PORTLAND — Girl Scouts of Maine awarded $10,000 in college scholarships to six high school seniors.

The Future Leaders Scholarships were presented at Girls Scouts of Maine’s inaugural Passion to Action on June 15 at the University of Southern Maine in Portland.

Recipients were Sierra Cummins of Monmouth, Emma Galipeau-Eldridge of Otisfield, Bailee Kinney of Poland, Gabrielle Begos of Westbrook, Jessica Brown of Portland, and Mairead Murphy of York.

Cummins graduated from Monmouth Academy and is planning to attend Bridgewater State University to major in special education. She believes the biggest problem facing girls today is the lack of encouragement they need to pursue their dreams.

Galipeau-Eldridge graduated from Poland Regional High School and plans to attend St. Lawrence University. She believes if all young girls were taught to be involved and work together, they would know their value and have the confidence to step forward to do whatever they choose.

Kinney graduated from Poland Regional High School and will double major in psychology and women’s studies at Clark University. She says the biggest challenge girls and women face today is the belief that is culturally embedded: that women and girls are not meant to be leaders. She plans to become a counselor to work with people who are struggling with mental illness, wanting to be an advocate for self-confidence and inner strength.

Passion to Action, a civic engagement event, inspired participants to take a passionate stand for positive change and mobilize it to civic action.

Six Girl Scouts from Maine were awarded $10,000 in college scholarships at the first Girl Scouts of Maine Passion to Action recently. Featured speakers were Meredith Strang Burgess, president and chief executive officer of Burgess Advertising; Emily Cain, executive director of EMILY’S List; and U.S. Sen. Angus King. Jennifer Long of WGME was moderator. From left are Long, Scouts Gabrielle Begos of Westbrook, Jessica Brown of Portland and Emma Galipeau-Eldridge of Otisfield, King, Scout Bailee Kinney of Poland, Cain, Scout Mairead Murphy of York, Burgess, Scout Sierra Cummins of Monmouth and Girls Scouts of Maine CEO Joanne Crepeau.