We are passionate about the importance of character and about our scholarship.
Some of us joined the board of directors with an interest in expanding access to college. Others joined with an interest in recognizing character. All of us became captivated by the amazing stories of those who we award scholarships. These young men and women inspire us. They make us aware of what is possible. Take a look at the profiles of our awardees – you will be inspired too.
How the Scholarship Began
Mainely Character was conceived in the early 2000’s by local businessman Arnold (Arnie) Bushner, along with his business partner George Spino and several friends. Arnie’s daughter attended a high school with a character-based curriculum; he appreciated its importance and effectiveness, as well as its impact on his own efforts to be a better father and member of his community. As his daughter contemplated a post-secondary education, he noticed that while there were scholarships for academics, sports, music, the arts, and financial need, there were no scholarships available based on a student’s character. He and his friends decided to remedy that; the first Mainely Character Scholarship was awarded in 2004.
Today, Mainely Character remains true to that vision. In the selection process, the board considers how four elements of character show up in a student’s life as they describe it through demonstration of concern, courage, integrity, and responsibility.
How We Select Awardees
Mainely Character scholarships are awarded to high school seniors with exceptional character; we consider only a student’s character in our selection process. Our premise is simple: almost all college scholarships are focused on academic, athletic, or artistic achievement. This sends a message about what we value. While character is critical to great leaders and good citizens, it is rarely encouraged or recognized among our youth. Rewarding and recognizing character with a scholarship accomplishes three things:
- It broadcasts the incredible character among Maine’s students to their communities and raises awareness of the importance of character.
- It makes character important to other students who learn about the scholarship.
- It affirms the behavior of our awardees, encouraging them to continue to live lives of character.
Our awardees report that if they had not received the Mainely Character award, they would not have fully understood their unique path. A Mainely Character scholarship is a way to encourage a promising “seedling” to grow to maturity. Scholarship awards affirm the values of the awardee and nurture the future leaders of our communities, one student at a time.
Sponsorship funds are carefully spent. All the work of Mainely Character is conducted by our volunteer board. 100% of scholarship sponsorships goes directly to the student selected.
More than 350 high school seniors apply each year, and awardees are selected through a rigorous process. In their application, students provide examples of how they have demonstrated four aspects of character: courage, responsibility, integrity, and concern. Board members review and score each initial application; a second reading and scoring produces a smaller list, which a team of board members ranks to determine top scoring candidates Board members check the references of finalists, and a panel of board members interviews final candidates.
How We Recognize Awardees
Awards are made during graduation week around the first week in June. Each awardee is presented with their scholarship in a private, online ceremony with the sponsor, parents and school staff present. These are typically emotionally fulfilling events. If a school allows it, we present the award at “senior night” in front of fellow students, friends, and family. The award is also promoted in a press release and online. We invite sponsors to do their own promotion.