THE RIVER FUND MAINE SCHOLARSHIPS
The River Fund Maine Scholarships
The River Fund Maine Scholarships are focused on enabling local youth to achieve their educational and career-oriented aspirations. The River Fund Maine offers both a college scholarship and a scholarship in the trades. Each year, two local students will be named River Fund Maine Scholars. The college scholar will receive a scholarship to support the attainment of a BA/BS or equivalent four-year college degree in the student’s chosen area.
The River Fund Maine especially encourages recipients to envision, and prepare themselves for careers in entrepreneurial and leadership roles in our region in all areas of business, education and health. The objective is to assist talented students in developing an education plan that leads to a fulfilling and rewarding career, not just a job.
The River Fund Maine CollegeScholar will receive up to $20,000 each year to cover the cost of college tuition and fees, room and board, books and educational supplies. The scholarship is renewable for up to three additional years and is intended to allow a student to gain a college degree and graduate without crushing debt. The scholarship recipient will also have access to financial counseling, internships, and professional mentoring to help them map a successful path through the college or university experience.
The River Fund Scholarships shall not affect the financial aid package offered by the institution.
MEET OUR SCHOLARS
Kyra Rose-Espinoza
2024 TRFM Scholar
Kyra Rose-Espinoza is a senior at Telstar High School. Kyra ranks #3 in her class and is a National Honor Student. Kyra was a standout in both field hockey and basketball, receiving MVC All-Academic Recognition for both sports during her senior year. Kyra may be a familiar face to many as she is the assistant baker at the Gemini Bakery in Bethel, Maine - a position she has held since her junior year. Kyra will attend Johnson and Wales University in Providence, RI. She will pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Baking and Pastry Arts. Given the exploding dining scene in Providence, Kyra is excited to be positioned in Providence while pursuing an education in culinary arts.
“As the principal of Telstar High School, I am excited for and proud of our very own Kyra Rose-Espinoza being named as the River Fund Scholar for 2024! Kyra is not only one of our top academic students but also an all-star field hockey player and an aspiring chef. This award is a testament to her hard work and dedication in all her endeavors.
Kyra's exceptional talents and commitment to excellence have consistently distinguished her amongst her peers. Her ability to excel both in the classroom and on the field is truly commendable. Her passion for culinary arts has added a unique flavor to her impressive list of accomplishments.
Receiving the River Fund Scholarship is a significant milestone. It will greatly assist Kyra in the pursuit of her dreams. The support from River Fund Maine will enable her to attend Johnson and Wales, where she can continue to hone her culinary skills and further her education in a field she is deeply passionate about.” says John Eliot.
Janna Botka
2023 TRFM Scholar
Janna Botka, a graduate of Telstar High School, was awarded The River Fund Maine’s 2023 annual scholarship. Throughout their high school career, Janna was highly involved in a variety of extracurricular activities while also shining in the classroom. They achieved the status of Valedictorian all four years of high school, were selected for the National Honors Society in their junior and senior years, and accumulated multiple other acknowledgements over the years for academic excellence. Yet, what is most special about Janna is their engagement with their community. Born and raised in Bethel, Maine, Janna is vocal about prioritizing their outreach to the community that has given them so much. In the past few years, Janna has volunteered at food pantries, helped out at the community garden, participated in local clean ups, and delivered food for seniors. In their junior year, Janna became a certified nursing assistant and began working at the Norway Center for Health and Rehabilitation caring for elderly residents of the home.
Janna plans to attend Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island to study Chemistry and continue to explore their passion for the ocean and its wildlife. There, they also hope to continue to exercise their creativity through creative writing, a subject they have both enjoyed and excelled at throughout their time at Telstar High School. Congratulations to Janna on their many accomplishments, and we wish them all the best for their future endeavors in Rhode Island and beyond!
Bailey Fraser
2022 TRFM Scholar
Bailey is a Telstar High School Senior, who serves as Co-President of the Class of 2022, Student Council, and Interact. She is also a member of the National Honor Society. Bailey plans to enroll in the University of New Hampshire to pursue a degree in communications and the creative arts. Bailey ‘s commitment to the larger community was evidenced by her leadership in honoring two local teachers who found themselves fighting a battle with breast cancer. Leading from the heart, Bailey organized each homeroom at Telstar to sign and write words of encouragement to each teacher. But Bailey didn’t stop with words of encouragement. Being part of the solution, Bailey started a “Pink Shirt” fundraising campaign at Telstar in their honor, and raised funds for The Dempsey Center Cancer Support & Services in Lewiston, Maine.
"Bailey is the perfect example of a well-rounded student and human being. She is always smiling, constantly thinks of others and how she can help and works hard to achieve her goals. We as a school community are so excited that Bailey has been selected as The River Fund Maine scholar this year, she is so deserving and will be a great representative for the fund and our community. Bailey is a leader, but always remains humble at the same time. Bailey is an active participant in our drama department and spends countless hours at Toe Tappin Jazz dancing in her spare time, all while holding a part time job at the Good Food Store in Bethel, Maine. We all wish her nothing but the best next year and beyond!” says Telstar Principal, Mark Kenney.
DYLAN GREENBERG
2021 TRFM Scholar
We are pleased to announce Dylan Thayer Greenberg of Hanover, Maine as the newest recipient of The River Fund Maine Scholarship. Dylan is a Gould Academy senior and will be attending Rochester Institute of Technology in its five-year Engineering Program. Dylan will focus on either cybersecurity or space exploration.
“Dylan is incredibly curious and intellectually tenacious. He is interested in many subjects, and once he becomes engaged with a subject or an idea, he can exhibit incredible persistence about discovering and learning as much as possible about that subject,” says Maggie Davis, Associate Director of College Counseling at Gould Academy. Dylan has exhibited this determination in learning and discovery by working with Gould Academy’s REMUS (Remote Environmental Monitoring Units) Program to pilot remote controlled vehicles with a live camera feed and sensors through Sunday River Resort’s snowmaking system, helping identify blockages and ensuring water intake pipes operate at maximum efficiency.
"Dylan is a bright, humble, curious, and creative individual. We are beyond thrilled for Dylan to receive this recognition and scholarship from The River Fund Maine, and are not surprised, as he is deserving of this award in every regard,” says Tao Smith, Head of School at Gould Academy. Dylan loves the outdoors, and enjoys rock climbing, whitewater and flatwater canoeing, and is an excellent Nordic skier.
LUCI ROTHWELL
2020 TRFM Scholar
Luci Rothwell of Bryant Pond, Maine is The River Fund Maine’s inaugural Scholar. A student leader, athlete and honors graduate of Telstar High School, she is currently enrolled in Husson University’s Five-Year Accelerated Program in Occupational Therapy where she has earned President’s List Honors. Luci’s educational aspirations reflect her Telstar junior year opportunity—shadowing an occupational therapist at Rumford Hospital—and her deep commitment to her local community. Ultimately, Luci plans to return to Western Maine to work in OT at a local hospital.
“Luci Rothwell has been the perfect example of a student athlete leader and friend in her time at Telstar not only to her peers, but the younger students in our district as well,” says Mark Kenney, Telstar principal. “She is a committed and dedicated student who is going to continue to do great things as she heads off to Husson University. I am very proud of her and wish her nothing but the best.”
