Thanks to the Maine Community Foundation 9 College Transitions students have Rockefeller Scholarships to attend college this winter. One student rejoiced when she heard the good news, “I have a new job and a scholarship for college. I feel like I’m a real person now.”
Bank of America donation to help new Mainers gain employment
Story was featured in Maine Biz on January 27th–
http://www.mainebiz.biz/article/20170126/NEWS0101/170129959
Emerging Leader Award
Hugues Ingabire arrived in Portland at 19 with a strong desire to go to college, but he had fled Burundi without high school credentials. At PAE’s Street Academy for Homeless Youth, Hugues received study materials and encouragement, enabling him to pass the GED exam. Hugues then enrolled in PAE’s College Transitions program and took every relevant class, starting with courses run by Community Financial Literacy, to learn how he could finance his education while seeking asylum. He received a large scholarship at his graduation and the Portland Schools Superintendent urged him to participate in the MySuccess program at SMCC. He now mentors other MySuccess students and is excelling as a second year student at SMCC, where he received an Emerging Leader award in 2015.