Two PCHS graduates will receive $1,963 college scholarship

By Bill Pearson
Staff Writer

    GUILFORD — The kids who graduated from Piscataquis Community High School nearly 50 years ago want to commemorate their golden anniversary by awarding two scholarships this spring to the Class of 2013. The Class of 1963 will award two $1,963 college scholarships to one PCHS male and one female Class of 2013 graduate this spring.

    The Class of 1963 has worked on fundraising for their endeavor since their 45th class reunion. Class members  have raised money by organizing a giant yard sale, raffled off a blue, gold and white colored quilt, sold bottled water during the annual Riverfest events, and solicited contributions. The class has also received donations in memory of two influential class members who made significant contributions in organizing the scholarship fund: Mary Ann (Morton) Mabry and Richard Thomas.
    It was Mabry who suggested to present the Class of 2013 with two $1,963 scholarships during their  class reunion in 2008.
    “Our class wanted to do something special with our 50th reunion coming up, and Mary Ann had this idea,” Smith said. “She brought the scholarship idea to us which we all thought was great. Nearly all of our 48 classmates have participated in some aspect of the project — whether it was donating items to the yard sale or knitting the quilt.”
    The class effort has raised $5,750 to date. The Class will present two scholarships this year, even though the fund has almost enough to present a third $1,963 scholarship. The scholarship committee will gather in July to decide on how to use the surplus funds.
    Class members may award another scholarship next year, transfer the money into a state-operated scholarship fund for PCHS students or continue to manage the account on their own.
    The class formed a scholarship committee to set the criteria for awarding the scholarships. The committee originated with members Mabry and Thomas along with Chairperson Pam Smith, Judy (Colbry) Dube, Mike Doore and Jeannie (Carle) Lemieux. The remaining members will decide on what to do with the surplus funds.
    The committee will also be sifting through questionnaires as part of the scholarship application process.
    Smith indicated that one criteria stands out in the committee’s eyes in awarding the scholarship.
    “It doesn’t matter if you’re going to Harvard or a technical school. All students are welcome to apply,” Smth said. “Our main criteria is that the scholarships go to students in financial need.”
    As chairperson, Smith knew her classmates possessed the moxie to undertake the challenge of raising enough money for the scholarship fund. The class had built a reputation in their high school days for possessing a lot of school spirit. They exuded that spirit “by being the ones to beat in the town of Guilford’s parade float competitions.”
    Classmates have kept in touch over the years with meetings and get-togethers on a yearly basis instead of every five as most graduating classes do.
    “We’ve really kept this unique closeness together for over 50 years. I think that is probably the crowning glory of our class,” Smith said. “I knew the fundraising would be successful, but I still surprised at how well it actually ended up.”
    Interested students have until Monday, April 8 to return their applications to the Piscataquis Community Secondary School guidance office.