The River Fund Maine is thrilled to announce the addition of two trade scholarships in 2025, thanks to increased donations. After reviewing existing programs, the Board recognized a significant need for more trade education, aligning with our mission to invest in the future of our youth. We will continue to support our current college scholars while fostering local talent in the trades. Join us in strengthening community!
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.
JASON YORK TRADE SCHOLARSHIP
Receiving a high-impact scholarship can change a talented student’s trajectory, and has a direct impact on our immediate community, and worldwide workforce. As our economies become more globalized, connected and automated, the face of our workforce will continue to change, and need more and more
workers with college degrees.
Since 2020, The River Fund Maine has worked with three local students, supporting their attainment of a BA/BS or equivalent four-year college degree. The River Fund Maine especially encourages recipients to envision, and prepare themselves for, careers in entrepreneurial and leadership roles in our region. The objective is to assist talented students in developing an education plan that leads to a fulfilling and rewarding career, not just a job. This spring, we are adding a third scholar to this growing program.
The Struggle for Students
Unfortunately, degree attainment remains toughest for the students with the most to gain: students from moderate to low-income households. Talent, drive and skill are getting more first-generation and low-income students into universities, but their struggle to pay for school is keeping far too many of them from graduating.
The Solution
Scholarships are one of the simplest and most important ways we can have an impact on our changing workforce. Scholarships help fill the gap between the cost of college and a student’s financial aid, meaning they don’t have to choose between taking out crippling student loans or dropping out.
By supporting scholarships like The River Fund Maine, you’re providing a lifeline to talented but underprivileged students. Your support makes all the difference on the impact we can make.
MEET OUR SCHOLARS
Emma Koch
2024 Jason Trade Scholar
Emma Koch is the first recipient of the esteemed Jason York Trade Scholarship, honoring the legacy of the late skilled painter Jason York. Emma, a 2024 graduate of Mountain Valley High School and Region 9 School of Applied Technology from Rumford, Maine, has demonstrated remarkable dedication and talent in welding. She shared, “I started participating in the welding program during my junior year just to try it out. After a month, I fell in love with it and realized I had a knack for the intricate aspects of welding." This scholarship will provide her with financial support for her trade education, allowing her to further develop her skills and pursue her dream of starting a business that specializes in customized metalwork.
The scholarship is funded by generous contributions from the community as well the York and Pelletier families, Clean Cut Painting and the Morris Family Charitable Fund“This scholarship is a testament to Jason’s passion for the trades and his commitment to helping young people succeed,” said Michael Pelletier of Clean Cut Painting, Jason’s brother and the seed donor of this scholarship. “We are proud to honor Jason’s memory by supporting a scholarship that helps talented students like Emma pursue a career in the trades.”
Emma’s dedication to learning, her strong work ethic, and her commitment to excellence made her a standout candidate for the scholarship.“We are incredibly impressed with Emma’s enthusiasm to learn and succeed in the trade of welding,” said Heidi Godomsky, Executive Director of The River Fund Maine. Emma expressed her gratitude, saying, "I am extremely blessed and honored to be receiving the first Jason York Trade Scholarship from The River Fund Maine. The welding and business programs at CMCC will help prepare me to accomplish my ambition of starting my own business for customized welded home decor and hardware."
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.
DISCOVER MORE
Cave Botka
2023 TRFM Scholar
Cave Botka, a graduate of Telstar High School, was awarded The River Fund Maine’s 2023 annual scholarship. Throughout their high school career, Cave 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 Cave is their engagement with their community. Born and raised in Bethel, Maine, Cave 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, Cave became a certified nursing assistant and began working at the Norway Center for Health and Rehabilitation caring for elderly residents of the home.
Cave 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 Cave 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.”
