Building the Mitchell Scholar Community in 2024, From One Scholar to Another

At high school senior award ceremonies and graduations statewide, a beautiful thing happened once again this year: Mitchell Scholars who are now enrolled in college came home to present the Mitchell Scholarship to the 2024 recipients and welcome them into the Mitchell Institute family.

And by the look on the faces of the new Mitchell Scholars, being personally welcomed into the Mitchell Scholar community before your friends, family, and classmates is some kind of wonderful.

Ask any of the currently enrolled Mitchell Scholars why they returned to their high schools to do the honors, and most will tell you that it’s because the Mitchell Scholar who graduated a year ahead of them did the same thing—and because the Mitchell Scholar community is something to be respected and nurtured.

That’s how it was for Emma Bennett (below center), the 2023 Mitchell Scholar from Baxter Academy for Technology and Science and a rising first-year at Bates College, who returned from a gap year of travel in Taiwan, England, and Ireland to usher Liam Murphy (below left) and Veronika Davis (below right) into the Mitchell Scholar community.

Bennett chose to pass the baton in personally congratulating Murphy and Davis because she knows how special it is to be presented with the Mitchell Scholarship by a peer. After all, Paul-Alexandre Liwanga, Baxter Academy’s 2022 Mitchell Scholar and now a rising junior sports management major at the University of Southern Maine, attended the school’s senior award ceremony a year ago to present the Mitchell Scholarship to her.

“This tradition is just one example of the kind of uplifting, supportive community new Mitchell scholars can expect as they step out of high school and into higher education,” said Bennett, who will matriculate at Bates College in the fall. “Last year, when Paul presented me with this scholarship, I was so moved to have received it from someone who had, not so long ago, been exactly in my shoes. On my return to present this year’s scholarships to Veronika and Liam, I couldn’t wait to express that same welcoming atmosphere that had made that experience so special for me.”

Kadence Reynolds, the 2023 Mitchell Scholar from Maine Arts Academy and criminal justice/psychology major at Husson College, is another of the many sophomore Scholars who returned to their high school alma mater to keep the tradition going strong. This year, Reynolds attended Maine Arts Academy’s senior awards ceremony to welcome the school’s 2024 Mitchell Scholar, Allana Chase.

For Reynolds, personally congratulating Chase reinforced her own understanding of what it takes to be a Mitchell Scholar—and to continue to strengthen the community of Scholars long after receiving the scholarship.

“Presenting this award to the newest Scholar makes you feel very accomplished. From getting the scholarship and knowing how much it takes to get it—from life experiences to school experiences—and being able to present to someone who did the same, brings a sense of joy and pride,” said Reynolds, who, pictured below right, received the Mitchell Scholarship a year ago from Sophia McFadden (left), the school’s 2022 Mitchell Scholar and rising junior music education major at the University of Southern Maine. “Knowing this person deserves it, and being able to recognize them yourself, it’s a huge honor. I couldn’t thank the Mitchell Institute enough for starting and continuing this tradition. It brings a sense of community into our lives.”

To those Mitchell Scholars who were able to keep the tradition alive this year, we at the Mitchell Institute say thank you for making the presentation of the Mitchell Scholarship at your high school that much more celebrated. And we are grateful to you for welcoming the 2024 recipients into the Mitchell Scholar family.

To the 2024 Mitchell Scholars, we say congratulations on receiving the coveted scholarship along with the wraparound supports that will enhance your undergraduate experience and help position you for success far beyond college. We cannot wait to meet you at the Welcome Celebration and have you join us for MILE I Weekend at Baxter State Park in early October.

By way of the presenting Mitchell Scholars and high school officials, we share below the 2024 award ceremony photos that we have received to date.

Alonna Battis, the 2023 Mitchell Scholar from Lawrence High School and rising sophomore at the University of New England, returned to her high school alma mater to congratulate Lawrence’s 2024 Mitchell Scholar, Joseph Mandoukou.

Baqer Jalil, the 2023 Mitchell Scholar from Casco Bay High School and rising sophomore at the University of Southern Maine, returned to his high school alma mater to congratulate Casco Bay’s 2024 Mitchell Scholars, Flower Kayisengerwa and Joseph Lew.

Savannah Compare, the 2023 Mitchell Scholar from Boothbay Region High School and a rising sophomore at Bates College, returned to present the Mitchell Scholarship to the school’s 2024 recipient, Charlotte Fuchswanz.

Bryce Baker, a 2023 Mitchell Scholar from Westbrook High School and rising sophomore at Colby College, returned to present the Mitchell Scholarship to the school’s three 2024 recipients: Nyamouch Bayak, (right middle), Jemima Kabangu (left middle), and Fiston Tshiminy.

Brady Gagnon, the 2023 Mitchell Scholar from Madawaska High School and rising sophomore at the University of Maine, returned to his high school alma mater to congratulate Madawaska’s 2024 Mitchell Scholar, Nicholas Poitras.

Clayton Durepos (left), the 2023 Mitchell Scholar from Massabesic High School and a rising sophomore at the University of Southern Maine, returned to present the Mitchell Scholarship to the school’s 2024 recipient, Gianna Thibeault.

Ryan Mulligan (right), the 2023 Mitchell Scholar from Penobscot Valley High School and a rising sophomore physical therapy assistant major at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, returned to present the Mitchell Scholarship to the school’s 2024 recipient, Emerson Lindsay.

Hannah Holmwood (right), the 2023 Mitchell Scholar from Falmouth High School and a rising sophomore elementary education major at the University of Maine at Farmington, returned to present the Mitchell Scholarship to the school’s 2024 recipient, Kani Gutter.

Willa Ferris (left), the 2023 Mitchell Scholar from Wells High School and a rising sophomore archeology major at Dartmouth College, returned to present the Mitchell Scholarship to the school’s 2024 recipient, Gabriel Ordway.

Ava Moody (right), the 2023 Mitchell Scholar from Waterville Senior High School and a rising sophomore at the University of Southern Maine, returned to present the Mitchell Scholarship to the school’s 2024 recipient, Madison Yakimchick.

Sydney Dayken, a 2023 Mitchell Scholar from Gardiner Area High School and rising sophomore at the University of Maine, returned to her high school alma mater to congratulate Gardiner’s 2024 Mitchell Scholar, Haylie Peacock.

Madison Napoli, the 2023 Mitchell Scholar from East Grand School and a rising sophomore at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, returned to present the Mitchell Scholarship to the school’s 2024 recipient, Kayla MacClellan.

Monmouth Academy had two Mitchell Scholarship recipients in 2024: Sophia Johnson (left) and Mallory Langlois (right).

Lucas Graves (right), the 2024 Mitchell Scholar from Katahdin Middle/High School.

Elyse Nutter, a 2024 Mitchell Scholar from Foxcroft Academy.