HOULTON, Maine — The Ricker College Board of Trustees held its annual meeting on May 19 at Houlton Regional Hospital with Chair Leigh Cummings presiding.
According to Gary Bossie, executive director of the scholarship program, there are currently 137 in-college students receiving scholarships from the board. These are $2,000 scholarships which are renewable annually. The cost to the trustees for the 2024 academic year was $253,000 sent to colleges mostly in New England. All of these students are Aroostook or Washington County high school graduates.
Thomas Pierce, fund manager and representative of the H. M. Payson Co. of Portland, reported on the status of the Ricker College endowment which at the present time is valued at a little over $5 million. He reminded the trustees that more than 1500 students have benefited from the scholarship. In total, the fund has contributed $5,250,000 to the education of local students since it began in 1985. At that time the award was $1,000, renewable for four years. In 2005 the amount was increased to $1,500 annually, and in 2021 it was again increased to $2,000. The scholarship may be renewed annually for four years or until the student completes his baccalaureate degree.
As a result of Pierce’s report, the board is pleased to announce that 33 area students from the class of 2024 will receive scholarships of $2,000, each renewable annually, for their four-year college programs.
Applications will be available for 2025 at high school guidance offices in January. Other information is available online at rickerscholarship.com or by contacting Bossie at PO Box 1016, Houlton or by email at rickerscholarship@myfairpoint.net.
