PORTLAND — “No one should be guaranteed success, but everyone should have a fair chance to succeed, to go as high and as far as his or her talent, willingness to work, and willingness to take risks will carry them.”
The words of Senator George J. Mitchell offer a succinct description of the hopeful ideals of the Mitchell Institute, an organization guided by the driving mission to increase the likelihood that young people from every Maine community will aspire to, pursue, and achieve a college education.
Mitchell founded the Mitchell Scholarship Program in 1995 with a goal of increasing educational opportunities for Maine students before establishing the Mitchell Institute four years later, adding career and personal support programs for Mitchell Scholars, fellowships, and a research component. Mitchell Scholars are selected based on academic promise, community impact, and financial need.
“Every year, the Mitchell Institute awards a college scholarship to at least one graduating senior from each public high school in Maine. This year, it awarded nearly $2 million in scholarships. It’s remarkable to see the ways in which the Mitchell Institute helps these promising students develop leadership skills, find professional development opportunities, and form career networks in addition to the crucial financial support,” said Dan Walsh, president and CEO of Norway Savings Bank.
Based in Portland, the Mitchell Institute is an organization and mission that has inspired Norway Savings for years, including a $10,000 contribution this month.
“The investment of individual, family, and corporate donors in the Mitchell Institute makes it possible for us to serve Mitchell Scholars with the full array of social and financial support they need to succeed,” said Jared Cash, president and CEO of the Mitchell Institute. “We’re grateful for the generosity of Norway Savings Bank as it enables us to disrupt generational poverty for many Maine families and ensure that more hardworking young people in our state have access to a higher education and brighter future.”
Through the work of the Institute, Mitchell Scholars graduate from college at a rate (90 percent) that far exceeds the national average (58 percent), and the guidance they are offered, both during and after college, helps provide an invaluable roadmap to a fulfilling life.
“Through many coffee meetings and visits to the Mitchell Institute, I forged genuine connections with mentors who not only believed in my potential, but also encouraged me to push beyond my comfort zone,” said Melina Masselli, a graduate of both Lewiston High School and Wheaton College. “The impact of those I’ve met within the Mitchell Institute community transcends mere connections. Their impact on my life is immeasurable.”
“Being a Mitchell Scholar helped give me the confidence to enter my first year of college knowing that I had the ability to succeed,” said Tristan Seavey, a Calais native and Bates College student.
“The support from the Institute has been a blessing not just to me but to my family. We are deeply grateful for the lifelong support the Mitchell Institute provides,” said Pethuel Mutalenu, who graduated from Westbrook High School and is an alum of Bowdoin College.
“Having the chance to be a small part of this assistance, the success stories to come, and the enhancement of the vitality of Maine’s future workforce is an honor for us,” said Walsh. “The Mitchell Institute is changing the course of thousands of young people to a better destination, and Maine is thankful.”
To learn more about the Mitchell Institute, its work, or to learn how you can help the organization in its mission, visit www.mitchellinstitute.org.Founded in 1866, Norway Savings Bank is a leading mutual banking and financial services company headquartered in Norway, Maine. As of June 30, 2024, Norway Savings Bank had $1.912 billion in total assets; 24 branch locations; and divisions in trust and investment services, personal banking, and business banking. It has received an “Outstanding” rating for three consecutive Community Reinvestment Act Exams from the FDIC. Norway Savings has also received the Best Place for Working Parents designation in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and was recognized with the “Best Wellness Employer – Gold Certification” for the sixth year in a row by Wellness Workdays. BauerFinancial has designated the Bank the “Best of Bauer” for earning and maintaining its highest 5-star rating for 34 continuous years. For more information, visit www.norwaysavings.bank.
