Scholarship recipient grateful for opportunity to give back to community

By Ed Pierce

A Windham student who graduated from the Baxter Academy for Technology and Science in June has been awarded a $10,000 college scholarship by the Mitchell Institute, a nonprofit scholarship and research organization.

Emma Bennett of Windham, who graduated from
Baxter Academy for Technology and Science in June,
has been awarded a $10,000 college scholarship
from the Mitchell Institute.
SUBMITTED PHOTO 

Emma Bennett of Windham is among 166 students from across Maine who have been named as Mitchell Scholars and will receive Mitchell Scholarships, which are split into four $2,500 installments and include personal, academic, and professional support.

The Portland-based Mitchell Institute was founded by former U.S. Senator George J. Mitchell of Maine to improve college outcomes for students from every community in the state.

Mitchell Institute President and CEO Jared Cash said that The Mitchell Institute is honored to offer the scholars a $10,000 scholarship along with signature events and resources that are designed to meet scholars where they are and support them in college and well into their professional careers.

“Each scholar represents the best of our great state and reflects Senator Mitchell’s vision of investing in young people so they, in turn, can strengthen their communities,” Cash said.

Throughout college and the years following, the Mitchell Scholars will have opportunities to engage with Mitchell Institute programs and resources focusing on financial assistance, leadership training, and academic and career support, Mitchell Institute officials say. The new class of Mitchell Scholars will join 437 currently enrolled scholars who collectively will receive more than $5 million in awards from the Mitchell Institute during their college careers.

All the college-bound students in the 2023 scholar class, including Bennett, have distinguished themselves through academic excellence and community involvement. With financial and programmatic support from the Mitchell Institute, some 88 percent of Mitchell Scholars complete college and achieve a degree, compared with 58 percent nationally, and more than 90 percent earn all As and Bs in their college courses.

Bennett said she was surprised to learn she was awarded the $10,000 scholarship.

“What I felt was shock followed by an overwhelming sense of gratitude and relief.,” Bennett said. “The Mitchell institute was the most prestigious institution I'd applied to, the Mitchell scholarship being the most rewarding package. Although I'd completed the application to the best of my ability, my expectations were low. Up until my name was called, my parents didn't even know I had sent in an application. It was a pleasant surprise all around. Words can't describe how incredibly grateful I am for this honor.”

She plans to take this school year off to travel, work, and refine her resume before entering college.

“I'm currently employed at Ledgewood, a nursing home in Windham, where I've been saving up for my college tuition for next year. I've been saving for several trips this year, the main one being a trip to Taiwan to visit relatives on my mom's side and care for my grandmother who is now suffering from stage two breast cancer,” Bennett said. “It's been eight years since I officially moved back to the U.S., having spent the bulk of my childhood accompanying my dad on his business trips to and from Taiwan as he taught English for a living. For the past month, I've been reconnecting with my roots, meeting new people, and rediscovering aspects of Taiwan culture that never occurred to me as a child growing up there. In the winter, I will be traveling to England with a friend, getting a taste of European culture and visiting colleges in the London area. In short, this year is what I'm hoping will be a year of enlightenment for me. When I attend college in 2024, I hope to study civil or structural engineering.”

After college, Bennett, 18, hopes to become a licensed civil engineer that specializes in sustainable solutions.

She is the daughter of Nathaniel Bennett and Nini Bennett and attended Baxter Academy for all four years of high school.

“There are several reasons why Baxter was a perfect fit for me: There were numerous opportunities for independent hands-on projects which I felt gave me an edge in project management and work ethic,” Bennett said. “My teachers were incredibly supportive throughout each step of the college preparatory process. Above all, I prized the fact that, in a school with students of various personalities and backgrounds, everyone shared a collective goal and passion for learning.”

Her advice for students who wish to earn a Mitchell Scholarship is simple.

“Focus on a singular quality or interest that makes you unique and build on it,” Bennett said. “Find ways in which it can improve your community. Convey the best version of yourself.” <