LEWISTON — Christian O’Brien, who went from being homeless to an award-winning youth leader, was named a Promise Mitchell Scholar this week.

The 18-year-old senior at Lewiston High School is one of 143 high school graduates in Maine to receive an $8,500 scholarship from the Mitchell Institute, founded by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell.

In all, O’Brien received $16,000 worth of college scholarships.

On Wednesday, he was all smiles as he talked about the awards.

“Wow,” he said. “It didn’t hit me until I got home: I got a lot of money for college.”

The scholarships mean his first year and a half of college is paid for, he said.

O’Brien’s scholarship from the Mitchell Institute is the Shepard Lee Pioneer Scholar Award, in memory of Shep Lee, “a pillar of the Lewiston community and a good friend of Sen. Mitchell,” Sarah Short of the Mitchell Institute said.

Lee, a Lewiston native, graduated from Lewiston High School and was a prominent businessman, philanthropist and community leader.

Pioneer Scholars show great promise in terms of citizenship, scholarship and perseverance, and are supported by the Pioneer Donors for which their awards are named, according to the Mitchell Institute website.

Former Lewiston Mayor Larry Gilbert Sr. nominated O’Brien for the award and presented it to him at the Night of Excellence ceremony at the high school Tuesday.

Lewiston High School senior Tamia Wilson was named the Mitchell Scholar and also received $8,500 for four years of college.

Last year, O’Brien was named Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine’s Auburn/Lewiston Clubhouse. This year, he’s been named Youth of the Year for the state.

The teen was a spokesman for the United Way campaign, sharing how the organization helped his family when they were homeless. His hard work and appreciative attitude turned heads.

O’Brien said he had an amazing senior year. He did well in school and had fun at his gym coordinator job at the Boys & Girls Club in Auburn.

This fall, he plans to attend the University of Maine at Presque Isle, majoring in physical education and minoring in business.

Five years from now, he hopes to be a physical education teacher on his way to “my ultimate dream” of teaching and owning a karate studio.

Lewiston High School Assistant Principal Don Ferrara predicted O’Brien will go far, both for his ability and his attitude.

“Christian is a young man who’s overcome a lot of things,” Ferrara said. “It would have been easy for him to be bitter, angry or selfish. He is the opposite of all those things. He is a giving young man, has an infectious smile that’s welcoming to people.”

He works hard in school, does well, “and never takes the easy way out,” Ferrara said. “He’ll do what needs to be done even when no one’s watching.” 

“It’s a joy to see such a young person who has a mature presentation about himself,” Ferrara said. “He’s going to be something,” 

Beyond money for college, scholarship winners are offered career development mentoring and invitations to leadership development retreats, Short said.