ROCKLAND — The University of Maine at Augusta Rockland Center, which has provided access to more than 30 college degrees and student support services in the mid-coast for 44 years, is pleased to announce a grant in the amount of $8,000 from United Midcoast Charities (UMC) to support local University scholarships.

The UMC funds will allow the UMA Rockland Center to financially help students take a first-time college course, or provide a continuing University student with financial assistance when other forms of financial aid fall short.

“We are anticipating some immediate and unique financial challenges for our students given the current circumstances of the pandemic,” said UMA Rockland’s Director Deborah Meehan, in a news release. “UMC’s generous grant will help identified students to either begin or continue with a college program.”

As Maine undergoes a dramatic transformation to a knowledge-based economy, higher education is increasingly necessary so that workers may upgrade skills and find good paying, reliable work.

“A scholarship can be both an incentive to help a reluctant student get started, or it can be critical at a time of financial need to help a continuing student persist through a particularly hard time,” said Meehan. “We recognize the demands on the UMC grants committee to meet the many diverse needs of local nonprofits during this incredibly demanding time, and we are grateful they continue to recognize the importance of scholarship support to local University students.”

The UMA Rockland Center enrolls about 500 students each fall and spring term in the Midcoast area and graduates nearly 60 students every year. These students go on to contribute to the local workforce as nurses, accountants, computer programmers, police officers, public school teachers, case workers, town managers, nonprofit managers and more.
 
Every dollar donated to UMC is applied directly to its grant program, which in the last five years has awarded grants totaling $2.4 million to recipients. UMC also offers educational programs and other learning resources for all local nonprofits, including those who are not recipients of its grants program.

”We extend out thanks to United Midcoast Charities for their generous grant of $8,000 in support of scholarship assistance,” said Meehan. “We are especially grateful to the community donors who make UMC grants possible.”

For information on the UMA Rockland Center or to set up a free academic planning appointment, contact them at umarockland@maine.edu or phone 596-6906 and a staffer will get right back to you.