
Three Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School graduates have been named Mitchell Scholars, an honor that comes with a $10,000 scholarship. From Left: Cindy Choi of South Paris; Patrick Wilkinson of Otisfield; and Jaxton Stain of Harrison. Submitted photo
REGION — The Mitchell Institute has announced that three recent Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School grads have been named Mitchell Scholars and each awarded a $10,000 scholarship to assist them through their college careers.
Cindy Choi of South Paris, Patrick Wilkinson of Otisfield and Jaxton Stain of Harrison all say they were inspired to apply after meeting with Viking Class of 2000 graduate and CEO of the Mitchell Institute, Jared Cash of Norway.
According to Cash, OHCHS’s director for college, career and extended learning opportunities Vincent Kloskowski was instrumental as a liaison between the school and Mitchell Institute and a mentor for students.
“Oxford Hills was one of only a few schools with three student awards,” Cash said. “With his guidance, our students approached the process seriously. OHCHS put forward a strong showing of applicants.”
“It was an email that our class advisors sent to the seniors of my class,” Choi told the Advertiser Democrat. “That a representative from the Mitchell Institute was coming to the high school to talk about the institute and what it means to be a Mitchell scholar.”
She said she was a nervous at first, as she and Wilkinson were the first students to enter the room where Cash was waiting. He quickly put them at ease.
“It was a little awkward, being the first ones there. But once we started talking about college and our plans the mood lightened up,” Choi said. “He talked about the application process and the events we could go to if we became a Mitchell Scholar.
“To me, becoming a Mitchel Scholar is to really dedicate yourself to education and persevering through the hardest challenge you face in high school and age.”
Among the challenges Oxford Hills kids face, being part of lower-income communities, being able to even pay the fees to apply for scholarships can be a barrier, she said. “For some students, it’s very difficult to get into a dream college and then to afford to go. I’m very fortunate that I have been able to overcome that with scholarships and the aid of my counselors.”
Choi’s dream college was Boston University, which she will start attending in a few weeks. She says her passions as a student have been chemistry (“I really enjoy the periodic table, yes … and chemical reactions”) and graphic design. And her future dream job is to combine the two and become a museum curator specializing in restoration.
Wilkinson found his passion as a student in Oxford Hills Technical School’s Marketing Management program. His participation in DECA has taken him to competitive events throughout Maine and different parts of the country. He has served as one of DECA’s annual crafts fair organizer, merchandised school swag at Val Halla, the Viking store at OHCHS and served as a state officer in the program.
“DECA has been my biggest friends group,” Wilkinson says. “Within school but also going across the country and meeting so many people – Anaheim, Orlando, Atlanta. More than 30,000 kids from across the world go to these competitions. Last year, I had the pleasure of waving the Maine flag across the stage, in front of 32,000 people.
His next stop is Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. He sees his future career in the real estate business. Coming from a large blended family, the Mitchell Institute scholarship will be an important asset for Wilkinson to achieve his college dream.
“My METS advisor (Maine Educational Talent Search) told me about the Mitchell Institute and had me go to the meeting with Jared Cash,” Wilkinson said. “He told us all about it and the different things they look for, so I applied.
“They want people who are passionate about their community and making connections with others on an every day basis. It affords people who might not have the resources and opportunities [for college]. I feel very secure financially and that’s because of scholarships like the Mitchell Institute, and other scholarships available at Oxford Hills.”
In Wilkinson’s case, he applied for 40 different scholarships, making the school library almost a second home as he spent hours and hours researching opportunities, assessing how he fit with them and writing application essays.
“It took a lot of time and effort, after school and even at home on my own time.”
Stain admits to feeling overwhelmed by being named a Mitchell Scholar. But he is preparing to start as a freshman at University of Maine Farmington majoring in psychology.
“I’m still wrapping my head around it to be honest,” he said during an interview last week. “I don’t know if I can put into words how much of a relief it is for me. It’s people I can fall back on. I’ve been given an extra support network that has told me they will be there for me.
“Since I’m a first-gen with parents who aren’t overly supportive money wise, I was reaching out to any scholarship I could find. I really doubted I’d get a [Mitchell] scholarship and I was pleasantly surprised.”
In addition to the financial support and honor of being named a Mitchell Scholar, Stain was chosen as a Bonney (formerly known as Promise) Scholar. He agrees it is a life-changing experience.
“Being a Bonney Scholar, it’s a group of about 20 students who are invited to additional meetings at the Mitchell Institute,” he said. “I just went to a Mile III event, where we got to know some of the people there, ask questions and become more integrated with the scholars’ community before everyone attended the welcome reception. I believe a majority of us were chosen because of what we had written in our essays about our personal struggles to get to where we are now.
“I always want to know more, I have a thirst for knowledge. I didn’t always want to go to college but it grew with me. Wanting independence and getting out in the world. I love research, to be in the place where it happens, is amazing. I’ve always been one of those people who does go to school just to learn.”
“Cindy, Patrick and Jaxton represent the promise of Maine’s future,” Cash said.
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