New Milestone: 200 Mitchell Scholarships to Be Awarded in 2025 
As the Mitchell Institute’s Board of Directors recently approved the third phase of the organization’s plan to increase the number of $10,000 Mitchell Scholarships awarded to college-going Maine high school seniors, the Mitchell Institute’s Scholarship Selection Committee will be able to say yes to 15 more applicants statewide this year, bringing the total number of new Mitchell Scholars selected to 200 in 2025.
“As the Institute enters its 30th year, we have provided nearly $27 million in scholarships and direct financial support to 3,800 Mitchell Scholars,” said Jared Cash, President and CEO of the Mitchell Institute. “We look forward to celebrating our 4,000 Mitchell Scholar milestone in the year ahead.”
This year’s expansion represents a 50 percent increase in Mitchell Scholarships awarded over the past three years, Cash said. “As our capacity grows, so do our levels of support to the inspiring young people of Maine.”
“We are deeply grateful to our many loyal and generous supporters for investing in the Mitchell Institute’s mission to increase the likelihood that young people from every community in Maine will aspire to, pursue, and achieve a college education,” he continued. “Because of the generosity from our growing number of donors, we can, for the third consecutive year, expand the number of Mitchell Scholarships awarded and provide the additional 15 college-bound Maine high school seniors with the wraparound supports that complement the Mitchell Scholarship and are vital to success in college.”
The Mitchell Institute’s plan to serve more Maine students includes the broad range of social, financial and career resources that go beyond the scholarship. “From decades of research, we know that success requires more than just the money provided by a scholarship,” Cash said. “All of the additional supports that we offer Mitchell Scholars — while they are in college and beyond — contribute to a sense of stability and community, helping to accelerate their success.”
Beyond the scholarship, the Mitchell Institute provides Mitchell Scholars with the opportunity to apply for fellowships of up to $1,500 for professional and personal development opportunities, such as unpaid or underpaid internships, career-related service projects, study-abroad experiences, and post-graduate and certification test preparation. The Mitchell Institute also provides Scholars with opportunities to apply for emergency funding for unexpected financial challenges, invitations to free leadership and career development events, and access to a network of more than 3,000 Mitchell Scholar Alumni who are eager to offer advice, mentoring, and career connections.
“One of the hallmarks of the Mitchell Scholar experience is the ongoing personal support and mentoring that Scholars receive from both the staff and our alumni network,” he said. “When you receive the Mitchell Scholarship, you immediately become part of a community that is ready to help you succeed.”
With the expanded number of scholarships, the Mitchell Institute will award a total of $2 million in scholarships and related support for the class of 2025 Mitchell Scholars.
“Because of the volume of incredible applicants we see each year, along with the impact we know we can have on young people’s trajectory to and through college, we saw an opportunity to do more of what we do best,” said Casey Near, Scholarship Director at the Mitchell Institute.
“We are deeply honored to be able to make this significantly increased investment in Maine’s young people,” she continued. “The selection committee and I look forward to reviewing this year’s applications and selecting the 200 recipients of this prestigious award later this spring. Knowing that we will be offering a life-changing experience to 15 more young people this year has us all very excited.”