SOUTH PORTLAND — Ten Maine community college students were awarded $3,500 scholarships in honor of Leon A. Gorman for the upcoming 2023-24 academic year. The students were celebrated May 15 in an online event with Gorman family members and L.L. Bean leadership.

The 2023 Leon A. Gorman Scholars are:

Mya Crowell (Greene), business, Central Maine Community College;
Reese McAtee (Lisbon), social sciences, Central Maine Community College;
Katahdin Javnar (Chester), business management, Eastern Maine Community College;
Kayla Brown (Fairfield), business management, Kennebec Valley Community College;
Tori Drost (Presque Isle), emergency medical services, Northern Maine Community College;
Gilon Backlund (Harrison), communications and new media, Southern Maine Community College;
Rokaya Hobbi (Waterville), cardiovascular technology, Southern Maine Community College;
Tashia Taylor (Brunswick), nursing, Southern Maine Community College;
Kristin Crowley (Bath), human services and substance use and recovery, Washington County Community College; and
Mary Weaver (Seabrook, New Hampshire), nursing, York County Community College.

This is the eighth year the scholarship has been given. It supports three students at Southern Maine Community College, two students at Central Maine Community College, and one student at the other five colleges. Each of the ten scholars will receive an award of $3,500, which equals more than a full year of tuition at a Maine community college. Scholars that receive the Free College Scholarship will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

The Leon A. Gorman Endowed Scholarship was established in 2014 by the children of Leon and Lisa Gorman in honor of the former’s 80th birthday. The scholarship supports Maine community college students who demonstrate strong academic achievement, financial need and a commitment to community service, a hallmark of the scholarship’s namesake.

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