Most Mitchell scholars still in Maine

SOUTH PORTLAND — Since former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell's efforts to help Maine kids go to college began in 1999, those efforts have helped both students and the state, a report released Friday showed.

The former U.S. Secretary of State and Democratic U.S. senator from Maine formed the Mitchell Institute in 1999. Over the past 10 years, one graduate of every public high school in the state has received a four-year Mitchell scholarship, now at $1,250 per year.

That's a total of 1,650 Mitchell scholars. Of those, 78 are from Androscoggin County, 77 from Oxford County and 42 from Franklin County, according to "A Decade of Impact: Measuring the Mitchell Institute's Educational and Economic Outcomes." Sixty-seven percent of Mitchell alumni currently live in Maine, compared to 48 percent of Maine high school graduates who completed college in the late 1990s, according to the report.

"That is something we feel really great about," said Mitchell Institute Executive Director Colleen Quint.

More graduates staying in Maine "helps raise the tide for the whole state by boosting the numbers of degree holders and by keeping more of these bright young people in the state, rather than having everybody leave the second they get their diploma," Quint said.

The report also shows:

• 400 Mainers have graduated from college who would not have if they were not selected as Mitchell scholars.

• Large numbers of Mitchell scholars volunteer in their communities. Mitchell scholars' community service participation has grown from 46 percent in 1999 to 64 percent of the current scholars, the report said. The numbers of Mitchell college graduates participating in community service has also grown, from 44 percent in 2004 to 52 percent in 2008.

• On average, 95 percent of Mitchell scholars stay in college, and achieve a college graduation rate higher than the statewide average. Sixty-five percent achieved a four-year degree in four years, compared with the state average of 29 percent. For a variety of reasons, it's taking college students longer than four years to get four-year degrees. It's a national trend, Quint said.

Two reasons Mitchell scholars enjoy success, Quint said, is that they are told they're future leaders and they fulfill that. Second, throughout their college careers Mitchell scholars receive guidance, counseling and networking. That helps feed success and shows them career opportunities in Maine, Quint said.

Two Mitchell scholars said that help made a difference in their lives.

Cody Humphrey of New Gloucester is a student at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. She received the Mitchell scholarship after graduating from Gray-New Gloucester High School in June.

"The Mitchell scholarship provided me with the relief of how much school was going to cost," Humphrey said. "The institute is working on a new alumni/scholars affiliation which would connect scholars with alumni so they can talk about their own college experiences and career paths."

Dakotah Woitko, who graduated from Fryeburg Academy and the University of Southern Maine, now works on a research project at Maine Medical Center.

"I am a first-generation college student and was struggling to find a way to pay for college," Woitko said. She had always been a good student and was determined to continue her education after high school. "Being a Mitchell scholar did more than just make that dream a reality. It gave me the guidance and support that I needed to become a successful professional." Without it, she said, "I wouldn't be where I am today."

High schools across Maine could help more students go to college by helping them "walk through the process" of getting into college, Woitko said.

"More time and energy should be devoted to explaining the necessary steps, and I don't mean just to high school seniors. Many college degree programs require you to take certain classes in high school, some starting in the freshman year," she said.