Scholarship Descriptions

Adult Education Book Fund

The Adult Education Book Fund was created in 2007 on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the founding of the M.S. in Adult Education Program. Several hundred alumni and friends from all regions of the United States donated to this fund as a way of voicing appreciation for the important contribution the Adult Education Program made in their lives. Each year a book award is given to one or more matriculated students who have demonstrated academic excellence and promise as a professional adult educator.

Henry C. Amoroso, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

This endowed scholarship was established in 2012 by an anonymous donor in memory of Henry C. Amoroso, Jr., who was a professor emeritus in literacy in the School of Education and Human Development. The purpose of the fund is to provide scholarships for students enrolled in graduate level literacy courses at the University of Southern Maine.

The Class of ’53 Scholarship Fund

The Class of ’53 Scholarship Fund was established in 1994 on the occasion of the 40th reunion by members of the Class of 1953. The fund provides a scholarship annually to a student who is pursuing a minor in the School of Education and Human Development. Preference is given to relatives of the Class of 1953.

School of Education and Human Development Clinical Fellows

The USM School of Education and Human Development Clinical Fellows Fund was established in 1990 by a bequest from the estate of Gladys Gilmore, a 1927 Gorham Normal School graduate. Awards are given to students in their internship year.

School of Education and Human Development Community Scholarship

This endowed scholarship was established at the University of Southern Maine in 2006 by the faculty and staff, and friends of the School of Education and Human Development. The award will be made to a student of good standing in the School of Education and Human Development.

School of Education and Human Development Scholarship Fund

The USM School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) Scholarship Fund is funded by donations given primarely by SEHD alumni and are designated for School scholarships. The awards are made to SEHD students in good standing.

Nicholas D. Colucci ’63 Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers

This scholarship was created in 2009 on the occasion of Nicholas Colucci’s retirement from the University of Southern Maine and in recognition of his many years of dedicated service to U.S.M. and the teaching profession.

Ruth V. Conley ’25 Scholarship

The Ruth V. Conley ’25 Scholarship was established in 1981 through a bequest from Ruth V. Conley, a 1925 alumna from the Gorham Normal School. This scholarship is awarded to outstanding students in the School of Education and Human Development.

Richard and Melissa Costello Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 1990 by Richard and Melissa Costello, director emeritus of intercollegiate athletics and professor emerita of education, and their family and friends. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic achievement, leadership skills, good character, and the promise of becoming outstanding teachers.

Marcella Lee Davis Class of 1927 and 1964

The Marcella Lee Davis Scholarship Fund was established in 1996 with a bequest from the estate of Marcella Lee Davis, Class of 1927 and 1964. It is awarded to elementary education students in the Extended Teacher Education Program.

Tasha Dunham Memorial Book Fund

The Tasha Dunham Memorial Book Fund was established in 2007 in memory of Tasha Marie Dunham, a graduate student in the school psychology program. The book fund is awarded to a school psychology student who shows professional promise, academic merit, and demonstrates financial need.

Angeliki Economopoulou Scholarship

The Angeliki Economopoulou Scholarship was established at the University of Southern Maine (USM) in 2021. Funds shall provide one scholarship award per year to a USM student enrolled in USM's Counselor Education program. Demonstrated financial need, community service, inclusiveness and multicultural sensitivity are required for eligibility.

Lawrence H. and Pearl W. Fickett Educational Leadership Scholarship

These scholarships were established by Mrs. Pearl W. Fickett in 1989 to promote scholarly study and the development of professional skills in educational leadership. Scholarships are awarded to students studying to become educational leaders.

Florida Alumni Chapter : Madelyn and Marion Ulmer Memorial Scholarship

This award was established by the Florida Alumni Chapter of USM formed in 1974. It is awarded annually to deserving students in education.

Gorham Alumni Chapter of Southern Maine

This scholarship is presented annually through the generosity of the Gorham Chapter of the USM Alumni Association. The recipient is someone who shows promise as a teacher at the K-8 level.

