Statement of Need

~ We recognize that all students need to have the option of furthering their education beyond high school.

~ We realize that 90% of students going to college have a “gap” in their financial aid package.

~ We understand that first generation students are 50% less likely to attend/graduate from college.

~ Loans are making up a larger and larger portion of financial aid packages.

~ Next to academics, financial issues are the biggest reason a student drops out of college. The two are often connected as low income students may need to work and attend college at the same time.

~ Students who drop out of school are often students who have no concrete plans for their future.

~ The development of a scholarship program for all students is a significant statement of our community’s commitment to our graduates.

~ The burgeoning rate of borrowing for college affects students’ decisions on a major/career as well as the feasibility of their staying in Maine for employment purposes.



~ Fiscal responsibility for the SPPS scholarship program is ensured by having the fund management under the auspices of the Maine Community Foundation.

~ Our immediate goal is to provide a scholarship for post secondary education to each graduating student.

~ Our long term goal is to give each graduating student a $2,000. scholarship for each of two years of post secondary education.