Thomas College expands $10K scholarship to all of New England

Photo / Amber Waterman Laurie Lachance, president of Thomas College. The Waterville college announce Thursday it is expanding its $10,000 Dirigo scholarship program to high school students across New England, beginning in 2018.

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By Staff

Thomas College is expanding its $10,000 Dirigo scholarship program to high school students across New England, beginning in 2018.

The Dirigo Award was initiated in 2014 to recognize academic and cocurricular leadership among Maine high school students. Last year, the college awarded 180 scholarships to Maine students.

The college announced Thursday that high schools in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire can nominate one student per school for the scholarship, which is for $2,500 a year for up to four years of undergraduate study at Thomas College.

Nominations are due Oct. 16 and students must be nominated by a guidance counselor.

The college has 1,000 graduate and undergraduate students and confers master’s degrees in business of administration and science, as well as bachelor and associate degrees in sciences and arts.

According to its website, 78% of its students are from Maine; 17% from New England; 5% from other states and countries; and 67% are the first generation to attend college.

“We know that paying for college is difficult, and for some students and their families, a scholarship can make a world of difference,” Provost Thomas Edwards said in a news release. “That’s why we’ve decided to expand this award to qualified students in all of New England. Thomas focuses on the education of the whole student — and the Dirigo Award recognizes students who lead inside and outside the classroom.”