We are one small community, and one large impact!

In May, The Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund concluded its 2017-2018 Annual Fund Drive, raising over $273,000. This money will be directed towards the funding of this year’s grants. We can all be proud.

At the Awards Night at BRHS in June, the Student Aid Fund announced that over $384,200 is being awarded for 2018 to 86 grant recipients. A total of over $2,000,000 has been awarded to graduates of BRHS between 2012 and 2018.

As a result of the continued generosity of many members of the Boothbay Region community and the leadership of the Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund grants were given to eighty-seven recipients; 30 of whom are new BRHS graduates (freshmen), 54 are rising sophomores, juniors or seniors. Two recipients are working toward graduate degrees. The average grant for 2018-2019 is $4,400.

Over the past seven years more students applied for grants, the community contributed higher totals to the Annual Fund Drive and the average grant increased as well. All-in-all, a very encouraging trend.

The cost of higher education continues to increase. So does the commitment of the BRSAF to assist BRHS graduates to study in the fields of their choice. The continuing goal of the Fund is to assure the future growth of award amountsthrough prudent management of the Fund’s investments portfolio revenue combined with a successful annual fund drive. Both enable the Fund to continue to increase the percentage of unmet financial need. Currently, that percentage is approximately between 30-35 percent. It is important to note that the BRSAF annually distributes outright grants which are not loans and as such do not need to be repaid. These grants help to facilitate the attainment of the goals and dreams of young people of the Boothbay Region. 

While the awards from the BRSAF are not merit-based, they support the aspirations of BRHS graduates to further their education or training in whatever field they choose.

Boothbay Region High School graduates will be attending a wide variety of schools, pursuing many different career paths and they will be traveling far and wide to do so. A partial list of schools includes University of Southern California, Rollins College in Florida, Savannah College of Art & Design, Bowdoin, University of Maine at Orono and Wheaton College in Massachusetts.

Nothing stands alone in this world, and so, by supporting BRHS graduates, the BRSAF makes a difference in the lives of many while also strengthening the local community.