About A Message from the Executive Committee
Thursday, February 5th, 2026
In early February 2026, Senator Mitchell tendered his resignation from his role as honorary chair of the organization. We have accepted that resignation. We also agree that this is an appropriate time to initiate a thoughtful, responsible process to consider a potential name change.
Our guiding tenet remains: no Maine student with the qualifications and ambition to pursue a college education should be denied that opportunity due to limited financial resources. For 30 years, this organization has embraced the ambitious mission of increasing the likelihood that young people from every community in Maine aspire to and achieve a college education.
Our Board and our staff are as committed to that work as ever, motivated by our deserving and remarkable Scholar community and future generations of students. We look forward to another 30 years of awarding millions more in scholarship funding to launch thousands more Maine students into successful collegiate years and beyond.
~The Executive Committee of the Board
The Mitchell Institute
The Mitchell Institute’s guiding principle is simple: no Maine student with the ability and ambition to pursue a college education should be denied that opportunity because of limited financial resources. Since its founding, the Institute has invested in students from every community in Maine, helping them access and complete higher education.
Through experience and evidence-based research, we know that student success depends on more than hard work and financial aid alone. Additional guidance and support during and after college significantly increase the likelihood that students will earn a degree and find meaningful employment. The Mitchell Institute provides Scholars with a comprehensive set of academic, career, and personal supports designed to meet students where they are and walk alongside them throughout their journey.
This approach works. Eighty-eight percent of Mitchell Scholars complete college, compared with 58 percent of students nationally. Eighty-nine percent of Mitchell Scholar alumni are working in career-related roles, nearly two-thirds of them in Maine, and 40 percent have completed or are pursuing graduate degrees.
Our Origins and Ongoing Work
The Mitchell Institute was established in the 1990s to expand access to higher education for Maine students. Over time, the organization has grown into a statewide nonprofit dedicated to supporting students not only through scholarships, but also through sustained academic, career, and personal development programming.
Since its founding, the Institute has awarded more than $23 million in scholarships and continues to invest in programs that support student persistence, completion, and post-college success. The organization’s work is guided by its mission, governance, and commitment to serving Scholars, alumni, and Maine communities.
Today, the Mitchell Institute remains focused on its core purpose: supporting students as they pursue education, opportunity, and meaningful futures. That mission belongs to the Scholars we serve and the communities we support, and it continues to guide the Institute as it moves forward.