FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — The “Invest in ME” kindergarten program through the Finance Authority of Maine and the Alfond Scholarship Foundation has named Fort Fairfield Elementary as a “County Champion” school for the 2019-2020 school year.
In 2013, babies born in Maine received a $500 scholarship from the Alfond Foundation to put toward higher education. This year, the Finance Authority of Maine, along with the Alfond Scholarship Foundation, have chosen 16 schools around the state to be “County Champions” and commended for their own initiatives in helping youth save money for college.
According to a press release, the program began last year as an educational initiative to inspire Maine families to start preparing for school.
-
- Maggie Knox, Justin Crockett, Blake Kelley and Ezra Murchie draw what they want to be when they grow up during the Invest in ME celebration at Fort Fairfield Elementary on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. (Staff Photo/ Nina Mahaleris)
“Helping families build bright futures — that’s the mission behind the Invest in ME kindergarten program … We hope Maine families and Maine educators think of kindergarten as the first step to higher education,” Colleen Quint, President and CEO of the Alfond Scholarship Foundation said in the release.
Along with Fort Fairfield, Sabattus Primary school in Androscoggin County, Blue Point Primary of Cumberland, Strong Elementary in Franklin, Ellsworth Elementary in Hancock, Libby Tozier in Kennebec, Nobleboro Central in Lincoln, Crescent Park in Oxford, Ridge View Community school in Penobscot, Edmunds Consolidated school in Waldo, Lubec Elementary in Washington and Dayton Consolidated school of York were also chosen as “County Champions.”
-
- Kindergarten students Violet McCarty and Robert Chasse sit together during the Invest in ME program celebration at Fort Fairfield Elementary on Sept. 26, 2019. (Staff Photo/ Nina Mahaleris)
The schools will each receive a $500 grant to support Invest in ME kindergarten initiatives or events.
“We’ve learned that children with college savings are three times more likely to go to college and four times more likely to graduate, even when they only have a few hundred dollars saved in the account,” said Bruce Wagner, CEO of FAME.
The program celebrated with 40 kindergarten students from Fort Fairfield Elementary on Thursday, Sept. 26.
FAME representatives traveled to the school from Augusta to take part in the celebration and host a coloring activity for the students. Supplied with a sheet of white paper each, the kids were tasked with drawing what they wanted to be when they grow up.
Kyver Shaw, 5 ½, drew a red ambulance. His parents said he already has plans to become an ambulance driver, a police officer and an EMT when he’s older after watching a family friend work as a first responder.
Shaw’s parents, Crystal and Everett, said they’ve been able to put a little money aside in a separate savings for their son and hope he’ll want to go to school close to home when he’s ready.
When the kids regrouped with FAME representatives, they shared their drawings and aspirations. A couple of students wanted to be police officers, one wanted to be a gymnastics teacher.
No matter their individual goals, the kids were encouraged to think big. Tim Doak, superintendent of the Eastern Aroostook Regional School District, spoke to the kindergarteners about reaching their future goals.
“I’ve always said, if you go to Pre-K, you’ll go to college … Keep thinking of the future and you’ll do great,” he told them.
