The Mitchell Institute's mission is to increase the likelihood that young people from every community in Maine will aspire to, pursue, and achieve a college education. Each year, a $10,000 Mitchell Scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior from every public high school in Maine. Selection is based on academic promise, financial need, and community impact. The Mitchell Scholarship Program has awarded $17 million in financial assistance to more than 3,000 Maine students since 1995. Through both experience and evidence-based research, we learned that college student success depends on more than hard work and financial aid. Additional support and guidance—both during and after college—increases Scholars’ chances of attaining a degree and finding meaningful employment in Maine. The Mitchell Institute offers Mitchell Scholars a suite of programs and resources that encourage a partnership with each Scholar, every step of the way, allowing us to meet and help Scholars where they are. Today, Scholars and Alumni alike say that the combination of financial and personal support makes a world of difference for them and their families, and our data show that the more we engage with a given Scholar, the more likely they are to graduate on time in their post-secondary education. The Mitchell Institute’s approach works: 85% of Mitchell Scholars complete college and achieve a degree, compared with 58% of students nationally. 89% of Mitchell Scholar Alumni are working in career-related jobs—nearly two-thirds of them in Maine—and 40% have completed or are pursuing graduate degrees. The Mitchell Institute strengthens the involvement of a new generation of civic-minded and committed citizens, all the while creating educational opportunity for Maine's young people. 25 years since the Institute started awarding Scholarships, our mission—and Senator Mitchell’s vision—are more integral to Maine’s future vitality than ever.