Almery R. and Kathleen L. Hamblen Scholarship

The Joseph A. and Nellie Elkins Hamblen Scholarship was established in 2013 with a gift from the Kathleen and Almery Hamblen Trust, of which Almery R. Hamblen ’37, ’39 is the trustee. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial support for students who are pursuing a teacher education program.

Lewis Arch Hamblen 1880 Scholarship

The Lewis Arch Hamblen 1880 scholarship was established in 2004 by family and friends of Almery Hamblen, ’37. It is awarded to a student who plans to teach.

Joseph A. and Nellie Elkins Hamblen Scholarship

The Joseph A. and Nellie Elkins Hamblen Scholarship was established in 2013 with a gift from the Kathleen and Almery Hamblen Trust, of which Almery R. Hamblen ’37, ’39 is the trustee. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial support for students who are pursuing a teacher education program.

Stewart Belknap Hamblen 1924 Scholarship

The Stewart Belknap Hamblen 1924 scholarship was established in 2004 by family and friends of Almery Hamblen, ’37. It is awarded to a student who plans to teach.

Laura B. Hansen Memorial Scholarship

The Laura B. Hansen Memorial Scholarship was established in 1993 with a bequest from the estate of Laura B. Hansen, Class of 1927. Awards are given to full-time students in the Extended Teacher Education Program. Preference is given to qualified graduates of the University of Southern Maine.

Margaret E. Johnson Hill Scholarship for Elementary Education

The Margaret E. Johnson Hill Scholarship for Elementary Education was established in 2013 with a bequest from the estate of Margaret E. Hill. Ms. Hill was a 1938 and 1954 graduate of the Gorham Normal School. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial support for students who are planning to teach in elementary education.

Hoar Family Scholarship

This scholarship was established in memory of Gerald W. Hoar, a graduate of Gorham State Teachers College, and past president of the Gorham Alumni of Southern Maine chapter. The recipients are students preparing to become educational leaders or teachers.

Frances Howarth Scholarship

This scholarship was established through a bequest given in 1961 by Miss Nellie Howarth in memory of her sister. Because lack of money denied Frances Howarth the fulfillment of her aspiration to become a teacher, the student selected to receive this annual scholarship is a deserving student in education.

Dexter Huntoon Memorial Award

This award was established in 1986 in memory of Dexter Huntoon, who was an outstanding counselor and supervisor of counselor education graduate students in the Office of Counseling and Career Services at USM. The award is given annually to a graduate student in the counselor education program who has demonstrated great promise in the field of counseling.

Arthur and Marguerite Johnson Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 1997 with a bequest from the estate of Marguerite Johnson. Arthur Johnson was a self-made man, an inventor who combined knowledge of machines with a plan to solve a problem. Marguerite Johnson acted as the business manager of their enterprises, and was in every way a first class lady. This scholarship was created to ensure that their memory lives on. Awarded to students in the Extended Teacher Education Program with preference given to those preparing to teach science.

Anna Keating Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 2003 in memory of Anna Keating, a 1912 Gorham Normal School alumna. The scholarship is given to a student pursuing teacher education at the elementary or high school level.

Elizabeth F. Kerr Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship was established at USM in 2007 by Judith Kerr Clancy, daughter, Jonathan P. Clancy and Christine Kerr Clancy, grandchildren of Elizabeth Kerr. Dr. Kerr taught at Gorham State Teachers College (GSTC) starting in 1957, becoming the first woman full professor at GSTC. She retired from USM in 1974 as Professor Emerita of Education. Scholarships benefit students in the ETEP program.

Charles and Sylvia Martin Memorial Scholarship

This award was established in memory of Charles F. Martin by his friends and relatives in 1959. Mr. Martin, who taught at Gorham from 1946-1959, was an early advocate of instructional media and was the first audio-visual director at Gorham. Mrs. Martin worked in the library of the Gorham State Teachers College for 19 years. The award is given to a student who will minor in education or who is enrolled in the Extended Teacher Education Program.

Margaret McKenna Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 1993 with a gift from Dr. Margaret Early. It is awarded annually to outstanding students in the literacy education program.

