Kaitlin Beal from Sumner High School is the 2021 Angus MacDonald Scholarship recipient.
NORTHEAST HARBOR, ME — Continuing a tradition that started more than 100 years ago, Maine Seacoast Mission welcomes 23 new Mission Scholars for year 2021. The Mission this year awarded $49,000 in new scholarships and $109,000 in renewed scholarships.
Mission Scholarships Director Terri Rodick said, “Our 2021 scholarship awardees are from 14 high schools in Washington and Hancock Counties and the islands we serve.”
The 2021 Mission scholars were resilient and able to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic to achieve their college aspirations. During the scholars’ interviews with the Mission, they told stories of deeper connections with teachers, guidance counselors, and community members supporting them throughout the year.
“Mission scholars are pursuing degrees in science, early childhood education, construction, fashion design, social justice, art, and education. One student is a first-generation American working to create fashion and clothing that illustrates the American Dream and diverse fabric of America. Another is a local student focused on building his Washington County community through repairing homes and building sustainable housing,” explained Mission Downeast Director Melvin D. Adams III, Ed.D.
“The beauty of the Mission scholarship program is the importance of supporting college aspirations — where youth can create change and ask us to think deeply about our community through fashion, teach future generations, and discover life-saving medications,” Director Adams said.
Among the Mission’s several scholarships, its Angus MacDonald Scholarship provides an award of $14,000 over four years to an exceptional high school graduate who has demonstrated superior academic achievement, leadership skills, integrity, and commitment to the community. This year’s Angus MacDonald Scholarship recipient is Sumner High School student Kaitlin Beal from Gouldsboro, ME.
NORTHEAST HARBOR — Through Zoom screens, socially distanced driveway visits, and the U.S. Postal Service, our Student Pathways Team continues facilitating creative and meaningful connection with students during our ongoing, necessary, pandemic separation.
When we do engage, our Mission Scholars and Journey and College Exploration and Engagement students are impressive and inspiring in their resilience and perseverance. We will continue providing academic and personal mentoring in the months ahead, and look forward, whenever helpful, to connecting with students’ families.
Recent Pathways highlights include:
Sending monthly project materials to all Journey students including a recent STEM inspired toothpick-and-gumdrops holiday project.
College Exploration and Engagement Zoom information sessions with our Davis Scholarship partner colleges.
Our high school juniors met admissions colleagues and students/alums from University of New England, Wheaton College and Clark University.
Mission Scholars participated in Zoom group check-in sessions and enjoyed receiving Mission hoodies for their holidays.
The Student Pathways Team also recently launched a new mentoring initiative linking Mission Scholars with Journey students. Visit the Mission’s social media pages for updates.
Terri Rodick’s car decked out to deliver “Graduation in a Box.”
“Graduation in a Box”
BAR HARBOR, ME — We welcome 20 new Mission Scholars this year! “The scholarship amounts range from $1,500 to $5,000, totaling $67,000 in new scholarships, and $104,000 in renewed scholarships to Hancock and Washington County students,” said Mission Scholarships Director Terri Rodick.
This year’s application season saw many changes as we adjusted the program to adapt to Covid-19 restrictions.
“This year we did all our interviews on Zoom,” Terri explained. Even though there were some issues with internet connectivity, still, she said, “I felt Zoom was a great way to meet the applicants. It allowed our sheltering at home Board of Directors and Scholarship Committee to participate in a meaningful, thoughtful way. The student applicants were already studying online this spring. Their availability and flexibility made scheduling time to meet with them much easier,” Terri said.
Also, because the Class of 2020 missed out on their normal graduation ceremonies, for each Mission Scholarship recipient Terri put together a “Graduation in a Box.” Scholarship grads within driving distance were treated to Terri (standing in their driveways, wearing a mask at a safe distance!) presenting them each with a congratulatory box of surprises and accolades. Boxes were mailed to 2020 grads outside Terri’s driving range.
Congratulations to all! They join a 100+ year Mission scholarship tradition.
Maine Seacoast Mission New Scholarship Recipients for 2020
BAR HARBOR, ME — “We see you, celebrate you, and offer here applause for you to see, if not hear. You are first-generation college graduates, researchers, artists, world travelers, athletes, and community-service champions in your local communities.”
Mission scholarship recipients graduating college and high school in 2020 are among those gifted students, nationwide, whose graduation ceremonies were either stopped or significantly changed by coronavirus precautions.
In the Mission’s Spring 2020 The Bulletin, we remind the nation that those precautions can never change what these scholars have accomplished.
BAR HARBOR, ME — Mission Director of Scholarships Terri Rodick sends these photos with a brief message: “Trying to be creative. Sending out 94 t-shirts to our scholars.”
Terri is always creative directing our Scholarships program. Even moreso in her day-to-day interactions with Mission scholarship recipients.
This year, of course, the coronavirus demands new ways of creativity and interaction — like designing and producing #MISSIONTOGETHER t-shirts, wrapping them individually in bright colored paper, and mailing them to almost 100 isolated students.
