PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The 2017 Gauvin Scholarship application has officially been open for just over a month. Aroostook Aspirations Initiative (AAI) is offering as many as 43 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who live and are staying in Aroostook County for college.
To be eligible, 2017 Aroostook County high school graduates must plan to attend Northern Maine Community College, the University of Maine at Presque Isle, or the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Students must attend college full time and maintain a course load of at least 12 credits, demonstrate financial need, and have a desire to live and work in Aroostook County.
Preference is given to first-generation college students, but it’s a scholarship that AAI’s executive director, Kristen Wells, encourages all County seniors with plans to stay in The County, to apply for.
“This is not a typical scholarship. Gauvin Scholars receive a minimum of two years of scholarship funding, a proven program for educational and professional success, the Gauvin Scholar network, and personalized mentoring. We ask our Gauvin Scholars to commit to our program, their education, and the pursuit of their dreams and we commit to their success in return,” said Wells. “When they succeed here in Aroostook County, we all succeed.”
Students complete the Gauvin Scholarship application is completed online at gauvinfund.org. Students can create an account and complete the five sections of the application at any time, making edits to the application until the May 1 deadline. Students also need to include their high school transcripts, college acceptance letter and financial aid information, and two letters of recommendation.
Jordyn Madore, AAI’s intern and scholar coordinator, said the short essay questions are one of the most important pieces of the application.
“Part of our mission is to retain Aroostook County youth and help them be successful in college and career. I think our application reflects this goal,” said Madore. “We ask applicants to share with us what their aspirations are and why they want to live and work here in the County after college. We want to know what is important to our younger population so we can help them be successful in reaching their goals. “
“The application process was super easy. Out of all the scholarships I did, it was one of the easiest,” said Meghan Everitt, the 2016 WAGM-TV Gauvin Scholar. “Being a Gauvin Scholar is actually really fun. We kind of become like one big Gauvin Scholar family.”
Once selected as a Gauvin Scholar, students must attend the annual scholar training weekend, the Night with the Stars Gala and participate in the annual community service event. Scholars must also maintain at least a 2.0 GPA in order to retain their $1,000 Gauvin Scholarship and the scholarship match from NMCC, UMPI, or UMFK.
The closing date for applications is May 1, 2017. The application can be found at gauvinfund.org. To learn more, 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.
