PARIS – Higher education will be the theme of an open house and parade scheduled for Saturday.

The Oxford Hills Aspire Higher program, which is designed to increase and support the number of students going to college, will hand out about 45 scholarships at the end of the parade.

The Western Maine University and Community College Center will host an open house from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event takes place in conjunction with the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School homecoming parade, which lines up at 10:30 a.m.

The parade begins at 11:30 a.m., and will march from the Oxford Hills Middle School to the Gouin Sports Complex. A plane carrying an Aspire Higher banner will fly over at noon, and the scholarships will be given out at 12:45 p.m.

“Everyone who marches is eligible for a $100 scholarship,” said Tally Decato of the Aspire Higher Program. “It’s a token amount to get them to realize that the community’s behind them.”

The scholarships are given by local businesses and residents. Students from kindergarten to grade 12 who march in the parade will receive a certificate for the funds, which they may redeem when they enroll in a college.

The Western Maine University and Community College Center and the University of Maine have each donated one free course for adults who participate in the parade.

The events are capped by the homecoming football game with Brunswick High School.