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The 2024 Graduation Celebration

Thanks to event sponsor Bangor Savings Bank, the new college graduates were celebrated and welcomed into their new roles as Mitchell Scholar alumni.

By Mitchell Institute

May 31^st, 2024

A celebration of degrees earned and all they have learned

Over delicious catering from Foodworks of Portland (courtesy of event sponsor Bangor Savings Bank), Mitchell Scholars who recently graduated from college, members of the Mitchell Institute Alumni Council, members of our Board of Directors, and Institute staff celebrated at The Roux Institute on Wednesday, May 30. The fizzy event had one other purpose: welcoming the recent college graduates into their new roles as Mitchell Scholar alumni.

‘Once a Mitchell Scholar, always a Mitchell Scholar.’

Adam Thibodeau (above), the 2001 Mitchell Scholar from Lawrence High School, UMaine graduate, and now Scholarship Operations Manager at the Mitchell Institute, told the new graduates that their accomplishments honor Senator Mitchell's vision for creating the Mitchell Scholarship.

"Your graduation is meaningful to us because it represents the achievement of Senator Mitchell’s vision that more Maine students will attain a college degree," he said. "We have been proud to help you overcome roadblocks on your journey, see you make your communities better through your leadership, and most importantly, cheer you on as you achieve your goals. And now that you have graduated, you have joined a group of over 3,000 Mitchell Scholar Alumni who have benefited from the scholarship and our support programs."

“Even though you have completed your undergraduate education, this entire, vast Mitchell Institute community is committed to helping you be successful. You can turn to any one of us in times of transition, doubt, and celebration—whether you settle in your hometown or across the country and no matter how long ago you may have graduated from college. As we often say, ‘Once a Mitchell Scholar, always a Mitchell Scholar.’”

‘Our state's future will be bright because of all of you.’

Jaclyn Fish, Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing and Community Relations at Bangor Savings Bank (above), congratulated the newly minted graduates and shared greetings from two Mitchell Scholars employed at the event sponsor who were unable to attend: Wendy Gibbs, the 2012 Scholar from Mount View High School, and Sebastian Zepeda, the 2015 Scholar from Foxcroft Academy.

Gibbs, a commercial banking senior portfolio manager with Bangor Savings Bank, shared that she was able to graduate from the University of Maine with two degrees—and no debt—thanks in part to the Mitchell Scholarship. That gratitude motivated her to become a member of the Mitchell Institute's Truc Huynh Alumni Giving Society. Zepeda, who manages BSB's Dover, N.H., branch and has attended several Mitchell Scholar events, including MILE II, gave thanks to the Mitchell Institute for finding ways to keep Scholars connected over the years and wished well in their next chapters.

Fish concluded by thanking the new graduates for their hard work and persistence. “Our state's future will be bright because of all of you,” she said.

‘While the challenges may feel unique to you, Alumni have dealt with it before and been through it all. We're here for you.’

Elliott Simpson, the 2014 Mitchell Scholar from Hampden Academy and incoming President of the Mitchell Institute Alumni Council, spoke about the alumni service organization's efforts to support the Mitchell Institute's mission, and, in particular, MIAC's role in organizing the annual MILE II career and professional development event.

Simpson also encouraged the new graduates and alumni to consider service on MIAC.

“The level of care and consideration from the staff guided me to where I am today,” said the senior consultant with BerryDunn in Portland. “I joined the Alumni Council in an attempt to give back for all that I have received.”

In closing, Simpson encouraged the new graduates to connect with alumni through the Mitchell Scholar Alumni Community LinkedIn group.

“While the challenges may feel unique to you, Alumni have dealt with them before and been through it all,” he said. “We're here for you.”

Class Photo Time

A celebration of the 2024 Mitchell Scholar graduates wouldn't be complete without a group photo, and the 14 new alumni in attendance were happy to oblige. Pictured left to right are Natalie Bickerstaff, the 2020 Scholar from Central High School and a University of Maine graduate; Bailee Mallett, the 2020 Scholar from Fort Fairfield Middle/High School and a Thomas College graduate; Jean-Daniel Liwanga, the 2020 Scholar from Baxter Academy for Technology and Science and a University of Southern Maine graduate; Eliza Schotten, the 2020 Scholar from Morse High School and a Bowdoin College graduate; Henry Izere, the 2020 Scholar from Portland High School and a University of Maine graduate; Gabriella Fultz, the 2021 Scholar from Marshwood High School and a University of Maine at Farmington graduate; Chandler Rollins, the 2020 Scholar from Mt. Abram High School and a Maine Maritime Academy graduate; Clara Simpson, the 2018 Scholar from Hampden Academy and a University of Maine graduate; Colton Harding, the 2020 Scholar from Easton Junior/Senior High School and a Thomas College graduate; Annika Gil, the 2020 Scholar from Erskine Academy and a University of Maine graduate; Gracia Bareti, the 2020 Scholar from Westbrook High School and a Smith College graduate; Divine M’Bambi, the 2018 Scholar from Deering High School and a University of Maine graduate; Colbey Goozey, the 2020 Scholar from Mt. Blue High School and a University of Southern Maine graduate; and Keegan Fitzgerald, the 2020 Scholar from Oceanside High School and a University of Maine graduate.

And The Roux Group

Five alumni in attendance were already quite familiar with the Graduation Celebration venue, as they are enrolled in graduate programs at The Roux Institute at Northeastern University. The following pictured Mitchell Scholar alumni are taking full advantage of a 20% tuition discount toward master's and certificate programs offered to all Mitchell Scholar alumni by The Roux Institute, in addition to scholarships through the Alfond Scholars Initiative: Sarah McKeown, the 2008 Scholar from Leavitt Area High School and a University of Maine at Farmington graduate; Pethuel Mutalenu, the 2019 Scholar from Westbrook High School and a Bowdoin College graduate; Kayla Girardin, the 2013 Scholar from Presque Isle High School and a University of Maine at Farmington graduate; Jean-Daniel Liwanga, the 2020 Scholar from Baxter Academy for Technology and Science and a University of Southern Maine graduate; and Lauren Turcotte Seavey, the 2019 Scholar from Bangor High School and a University of Maine graduate.

And, finally, the unveiling of an official partnership

The Mitchell Institute has been in many of the elegant spaces of The Roux Institute, which, in recent years, has generously hosted two open houses for Mitchell Scholars as well as the "Roux MILE," featuring a design thinking workshop with NIMBLE Founder and CEO Mariette Wharton. But there's one place we haven't been: The Partners Wall, where The Roux Institute displays the names of businesses and organizations that are official partners of the Northeastern University campus.

Jared Cash, President and CEO of the Mitchell Institute, and Margaret Angell, Head of Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives at The Roux Institute, thought it was high time to make the partnership official, and so, on the eve of May 29, 2024, the Partners Wall grew by one partner and one very handsome plaque.

After remarks from Angell and Cash about the strength and importance of the partnership—for Mitchell Scholars and Maine alike—Jean-Daniel Liwanga, the 2020 Scholar from Baxter Academy for Technology and Science, USM computer science graduate, and now master's in computer science candidate at The Roux Institute, did the honors of unveiling the Mitchell Institute plaque on the Partners Wall.

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