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Meeting Scholars Where They Are

Scholars Are Once Again Celebrated and Supported at Campus Receptions Across Maine

By Mitchell Institute

October 26^th, 2022

After a two-year hiatus, Mitchell Institute staff are happily on the road again, attending campus-based Mitchell Scholar receptions statewide.

This fall, in between Gala and MILE I Weekend, Institute Project Associate Adam Thibodeau returned to the pre-pandemic practice of coordinating receptions that honor Scholars, introduce them to campus leaders and resources, and help them build connections with other Scholars. The gatherings also provide staff with an opportunity to talk up the Institute’s array of programs and supports, including Fellowships, the SOS Fund, and the ever-popular slate of MILE II career and personal development workshops at Unum.

“We often say that we meet Scholars where they are and that is most accurate with the campus receptions,” said Thibodeau. “Scholars have busy lives, and many are unable to meet with us at our signature events. So, receptions provide a chance to interact with and support them in their own region.”

At Bowdoin, Husson, and Thomas, senior college leaders recognized Scholars at celebrations featuring hors d'oeuvres or catered lunches. Maine Maritime took a slightly different tack by hosting Scholars aboard the Schooner Bowdoin, the Official Vessel of the State of Maine and the flagship of MMA’s Vessel Operations and Technology program, for an evening sail around Penobscot Bay.

Charting Bright Futures Aboard the Schooner Bowdoin

“Colleges and universities have kept the tradition of campus Scholar receptions going strong over the 27 years of partnership. They invite guests and coordinate meeting spaces and refreshments for our Scholar receptions in distinct formats and styles that fit the culture of their campus and mission,” said Jared Cash, President and CEO of the Mitchell Institute. “We’re grateful to all of the schools and their leaders who make recognizing Scholars and supporting their success a priority, year after year.”

Celebrating Scholars at Thomas

One mainstay of the Scholar reception circuit is Thomas College in Waterville, Maine, where this year Provost Dr. Thomas Edwards joined with Dr. Debbie Cunningham, Senior Vice President for Student Success, in recognizing their Scholars over lunch in Spann Student Commons.

“Thomas is always happy to celebrate students with the Mitchell Institute because we share a common goal: student success,” said Thomas, the College's Provost (above). “We partner with the Mitchell Institute to recognize student achievement and to share the resources that help them network, make connections, and which can put them on a path to leadership. These receptions offer our Scholars a chance to see other student leaders on campus, hear about what they can aspire to, and learn how the Mitchell Institute can help them succeed. It is always a cause for celebration.”

Building Community Among Scholars at Bowdoin

At Senator Mitchell’s alma mater, Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, Claudia Marroquin, Senior Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Student Aid, invited six vice president- and director-level Admission and Student Affairs leaders to join her in acknowledging their 14 currently matriculated Scholars during a late-afternoon celebration held in Cram Alumni House.

Hunter Steele (above), the 2019 Scholar from Lewiston High School, senior Religion and Economics major at Bowdoin and campus representative for the Institute, said Scholar receptions are a welcome opportunity to be recognized and reinforce the understanding that the Institute can offer vital support beyond financial resources.

“Going to college is a big change in someone’s life and can be very overwhelming. I think fostering welcoming communities is essential to making that transition smooth for Mitchell Scholars,” Steele said. “Additionally, with COVID-19 and the passing of a Mitchell Scholar during my time at Bowdoin, I have seen how important it is to have a consistent community of friends to be able to lean on during trying times. Having relied on these communities during my time as a Bowdoin Mitchell Scholar, I think it’s so important to sustain them.”

“Bowdoin has long had a connection to the Mitchell Institute, and its mission resonates with our own work as we, too, seek to encourage students from across the state of Maine to aspire to and pursue a college education,” said Marroquin, the College's Senior Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Student Aid. “The Mitchell Scholars have an incredible network of resources available to them and ensuring students know how to access those supports and opportunities can only benefit our students. I know how impactful the work of the Mitchell Institute is for these brilliant students and for their communities, and providing a space to recognize that work, support Mainers, and forge connections is an honor. Over the years, I have had the privilege to know many Mitchell Scholars and the Institute’s work — we truly are fortunate to be a college partner.”

And a Hearty Turnout at Husson

Husson-based Mitchell Scholars turned out in force on Thursday, Oct. 6, one day before the MILE I Weekend at the New England Outdoor Center in Millinocket. Prior to the reception, Thibodeau and Institute Project Manager Andrea Mitchell held a dozen one-on-one "no-agenda coffee" meetings with Scholars to discuss their well-being, progress, goals, and needs.

Thibodeau, the Institute’s Project Associate, said the receptions are essential for achieving the Institute’s goals of offering far more than a scholarship and connecting Scholars with robust resources provided by their schools.

“It takes a village to help Scholars achieve their goals. While the Mitchell Institute’s supports offer many benefits to Scholars, they serve as a supplement to all of the resources that the campuses have in place. The receptions are a way to reinforce the connections between all of these supports,” he said. “It is our hope that through these conversations Scholars feel more comfortable, confident, and visible on their campuses.”

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