To inform and inspire early aspirations . . . to empower the youth of rural Maine . . . to build a brighter future for themselves . . . and for their communities.
Since 1992, Maine College Circle has been talking with rural Maine elementary school students about their opportunities to build a brighter future. We help them understand the value of continued education beyond high school and we help them explore their educational opportunities. We want to inform and inspire their aspirations for their future. We want to empower them to shape their own future. And, we want to engage them in shaping the future of their rural Maine community. Our 20+ years of experience has taught us that students will be more successful in school and in the future if they have aspirations that will motivate them to work toward a career they will be proud of.
In fact, our experience has taught us that grades 4 and 5 are the pivotal years for student aspirations in rural communities.
Each year, we provide
Aspirations Workshops for over 3,000 students in grades 3 - 8 in over 50 mostly rural Maine communities, we award roughly 300
Future of Maine Aspirations Scholarships annually, we provide
informational resources to these students, we help young students explore their career opportunities through "
Connections," in partnership with the Mitchell Institute and Bowdoin College students we provide the monthly
Maine Word About College newsletter, and we do much more . . . all to help build a brighter future for rural Maine communities. As of July, 2023, 4,079 College Aspirations Scholarships have been awarded to 3rd through 6th graders in rural Maine.
Maine College Circle uses the word "college" very deliberately, and define it very broadly.
See how and why.Please join us to support the youth and the future of rural Maine communities.
Maine College Circle • P.O. Box 1112 • Ellsworth, Maine 04065
mecc@mainecollegecircle.org
