SOUTH PORTLAND Maine
A community group wants to help South Portland High School graduates to continue their education and will put up money to get the job done.
The South Portland Scholarship Committee this week launched a fundraising effort with a long-term goal of providing $4,000 to each high school graduate $2,000 for each of the first two years of postsecondary education. The first step is to raise $20,000 to get the program started.
Eventually, supporters want to provide the scholarships to students regardless of academic achievement or economic need.
A study released last month by the Sen. George J. Mitchell Scholarship Research Institute underscored the importance of student financial aid.
Nearly two-thirds of parents reported that finances will likely determine which college their child attends, and about one-third of parents said finances will likely determine whether their child attends college at all, according to the study.
The scholarship for two years of postsecondary education could have an impact regardless of where the student is headed.
