AUBURN — Dorothy Dot Larrabee, 88, of Auburn, retired years ago as a social worker for the state of Maine.

On Friday, she was honored with a student advocate award by the College for ME-Androscoggin during the annual awards luncheon at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Larrabee was praised as a tireless champion of children and families during her long career in social work. After she retired, she was a board member and adviser for New Beginnings, an organization that helps at-risk and homeless youths.

As a board member, she pushed 10 years ago for a scholarship fund to help youth on their own go to college. The Larrabee Fund’s motto is “seed money for dreams.”

Since it was created, it’s given grants to 55 young adults, helping them fill in financial gaps for tuition and books, rent, transportation or equipment. When creating the fund, Larrabee insisted it be flexible and responsive to practical needs of youth on their own.

She smiled Friday when congratulated on her award. The fund has “enabled some kids to move along to higher education more than they would have otherwise,” she said.

At the luncheon three others were given student advocate awards, Auburn Superintendent Katy Grondin, Shelly Mogul of the Auburn School Department and Elizabeth Oken of Central Maine Community College.

Grondin and Mogul were praised for creating college aspirations with kindergarten students. For three years, Auburn schools have given all kindergarten students shirts in Edward Little High School’s maroon and white colors. The shirts claim the youngsters as future high school and college graduates.

The message of the shirt is clear, “We believe in you,” award presenter Candace Sanborn of Encompass Marketing said. The shirts are given to youngsters by Edward Little High School students.

Some may consider the shirts or the college banners and seals that hang in elementary schools as window dressing, but they are powerful messages, Sanborn said. They’ve prompted 5-year-olds to ask teachers where they went to college, or what college is like, Sanborn said.

Elizabeth Oken won her student advocate award for her work as director of placement and transfer services at CMCC.

She was described as a tireless advocate who has worked to expand transfer services, allowing students to continue their education beyond a two-year degree. Oken coordinates “transfers fairs” every semester, bringing representatives from 20 colleges to the Auburn campus.

“Liz is a perfect example of what one person can do to aid others in reaching their goals,” Sanborn said.

Kaplan University and Champoux Insurance Agency were also recognized with corporate leader awards. Both help their employees continue their education with financial support for classes.

Since 2007 more than 50 Kaplan employees in Maine have taken advantage of discount programs. The benefit gives workers free classes toward any Kaplan degree. Their family members get discounted classes.

Diane Champoux operates four insurance offices “and believes that all of the company’s 32 employees should continue education,” award presenter Mary Lafontaine of the Lewiston CareerCenter said. Champoux offers flexible scheduling and provides tuition reimbursement upfront.

The University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College won the College for ME-Androscoggin’s special award, which cited the college as a “true educational economic engine” for the community.

Since it was created 25 years ago, nearly 1,100 graduates have attained bachelor’s or graduate degrees, and 90 percent of those graduates have stayed in Maine.