Island Institute Announces Maine Island Scholarship Awards

The Island Institute has announced the 2009 Maine Island Scholarship awards, which will provide $130,000 in college scholarships to 96 island students who are pursuing post-secondary studies at colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools in Maine and around the country.  Awards range from $250 to $6,000 and represent the Institute's ongoing commitment to help island families keep pace with the rising costs of higher education.  This year's awards bring the total amount of scholarships awarded since 1990 to more than $650,000.

The 2009 Maine Island Scholars are:

Chebeague Island: Denis Johnson, Thomas Damon, Arianna Stefanilo, Danielle Rich, Joshua Doughty, Viktoria Johnson, Darya Johnson, John Summa

Cranberry Isles: Heather Spurling, Emily Thomas, Christina Spurling, Seth Gray

Frenchboro: Joseph Charpentier

Great Diamond: Brenden Myers, Anne Bartlett

Islesboro: Olivia Boucher, Emily Thomas, Colin Schmidt, Sarah Cowles, Leila Pike, Thomas Tutor, David Sherman, Andrew Coombs, Erica Hatch, Brittney Pendleton, Heather Gebhardt, Joel Grindle, Caitlin Anderson, Sally Smith, Nathan Gorham, Luke Thomas, Jonathon Cunningham, Shawna Johnston, Juan Coronado

Long Island: Justin Papkee, Chomba Kaluba

Matinicus:  Lydia Twombly-Hussey

North Haven: Ian Hopkins, Amilia Campbell, Conor Curtain, Ashley Hodder, Kelsey Jones, Kelsi Ruffolo, Emmett Hodder

Peaks: Wesley Norton, Cooper Van Vranken, Mark Kinner, Giovanni Morabito, Charles Friedman, Shellbe Flynn, Molly Radis, Michael Whitman, Sarah Cannon, Emmett Huber, Echo Presgraves, Ella Shaw, Erica DeMichele, Kimberly Morse, Lily Kole-Berlingieri, Sophia Presgraves, Jennifer Mulkern, Nathaniel Walden, Alexander Kinner

Swans: Kyle Staples, Anna Joy, Andrew Joyce, Nevora LeMoine

Vinalhaven: Keith Drury, Chad Guildford, Sam Rosen, Kathleen Hamilton, Olivia Chilles, Chelsea Guptill, Flora Drury, Corey James, William Olsen, Kayla Conway, Claire Carter, Meagan Davidson, Virgil Cray, Niall Conlan, Emma Rosen, Natalie Conway, Cassandra Young, Alexandra Young, Cassie Bennard, Dana Wentworth, Natalie Reed, Sloane Elwell, Elizabeth Young, Ethan Warren

Several students received special awards:

Natalie Jones of North Haven received the Academic and Community Leadership Scholarship, given to a graduating senior who exemplifies a combination of academic excellence and community leadership.

Cooper Van Vranken of Peaks Island received the Sweet Scholarship, awarded to a graduating senior who has excellent academic standing.

Brenden Meyers of Great Diamond Island received the new 21^st Century Scholarship, awarded to a college upperclassman focusing on a science, technology, engineering, and/or math career.

Flora Drury and Keith Drury, both of Vinalhaven, received Otter Island Scholarships, awarded to students of good academic standing attending specific colleges around the country.

Danielle Rich of Chebeague and Virgil Cray of Vinalhaven both received scholarships from the Shaw Fund for Mariners' Children.

Justin Papkee of Peaks Island received the Seth Jordan Memorial Fund Scholarship which is awarded to a graduating senior of extremely high academic standing in Casco Bay.

Selected by a committee composed of island community members and Institute staff, the 2009 scholars from Maine's unbridged island communities received their awards based on academic achievement, employment, extra-curricular activities, a personal statement, and special circumstances.  They are eligible to renew their scholarships each year as long as they remain enrolled in post-secondary studies on a full-time basis.  

A luncheon at the Samoset Resort on Saturday, June 27^th, will celebrate the accomplishments of these students as well as honor S. Parkman Shaw and the Shaw Fund for Mariners' Children, whose many years of support have made the dream of a college education come true for more than 70 island scholars. For additional information about the Island Institute's Maine Island Scholarship Program, please click here or contact Ruth Kermish-Allen, Education Outreach Officer, at (207) 594-9209 x117 or rallen@islandinstitute.org.