2020 Katahdin High School
Machias Savings Bank Mainely Character Scholarship $2500
“I’ve learned the importance of sticking up for myself.”
Brady Kaelin is passionate about the environment. He fell in love with Maine’s beautiful forests and mountains and he says preserving them is his life’s work. His goal is a career in biology and environmental science. As the first in his family to attend college, he knew he would have to prepare himself to be successful.
Brady grew up in a chaotic family situation. He realized that staying with his parents could negatively affect his future. At 16, he moved to his grandmother’s, gaining the stability to enroll in Rural University. This University of Maine/Fort Kent program provides early college courses for students in rural communities. Brady has completed five rigorous college courses, including statistics and chemistry. On his own, he is studying French and identification of wild mushrooms, as well as reading self-help books.
Brady is an enthusiastic volunteer in his community. Beginning his freshman year, he’s worked on countless projects for Friends of Katahdin: Woods and Waters, jumping in whenever asked. He created a video PSA on Leave No Trace. Last summer, he cleared trails for Friends of Baxter Conservation Trust in remote sections of the park, sometimes hiking 6-8 miles to and from the