Dr. Tom Farrell Future Leaders of Maine Scholarship

$15,000
1 winner$15,000
Awarded
Application Deadline
May 16, 2025
Winners Announced
Jun 1, 2025
Education Level
High School
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
High school senior
State:
Maine
Future College:
University of Maine
Background:
Leadership skills

Dr. Tom Farrell devoted his life to youth. He spent over fifty years in education; first as a high school teacher and sports coach in Maine, and then as an administrator and Superintendent of schools in Maine, Colorado, and Taiwan.

When Dr. Farrell passed away in March of 2024, the Farrell family was heartened to receive messages from hundreds of Tom’s former students, players, mentees, and colleagues – talking about the positive and transformative impact he had on their lives. Dr. Farrell believed that a true leader empowers all those around them to be leaders themselves. A true leader builds up those around them by helping them understand just how special and capable they are, which makes them want to be better, which in turn makes them want to empower those around them, and on and on it goes, because that kind of leadership is contagious. With leaders like that, real positive change and progress can occur individually, communally, and societally. And it’s the kind of leadership the world really needs.

And so the Farrell family decided to launch the Future Leaders of Maine Foundation to honor Dr. Farrell’s style of leadership and legacy of giving. The mission of our 501(c)(3) is to support Maine's next young leaders through a student scholarship program. Our world is made better by those committed to bringing out the best in others, so empowering the next generation to become leaders in their respective fields and communities is critical.

Any high school senior in Maine who plans to attend the University of Maine may apply for the inaugural scholarship opportunity --the Dr. Tom Farrell Future Leaders of Maine Scholarship--which will fully cover in-state tuition for their Freshman year (up to $15,000).

Applicants should demonstrate the kind of leadership skills that Dr. Tom Farrell modeled day in and day out during his fifty-year career in education: one who treats others with compassion, empowers others to be the best versions of themselves (and to become leaders themselves), and understands the importance of helping others and giving back to their communities.

To apply, tell us about yourself, how you define leadership, what leadership skills you have, and why you’d be a great future leader of Maine.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Drive, Impact
Published December 9, 2024
Essay Topic

Please tell us a bit about yourself--where you come from, where you want to go, what your passions are, how you plan to make a positive impact on the world, etc. How do you define a great leader? What leadership skills do you possess, how have you demonstrated them in your life thus far, and why do you think you'd make a great future leader of Maine?

400–600 words

Winning Application

Mya Schildroth
George Stevens AcademyBlue Hill, ME
Dear Dr. Tom Farrell Future Leaders of Maine Scholarship Committee, I was born and raised in the small, coastal Maine town of Blue Hill. I am currently a senior at George Stevens Academy, and am looking to pursue my bachelors degree in chemical engineering at the University of Maine, Orono, this fall. As a chemical engineer at UMO, I will get the opportunity to work at a paper mill for the Pulp and Paper Foundation. There, I will work on designing or improving different types of paper supplies to be more environmentally friendly, cost effective, and overall improved. I would define a great leader as someone who has integrity, organizational skills, puts others before themselves, has great communication skills, and has the ability to inspire others to achieve a specific goal. I have held many leadership positions throughout my life, including president of my school’s student council and being a captain of my soccer, basketball, and softball teams. I have also had the opportunity to attend different leadership conferences my sophomore, junior, and senior years. These experiences have taught me the importance of leadership, and how to become an even better leader in my community. In the role of being a team captain on my sports teams, I organize events, address different player issues, motivate and encourage others, and share important information with the coaches to ensure team unity. On the student council, I get to represent my student body, organize many different events, like food or toy drives, dances, 8th grade step-up days, different community fundraisers, and most recently, implementing a compost bin option to our school lunches. Growing up in a small town where my grandparents own a small construction business, I know how important it is to make connections with other people and be able to communicate well with them. I also have learned how important it is to be an involved community member. I hope that my impact on the world will be not only through my work as an engineer, but also by serving on boards, organizing local events, and serving those less fortunate than me. It is a dream of mine to be a foster and adoptive parent to children in our community who need a stable home. My leadership skills have been recognized by my peers, my coaches, and my teachers. As we march toward graduation, I’ve been asked by my peers to organize the traditional end of year activities since we do not have class officers. Our class voted on Senior Superlatives and I received the most votes for: Most likely to become president, most outgoing, and most school spirit. Finally, Mr. Welch, the Head of School, shared that I had been unanimously voted on by the staff to receive the MPA Principal's Award for George Stevens Academy. It was an honor to be recognized by them for my leadership skills and support of the success of the school. I think I would make a great future leader of Maine because of my ambitious and outgoing personality, my desire to help others, my organizational skills, my ability to effectively communicate with others , and my drive to motivate others. I’m honored to be considered as a candidate for this scholarship. Being granted this scholarship would not only alleviate the financial burden, but would also signify that my hard work and dedication to my education and leadership roles have been recognized. Sincerely, Mya Schildroth

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is May 16, 2025. Winners will be announced on Jun 1, 2025.