The Mission’s October 2020 Newsletter.
Now available to read or download online:
* Sunbeam Homecoming
* Christmas Program 2020
* President’s Scholarship Celebration
* Mission People & Places: Suzy James
* EdGE Tennis Tournament a Great Success
* EdGE Afterschool 2020 – Moving Parts
It’s Thank you Thursday. Today’s shout out of Mission Love goes to Tristan Alley and Jasmine Church, for their inspiring leadership and heart on behalf of Downeast students!
These young leaders represent the best of Maine Seacoast Mission: having benefited from Mission programming and support, they now contribute to Mission communities through their passionate dedication to our younger Mission students.
Tristan Alley is a Mission Scholar and Mitchell Scholar. He grew up in Jonesport, graduated Jonesport Beals High School in 2015, and graduated Husson University in 2019. Today he’s in his second year of Chiropractic School at Logan University, Saint Louis, MO. From serving as a chaperon and facilitating workshops at our first College Exploration and Engagement retreat last summer to serving on this year’s interview committee for Mission Scholars, Tristan gives of himself fully, authentically and enthusiastically.
Jasmine Church, from Columbia Falls, is a 2020 Narraguagus High School graduate. During her high school years she participated in Bowdoin’s Upward Bound program. She is entering freshman year at University of Maine, Farmington, and plans to pursue Secondary Education and Mathematics. Jasmine participated in EdGE programming before becoming an EdGE student through our GearUp Program. She served as a Mentor with our Journey Program. “She will move mountains and be an amazing teacher,” said Journey Coordinator Briana West.
This is what community looks like.
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.
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.
Nice work, Terri.
Learn more about the Mission Scholarship Program.
BAR HARBOR, ME — With the deadline for submission of applications for Mission scholarships behind us, Mission Scholarships Director Terri Rodick sends photos of a tall stack of 2020 applications.
How many in the stack?
“Right now,” Terri says, “I have no idea.”
But, she continues, “Our next step is to schedule interviews with our interview committee the third week of May. Once interview committee recommendations are provided to the Scholarship committee, we will review the recommendations and then contact the students. Maybe by early June,” Terri explained.