July 10, 2007 A record number of Maine high school graduates from the Class of 2007, as well as a growing number of non-traditional students, have received scholarships to pursue higher education, thanks to the Maine Credit Union movement. The Movement recently awarded over $130,000 in scholarship money to approximately 235 students. Collectively, this year represents the largest amount of scholarship contributions ever distributed by Maine's credit unions.
Nearly every Maine credit union awarded at least one scholarship to a member of the Class of 2007. A significant number of credit unions also presented more than $15,000 in total scholarships to non-traditional students. The amounts of the scholarships awarded by Maine's credit unions ranged from $250 - $10,000.
Jon Paradise, Governmental & Public Affairs Manager for the Maine Credit Union League, called the record amount "an illustration of the commitment of Maine's credit unions to the philosophy of 'people helping people'." He continued, "Easing the financial burden of paying for college is a common goal that credit unions are trying to help more and more students realize. Since many of today's careers demand highly-skilled and educated workers, the need for higher education continues to grow. Maine's credit unions find it astounding that Maine has one of the highest high school graduation rates in the country and one of the lowest rates of graduates who go on to college. This is an opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of college students."
In addition to awarding scholarships, many Maine credit unions also presented free, financial aid seminars this past spring to help parents and their children finance a college education. As Paradise explained, "Information is knowledge and the more information and resources that students have access to can go a long way in helping young people pursue the dream of a college education."
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