Dr. Allen Milbury Scholarship

This scholarship was established at the University of Southern Maine (USM) in 2019 from gifts given by family and friends. Dr. Milbury was an Associate Professor in Education who also served as Director of the Educational Media Center in the 1980s. The fund shall be used to provide scholarship support for students enrolled in the (SEHD). Preference shall be given to those students pursuing a career in education.

Alden W. and Marian Hall Mitchell Scholarship

The Alden W. and Marian Hall Mitchell Scholarship was established in 2012 by Alden and Marian Mitchell. Ms. Mitchell was a 1946 graduate of Gorham State Teachers College and Mr. Mitchell graduated in 1947. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial support for education students who are planning to teach in the fields of science, engineering, technology or another closely related discipline.

Beth Moore Scholarship

This award was established in 1981 by friends of Beth Moore, a former professor of reading. It is awarded annually to a graduate student in the literacy education program.

Dorothy D. and Richard W. Moore Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 2002 by Dorothy and Richard Moore. Dorothy Moore was a 27-year faculty member in the School of Education and Human Development, serving as assistant dean in 1982-83, and as dean from 1983-92. During her tenure, she significantly advanced the School’s programs, including establishing the Extended Teacher Education Program (ETEP). This scholarship honors Moore’s commitment to the School and to her own profession of counselor education. This scholarship is awarded annually to a student in the counselor education program or ETEP, who is a Maine resident, shows academic and professional promise, and has financial need.

Barbara Payne Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 1978 by the late Mr. and Mrs. Payne in memory of their daughter of the Gorham Class of 1950. It is awarded to a student who intends to teach.

M. Ruth Perry ’27 Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship was established from a bequest of M. Ruth Perry, a 1927 Gorham Normal School alumna. She grew up and taught school for many years in Dexter, Maine. The award is given to students who are preparing to teach.

Walter E. Russell Scholarship

The Walter E. Russell Scholarship is given annually in memory of Dr. Russell, who served as a teacher for 11 years previous to becoming the second president of Gorham Normal School from 1905-1940, and whose special devotion was to philosophy and education. It is awarded to those who show promise in the teaching profession.

Dorothy L. Snowman Scholarship for Teaching

The Dorothy L. Snowman Scholarship for Teaching was created at the University of Southern Maine Foundation for the benefit of the USM in 2005 with a gift from Dr. Margaret J. Early in memory of her editor and long-time friend Dorothy L. Snowman. The fund was established for scholarship assistance to students graduated from high schools or residing in Aroostook County.

Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship was established at USM in 2007 by the Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation. It is for students in the School of Education and Human Development. Preference given to students who reside in York County

John M. and Annie T. Sutton Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 2004 by John M. and Annie T. Sutton. John Sutton was a professor of counselor education for 26 years in the School of Education and Human Development. The scholarship is given annually to a graduate student enrolled in the counselor education program who has shown a commitment to and demonstrated the potential to become a significant leader in the profession of counseling.

Franklin Talbot Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 1996 with a gift from Franklin Talbot, a retired USM reference librarian. The scholarship provides assistance to graduate education students in the School of Education and Human Development. Preference is given to a student who is preparing to become an educational leader in Maine schools.

Alice E. Toothaker Scholarship

This scholarship was established from the estate of Alice E. Toothaker, an alumna of the Gorham Teacher’s College. Scholarships are given to promising students in the fields of education and human development.

Shirley Towle ’45 Memorial Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers

This endowed scholarship was created in 2012 by a bequest of Shirley Towle, a 1945 graduate of Gorham Normal School. Mrs. Towle taught in the West Buxton and Bar Mills schools in Maine. The scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students who are pursuing teaching as a career.

Maurice and Doris Whitten ’41 Scholarship

The Maurice and Doris Whitten ’41 Scholarship was established at the University of Southern Maine (USM) in 2021. The fund shall be used for annual scholarships to needy students from the state of Maine. Preference shall be given to students who plan to enter the teaching profession