LEWISTON – “I’m from Lewiston, and I didn’t have a fear of going down the street from my home to go to college,” said Peter MacArthur, a first-year Bates student. “Sometimes you have to look around and see that some of the best things in our lives are in our own community.”

MacArthur is one of four students that the college named as its first Androscoggin Scholars, recipients of tuition support from an endowed fund launched in 2004 to benefit students from the greater Lewiston-Auburn region.

The other three 2006 Androscoggin Scholars are Emily Biliouris, a senior psychology major from Livermore; Hannah Giasson, a sophomore psychology major from Auburn; and William Locke, a junior biology major from Auburn.

The scholarship recipients were announced at the fall breakfast meeting of the Garcelon Society of Bates College, held at the college’s Edmund S. Muskie Archives. Thomas Moser, a former Bates speech professor and founder of the furniture company, Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers, was the featured speaker.

The Androscoggin Scholarship Fund is supported by the Garcelon Society, a civic group chaired by Barbara Trafton, an Auburn resident, former state senator and Bates parent. The society and college hope to raise $1 million by June 2008, with about half that amount in hand to date.

A dean’s list student and Dana Scholar at Bates, Biliouris received support from the Isaacson Fund of the Androscoggin Scholarship Endowment. She plans to become a clinical researcher after medical school, and spent the summer as a research assistant at Harvard University’s Harvard Health and Psychophysiology Laboratory.

A 2003 graduate of Livermore Falls High School, she is the daughter of William and Susan Biliouris.

Giasson, also a dean’s list student and Dana Scholar, plans to go into psychological or neuropsychological research after finishing her education. She is a member of the women’s varsity cross country team, the college choir and the student government. A 2005 graduate of Edward Little High School, she is the daughter of Katherine Giasson.

Locke received the Downing Family Scholarship of the Androscoggin Scholarship Endowment. A 2004 graduate of Poland Regional High School, he is the son of William and Priscilla Locke.

MacArthur is a 2006 graduate of Lewiston High School. He spent his senior year of high school studying in France and received an award for his accomplishments in the French language. He aspires to work for the U.S. State Department. MacArthur is the son of Susan MacArthur.

For more information about the Androscoggin Scholarship Fund, contact Robert L. Pallone at Bates College, 786-6243.

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