Future of Maine Communities, 2012

Aroostook County
Houlton
Hodgdon
Fort Kent
Madawaska
Mars Hill
Frenchville
Wallagrass
Eagle Lake

Mount Desert Island
Tremont
Southwest Harbor
Northeast Harbor
Bar Harbor
Swan’s Island
Islesford
Trenton

Rumford Area
Rumford
Mexico
Dixfield
Sumner

Brownville
Brownville
Milo
Lagrange

Benton
Benton
Fairfield

Skowhegan
Skowhegan
Norridgewock
Canaan

Washington County
Calais
Woodland/Baileyville
Eastport
Lubec

Portland (In partnership with cPort Credit Union)
Riverton School
Ocean Avenue School

Augusta (In partnership with cPort Credit Union)
Hussey School
Farrington School
Gilbert School
Lincoln School

Future of Maine
College Aspirations Initiative

• Equal and early access to information
• Early inspiration, early aspirations, plus a little excitement
• Effort, motivation, earning future opportunities
• Community engagement in a true community initiative

1. College Aspirations Workshops for students in grades 3 - 6, along with accompanying posters, college lists, and on-going answers to student questions via email. For over fifteen years, these workshops have reached over 50,000 students in 107 Maine communities. Workshops discuss with students in grades 3 – 6 the following: what, where, why is college; an opportunity for absolutely everyone; 390 great college options for Maine students; 240 great college majors for Maine students; preparing for college and turning a dream into a plan; career aspirations beyond college; and the value of effort.

2. $100 College Aspirations Scholarships awarded to students in grades 3 - 6, based on an essay on college and career aspirations. Scholarships are locally-funded and redeemable upon enrollment in any post-secondary educational program. Communities may choose to establish a Future of Maine Community Investment Fund to support early educational aspirations through high school and to promote the value of effort.

3. A community scholarship ceremony to award scholarships and recognize the recipients.
4. A VIP program to recognize scholarship recipients and other deserving applicants. VIP's will receive VIP treatment whenever they visit participating higher education institutions and will receive benefits at supporting local businesses. 

5. “College” t-shirts for all VIP's and an annual college campus visit.

6. Maine College Advisor Weekly. A regular, email newsletter responding to questions about college from students, teachers, parents, and community members.

7. Distribution of "College Crosswords" to engage students in exploration of the opportunity of higher education, with the option to participate in the Maine College Knowledge Bowl.