Your support is crucial in helping Boothbay Region High School graduates pursue higher education with help from the Student Aid Fund. If you haven't already contributed, there's still time to make a difference. The fund aims to assist graduates in starting college, continuing their education, or exploring alternative educational paths.

Since the beginning of the fund drive in November of last year, $183,400 has been raised from 243 donors who see investment in our young people as a positive move. The goal for this year’s drive is $250,000. The budget for grants this year is $465,000 with monies coming both from annual donations and endowment. Student awards for 2022-2023 totaled $435,000.

Awards are based on need calculated from the FAFSA federal aid form available online with the average grant for 2022-2023 being $6,500. Thus far of the 35 students in the graduating class, 25 plan to go to college and four are enrolling in other post high school programs.

In response to a recent survey undertaken by the Student Aid Fund board, students have or are attending colleges in various areas of New England, the Midwest, West, and as far away as the University of Glasgow in Scotland, studying areas as diverse as clinical acupuncture and oriental medicine, veterinary medicine, art and design, aeronautics, marine transportation, and other post high school programs.

A few quotes will tell you how these students think about their grants.

"The grant significantly reduced my student debt, making college much more feasible." "Receiving the BRSAF grant has been a game-changer in my educational journey. Without it, attending college would have been out of reach." "Thanks to the grant, I was able to attend my dream school." "I wouldn't have pursued a master's degree without this support."

So, there is still time to support our young people and enable them to continue or return to their education, to pursue their dreams, to prepare for the world to come. Please send your donation to Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund, P.O. Box 293, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538. Along with donating, if you have interest in getting more involved in the Student Aid Fund and joining others, who for 55 years have helped meet the continuing educational needs of our Boothbay Region High School graduates, be in touch through the website at brsaf.org and/or look for the fact sheets available around town. More board members are also needed.