Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 32 : Spring 2017 | Page 42

Aroostook Aspirations
Initiative To Offer 43
Scholarships
by Nicole Duplessis
With the capability of offering as many as 16 Gauvin
Scholarships per year since their startup in 2014,
Aroostook Aspirations Initiative (AAI) is nearly
doubling that number this year. With the support
of their Sustaining Strategic Partners, Scholarship
Partners and community support, AAI is offering
as many as 43 scholarships to graduating seniors in
2017 that live and are staying in Aroostook County
for college.
Founders Ray and Sandy Gauvin say that having the
support to help more Aroostook County youth, is
truly rewarding.
“The ability to increase the number of Scholars we
can help, and the constantly growing support from
community and scholarship partners throughout
both The County and the State, is proof that the time
has arrived – the time to educate our future workforce
and build the economy of Aroostook County back
The 16 original Gauvin Scholarships come from AAI’s up,” said Ray and Sandy Gauvin.
endowment fund each year, which was established by
Founders Ray and Sandy Gauvin. AAI grew with the New in 2017 are 10 anonymously donated
support of their Sustaining Strategic Partners; Bangor scholarships. In addition, four scholarships have been
Daily News, WAGM-TV, The Aroostook Medical added by scholarship partner Acadia Federal Credit
Center, Cary Medical Center, Pineland Farms and Union. To qualify for this scholarship, students
Katahdin Trust, offering additional scholarships. The must be graduating from high schools in Fort Kent,
Health Services Foundation, a scholarship partner, Madawaska, Wisdom or Ashland, which are all branch
added one scholarship per year, and The Hampton Inn, locations. The student applicant or parent/guardian of
also a scholarship partner, added three scholarships per the student must also be an active member of Acadia
year. With the support for the organization growing, Federal Credit Union.
Kristen Wells, who is AAI’s Executive Director says “We are very pleased to partner with the Aroostook
she is thrilled to announce the new support they are Aspirations Initiative to sponsor scholarships for our
receiving in 2017.
local students,” said Dave Desjardins, President and
“This is an exciting time for the organization, and CEO of Acadia Federal Credit Union. “We trust
something that wouldn’t be possible without our the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative program to
scholarship partners,” said Wells. “It’s amazing that use their expertise to choose future scholars on our
the organization, and the support for the organization behalf. The work they are doing to mentor and guide
and our scholars, has grown so quickly. We have great students during their early college career is extremely
momentum to help more students stay for college and beneficial.”
professional opportunities here in Aroostook.”
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SPRING 2017