ORONO – Former Sen. George Mitchell hosted a brunch for the 2007 class of Mitchell Scholars at the Black Bear Inn recently. Mitchell was the keynote speaker. Also in attendance were members of the Mitchell Institute board of directors, university and college leaders and other supporters.

Since 1995, the Mitchell Institute has awarded nearly $5.7 million in scholarships to almost 1,400 Maine high school graduates.

Nearly one-third of the Mitchell Scholars selected in 2007 are first-generation college students and almost 60 percent are from non-college tradition families.

Additional information is available at www.mitchellinstitute.org.

Local 2007 Mitchell Scholars are listed.

Androscoggin County

Sarah Beaulieu, Oak Hill High School; Victoria Cloutier, Edward Little High School; Michael Durrell, Livermore Falls High School; Katherine Gray, Poland Regional High School; Ashley McWhorter, Lewiston High School; Jeffrey Mercer, Lisbon High School; Benett Trinh, Leavitt Area High School.

Cumberland County

Ian Biggers, Lake Region High School; Samuel Christy, Gray-New Gloucester High School.

Franklin County

Pete Farnum, Mt. Blue High School; Emily George, Rangeley High School; Anna LeBlanc, Jay High School; Brittany York, Mt. Abram High School.

Oxford County

Daja Brown, Buckfield High School; Shannon Daley, Dirigo High School; Amber Duguay, Mountain Valley High School; Lauren Duplin, Sacopee Valley High School; Kelsie Hanscom, Telstar High School; Colin O’Neill, Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School; Kendyl Sullivan, Fryeburg Academy.

Kennebec County

Samantha Fairchild, Monmouth Academy; Kimberly Flynn, Winthrop High School; Julie Virgin, Maranacook Community High School.

Sagadahoc County

Kate Reichert, Mt. Ararat High School; Luxiana Rossignol, Richmond High School.

Somerset County

Katherine Abate, Carrabec High School; Garrick Brown, Madison Memorial High School.