CAPS PROGRAM: COSA


Each spring, 130 graduating seniors — one from every Maine public high school community — are selected to receive Mitchell Scholarships. It is evident from their application profiles that financial support and other opportunities offered by the Mitchell Institute have the potential of making life-altering changes in their futures. One of the most extraordinary statistics evident among Mitchell Scholars is that, in spite of some incredible challenges many have faced, and in large part because of the support services we offer them, they persist in college towards graduation at rates of nearly 95%. One of our most effective support programs is the Career Opportunity Summer Awards (COSA) Program.

COSA offers stipends to Mitchell Scholars so that they can pursue career-focused and community service-related summer work. Without funding, these students are often forced to decline promising employment because they cannot afford to live away from home or to take an unpaid internship. COSA enables Mitchell Scholars to take advantage of unique opportunities to accept employment in valuable career-related jobs without facing financial hardship, while also committing to a community service project.

This program is entirely student-driven, meaning that Scholars must find their career- or community service-focused jobs, create a budget that demonstrates the need for a COSA award, and apply for funding.

This year, the COSA program is sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank; and supported through gifts made in memory of Dr. John W. Painter, a much beloved family physician from Raymond, Maine; and a grant from Alpha Psi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma.

2010 COSA Award Recipients

Eric Brooks
University of Maine at Farmington
Intern with Maine Farm Bureau Association

Noah Burke
Bates College
Intern with YouthLinks Summner Camp

Joseph Marro
University of Maine
Summer Intern with Congresswoman Chellie Pingree's District Office

Sarah Beaulieu
University of Southern Maine
Intern with Dominican Republic International Service Learning Program

Teresa Cooper
Bates College
Intern with Maine Department of Conservation

Jennifer Babb
Colby College
Intern with Maine Historic Preservation Commission

Brian Harris
University of Maine
Intern with Surry Music Therapy Center

Amanda Chaney
University of Maine
Research Assistant with Dr. Tanja N. Ebel

William Querry
University of New England
Intern with Gilsland Farm

Nattakul Vivattanakulpanit
University of New England
Volunteer with Maine Med

Paige Piper
Bentley College
Intern with Wright Express

Leah Hughes
Bowdoin College
Marketing Intern with Safe Passage/Camino Seguro at Bowdoin College

Justin Giroux
Bates College
Research Assistant with Bates College Chemistry Department

Logan Ouellette
University of Maine
Project Engineer with Bath Iron Works

Cody Humphrey
University of Maine at Presque Isle
Surveyor of Potential Fish Passage Barriers with Casco Bay Estuary Partnership

Logan Edwards
University of Maine
Finance Intern with Bath Iron Works

Applications for the COSA Awards are available each spring by e-mailing us by CLICKING HERE or by calling (207) 773-7700. This program is only open to current Mitchell Scholars.