PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Officials with the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative (AAI) have announced the 2014 Gauvin Scholars as part of Aroostook Aspirations Day.
Publicly launched in April 2013, AAI is designed to boost educational attainment and economic development in northern Maine.
“AAI has multiple goals,” said President Sandy Gauvin, who co-founded the organization with her husband, Ray. “The first of which is to help kids in Aroostook County get a college education, and we’re aiming toward kids that might not otherwise get financial assistance to go on to college.
“We want to keep the kids in The County because the out-migration is so staggering, and our workforce level is below the state’s sustainability level. We want to stem the out-migration,” she said, “and the combination of those two goals will help boost the economy in Aroostook County.”
The Gauvin County Scholarship Fund of the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative recently presented a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior at each of the 16 county schools.
Northern Aroostook Gauvin Scholars include Elizabeth Guimond of Wisdom High School, Patrick Belanger of Fort Kent High School, Mariah Hebert of Madawaska High School and Teya Lizotte of Van Buren High School.
Gauvin Scholars from central Aroostook are Krista Beaupre of Caribou High School, Katelynn Perkins of Presque Isle High School, Shyanna Smith of Fort Fairfield High School, Andrew White of Washburn District High School, Stephanie Hammond of Easton High School, Kaylin Blood of Limestone High School, Nicholas Belanger of Ashland High School and Brittany Drost of Central Aroostook High School.
Southern Aroostook Gauvin Scholars include Elizabeth Knowles of Katahdin High School, Meghan Hebert of Hodgdon High School, Jessica Tucker of Southern Aroostook High School and Brielle Boutilier of Houlton High School.
“Our primary criteria to be a Gauvin Scholar is that they are a first-generation college student … meaning that only one of their parents might have gone to college or maybe neither of them went,” said Gauvin. “We also look at those who are economically disadvantaged.
“We’re aiming for kids that might not be the straight A students and get an academic scholarship, or might not be the world’s greatest athlete and get an athletic scholarship,” she said. “This year’s Gauvin Scholars all have good grades, but that’s not the prime motivation. We also want kids with a good work ethic that we know will work hard to become successful.”
Gauvin explained that each Gauvin Scholar receives a $1,000 scholarship the first year.
“The colleges and universities in Aroostook County have all joined in with us, and the second year the kids will get another $1,000 equivalent from the institution for that year,” she said. “For the kids who do the first two years at NMCC and then transfer into their third and fourth year through Husson, which is on the NMCC campus, there will be a $1,000 equivalent for each of those two years, as well.”
“Aroostook Aspirations’ goal of keeping students in the county, and encouraging more of our students to seek out post secondary opportunities early is vital to the future of Aroostook,” said Linda Schott, president of the University of Maine at Presque Isle. “Raising the aspirations of the youth in our county, assuring the support of the colleges, universities and public schools, AAI is blazing new trails. UMPI is so happy to provide the second year scholarship to the Gauvin Scholars. The future is indeed something to look at with great anticipation.”
Beaupre said it means a lot to be named a Gauvin Scholar.
“It’s quite an honor to be able to represent them through the scholarship,” she said. “I think the Gauvins are excellent people and I feel they should be recognized for everything they do for us.”
This fall Beaupre will study nursing at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. She said it’s nice to be encouraged to stay in the county.
“Some people have asked me why I want to stay here, but I love it in Aroostook County and I want to stay here, and for my future family to be able to grow up the same way I did and experience everything that I have,” she said. “My community has always been there for me, so now it’s my turn to look at them and say, ‘OK, it’s my turn to give back to you.’ Now it’s my turn to pay it forward and be there for them.”
White, who will be attending NMCC’s automotive technology program in the fall, said it’s an honor to be recognized as a Gauvin Scholar.
“Growing up I’ve always said that I was going to stay in Aroostook County. I was born and raised in Washburn, my Dad was born and raised in Washburn, and his dad was born there, too,” said White. “My family’s roots are really, really deep in Washburn and I like it there, and I like it in Aroostook County. It’s always kind of felt like wanting to stay in Aroostook County you get undermined. You see these kids who are going away to big schools and they’re getting these huge scholarships, so to actually be recognized for wanting to stay in Aroostook County is pretty special and quite an honor.
“By being a Gauvin Scholar I get to meet other people who have the same goals and aspirations that I do,” he said, “and finally have the feeling that I’m not the only one. I’m really looking forward to being a part of it, and I’m looking forward to getting to know the people who are in it. This is the time of life where it’s crucial to make friends because these are friends that are going to last forever, and being around other people who are so much like me and have similar goals, I hope that I’m going to make a lot of new friends that will last a lifetime.”
Beaupre agreed.
“I feel like we’re going to be a very tight group, and I feel like I can turn to any of the other Scholars as friends now and we’re going to form a bond that we’ll be able bounce ideas off of through our college experience,” she said. “I’m looking forward to that.”
Gauvin said it’s important for the Scholars to one day “pay it forward.”
“When Ray was a senior in high school, he got a $1,000 scholarship from the Mark and Emily Turner Scholarship Fund, and he had an interview with Mark Turner,” she said. “Mark said to Ray, ‘When you’re successful, I want you to give back.’ That was a big motivator for Ray.
“For me, I see so much potential out there in these kids, and together Ray and I felt that we were both very blessed and fortunate that we decided to give back to the community and the county that’s been so good to us all our lives,” said Gauvin.
As part of Aroostook Aspirations Day, Sharon Campbell, the local representative of U.S. Sen. Angus King’s office, and Phil Bosse, representing U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ office, read the Congressional sentiment the senators had placed in the national records. In addition, Rep. Alex Willette (R-Mapleton) read the official State of Maine declaration that formally announced June 7 as Aroostook Aspirations Day.
AAI officials, together with the Gauvin Scholars, also unveiled a mural painted by Aroostook County native Heather Harvell.
“The tree represents this program, its Gauvin Scholars, the community, and the past, present and future,” said April Flagg, AAI executive director. “With a strong trunk, the tree can stand the test of time. The Gauvins assured this program had strong footing to stand on a powerful 24-member board of directors, strategic business and collegiate partners. The 16 Gauvin Scholars, each with a picture on this wall, are the face of our program, and the future of this county. Supporting them in their reach for a firm foundation based in education is the goal of our program and of our partners.”
Now that the Gauvin Scholars have graduated high school, they will participate in various support programs that have been set up for their college careers.
“The first year will be their year to initially go through the programs and then their second year they have the option of either going through a second-year program and/or helping the next round of Gauvin Scholars … mentoring the new kids,” said Gauvin. “Going to college is scary, so if you have somebody whose already started and has a year under their belt, that’s a plus. We do expect them to come back to our events, and we do expect them to stay in The County and hopefully when they’re in the position to help kids — or even a kid — go to college, they can give back, too.”
Gauvin said she was pleased with the inaugural Aroostook Aspirations Day.
“We had a lot of activities for kids, informational booths, and a lot of good entertainment,” she said. “It was an awesome day.”
For more information, visit the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative website at www.gauvinfund.org, e-mail info@gauvinfund.org or call 764-0876. Donations can be mailed to: Aroostook Aspirations Initiative, 26 North St., Box 138, Presque Isle, Maine 04769.
