’s Meander Fund of Maine and the Pine Tree Fund. The money helped to jumpstart a supporting pillar of the Gauvin Scholar program become a reality, the Dreamcatcher Fund.
The Dreamcatcher Fund allows Gauvin scholarship recipients to borrow money when a crisis arises that interferes with their college education.
“The Dreamcatcher program is very similar to programs offered at our local colleges in Aroostook County,” said April Flagg, executive director of AAI. “The Dreamcatcher Fund will work collaboratively with the local college programs to help Gauvin scholars continue to attend classes and experience success in spite of challenges that may arise.
“It truly is an exceptional concept and will be of great importance in the coming years. Our program awarded 16 Gauvin scholars in 2014, and our plan is to award 32 in 2015. It is critical that the Dreamcatcher Fund be available for our Gauvin scholars in the years to come,” said Flagg, noting that the program is already running successfully, working with the current recipients and setting up collaborative procedures with the local colleges.
Sandy Gauvin, president of the board of directors for AAI, said the Dreamcatcher program is vitally important.
“So many things happen in life that can get in the way of completing a college education,” she said. “A student may have car problems that prohibit them from getting to classes or cash flow issues that prevent them from paying the rent — among other things. Murphy’s Law can take over at any moment!”
“What we want to do is help students who already have financial issues to deal with — and can’t afford crises that pop up — get the education that they deserve and need in order to have a successful life right here in The County,” Gauvin said.
For more information on AAI or to make a donation, visit their website at www.gauvinfund.org, email info@gauvinfund.org, call 760-0558, or send a letter to Aroostook Aspirations Initiative, 26 North St., Box 138, Presque Isle, Maine 04769.