ROCKLAND – The Worthington Scholarship Foundation is proud to welcome 639 new scholars to its program.

Worthington scholars are graduates of 98 high schools throughout 13 counties in Maine and are selected upon need and merit. These 2023 graduates join the 844 current Worthington scholars who reflect the Foundation’s vision to support the completion of post-secondary education in Maine.

Awardees for 2023 include 76 graduating seniors from Belfast Area High School, Camden Hills Regional High School, Oceanside High School and Vinalhaven School.

“I see in each of these scholars the grit and determination to succeed” says Bev Worthington, co-founder of the Worthington Scholarship Foundation. “Our scholars were chosen because we know they have what it takes to complete college and we’re so excited to help them take that first step.”

“Through our scholarship, we aim to raise the aspirations of our scholars while providing them with the support needed to pursue a post-secondary degree,” states Julie Bourgoin, president of the Worthington Scholarship Foundation. “Our scholars are selecting colleges and universities in Maine where they will receive a world-class education and contribute to Maine's future.”

One of the Foundation’s overarching goals is to resist the relocation of academics from Maine to other states where students could be at-risk of incurring student loan debt beyond their means. “We hope this scholarship helps young people experience the benefits of attending college in Maine and have the financial support to do so.”

In 2024, the Worthington Scholarship will be available to those who attend a public Maine high school and will attend Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Husson, Maine Maritime Academy, Thomas, any campus of the University of Maine system, or any campus of the Maine Community College system.

Local Midcoast Worthington Scholars are listed along with the colleges or universities they plan to attend.

Belfast Area High School

Gabriella Genthner, Husson University; Holden Nichols, Maine Maritime Academy; Hannah King, Husson University; Kaitlyn Kelley, Northern Maine Community College; Madison Resh, Husson University; Gemma Bradney, University of Southern Maine; Olivia Lancaster, Eastern Maine Community College; Kayden Richards, Eastern Maine Community College; Kaylee Dodd, Eastern Maine Community College; Elijah Slaughter, University of Maine; Ezekiel Slaughter, University of Maine; Julia Chapman, Eastern Maine Community College; Tristan Bannister, Central Maine Community College; Maiara Rebordão, Bowdoin College; Brigham Graf, Maine Maritime Academy; Jackson Lapierre, University of Southern Maine; Jacqueline Batty, University of Southern Maine; Laney Sheafe, Eastern Maine Community College; Charlemagne Guzman, Eastern Maine Community College; Sydney Marriner, University of Maine; Izik Marriner, University of Maine; Macey Morse, University of Maine; Daniel Joy, University of Maine; Thomas Littlefield, University of Maine; Harley Sniger, Husson University; Liliana Christian, University of Maine; Kyle Payson, Kennebec Valley Community College; Naomi Bernice Agbuya, Eastern Maine Community College; Rachel Richards, Eastern Maine Community College; Kara Richards, Thomas College; Olivia Day, Husson University; Trinity Paquin, University of Maine at Farmington; Jacey Bock, Bates College; Griffin Curtis, Eastern Maine Community College; Montgomery Ford, Eastern Maine Community College; Oliver Tarbox, Eastern Maine Community College; Noah Allen, University of Maine; Alec Rolfe, University of Maine; Damon Neal, Central Maine Community College; Shane Stanhope, University of Maine; Brendan Coates, University of Maine; Mia Winslow, Husson University; and Michael Ham, Maine Maritime Academy.

Camden Hills Regional High School

Willow McConochie, University of Maine; Anastasia Zhyla, Southern Maine Community College; Curtis Bibber, University of Maine; Margaret Gill, Bates College; An-ni Zheng, University of Southern Maine; Gwenyth Miller, Southern Maine Community College; Claudine Webber, Thomas College; Caden Gurney, Kennebec Valley Community College; Zoe O'Brien, Bowdoin College; Micah Mosheyev, University of Maine; Lydia Myers, Southern Maine Community College; Sophia Ryan, University of Southern Maine; and Juliette Landry, University of Maine.

Oceanside High School

Karen Skarka, Maine Maritime Academy; Winter Adams, University of Maine at Farmington; Benjamin Jones, Eastern Maine Community College; Aleshia Alicea, Southern Maine Community College; Dasia Hustus, University of Maine at Farmington; Grace Van Buskirk, University of Maine; Kayla Betts, Southern Maine Community College; Jack Elwell, Washington County Community College; Eleighni King, Husson University; Emily Sykes, University of Maine at Farmington; Ava Carpenter, University of Southern Maine; Rhys Jones, Eastern Maine Community College; Chelsea Glaude, University of Maine; Hayden Jacques, Southern Maine Community College; Adelaide Hendricks, University of Southern Maine; Abby Waterman, University of Maine at Augusta; Michael Matthews, University of Maine; Jun Patrick Penaflorida, University of Southern Maine; Alexia Knowlton, University of Maine; and

Vinalhaven School

Joseph Lazaro, University of Maine; and Callie Warren, Southern Maine Community College.

The Worthington Scholarship Foundation provides multi-year scholarships with values ranging from $6,000 to $17,000. Since 2010, more than $18 million has been granted to graduates of Maine high schools who attend partnering Maine colleges. The intention of the Foundation is to increase the accessibility of college by reducing financial barriers, to provide support for scholars to persist in college, and to help minimize the risk of incurring insurmountable student loan debt. For more information, please visit www.worthingtonscholars.org.