The Heart of the Game: Paul Liwanga’s Journey Through Community, Opportunity, and Soccer

When Paul Liwanga describes his life in Maine, the story does not begin with soccer stadiums or internships. It begins with a twelve-year-old boy stepping off a plane from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and figuring out how to build a life in a place that would become home. Portland was changing when he arrived. The Congolese and Angolan communities were expanding, small businesses lined local streets, and neighbors greeted one another with instinctive warmth. “When you know the people around you, you treat each other better,” he said.

That sense of community carried Paul through middle school, high school, and now into his final semester at the University of Southern Maine (USM), where he is a senior sports management major and defender on the Huskies’ men’s soccer team. Across his collegiate career, he has appeared in more than twenty games, earning his first goal this season and contributing to the team’s strong finish. Being a student-athlete has shaped his discipline and perspective. “Being an athlete teaches you to keep going,” he said. “Chin up, chest out. If something does not go your way, you keep pushing.”

His journey as a current Mitchell Scholar is woven into all of this. “It really is an honor,” he said. “You have this group, like a family, that is there to support you. If you need someone to talk to, help navigating something, whatever it is, the Mitchell Institute is there. It is more than financial support. It really is more.” He remembers building friendships that have lasted and realizing that the Mitchell experience is as much about connection as it is about opportunity.

That same mindset carried him into one of the most transformative experiences of his college years: an internship with Portland Hearts of Pine. A mentor mentioned the team’s open house, and Paul decided to show up. After he sent a thank-you email, he was invited to work the next game. “No interview? Okay! I am not complaining,” he said with a laugh.

What followed was a season of wearing many hats, from helping prepare Fitzpatrick Stadium for game days to organizing the kids’ benchwarmers club, assisting the broadcast team, and eventually stepping behind the microphone for post-game interviews. As he grew more comfortable, he began asking thoughtful, tactical questions shaped by his deep understanding of the game. “I realized I know the game. I can do this.”

Then came the surreal moment when Portland broke the United Soccer League (USL) attendance record in its first year. More than six thousand fans filled the same stadium where Paul once played high school soccer. “At the end, you feel it,” he said.

He also reconnected with mentors from his earlier work with the USL Women’s League, people who shaped how he thinks about soccer beyond the field, including fan engagement, community connection, and innovation. “Sometimes I would say, ‘What if we let the benchwarmers stay out for the whole warmup?’ And then the next game, it happened. You would see it in the kids’ faces. They loved it.”

But it is the full-circle nature of community that stays with him most. Years ago, he and his brother once helped a neighbor carry groceries. That neighbor encouraged his brother to apply for the Mitchell Scholarship. His brother then helped Paul apply. “Good goes around,” he said. “The Mitchell Institute shows you the importance of giving back, of helping your community, of lifting others up. That stays with you.”

To future Scholars, Paul’s advice is simple: connect with people and use your resources. “Having people by your side to help you navigate college—you do not realize how lucky you are. The Mitchell Institute gives you that. It levels the playing field.”

Paul will graduate in December and hopes to stay in Maine as professional sports continue to grow. He is considering pursuing a Master of Business Administration and dreams of a future in athletic administration or even becoming a general manager. “Soccer has given me so much,” he said. “I want to stay around the game, in whatever way that looks like.”

For 30 years, the Mitchell Institute has helped Maine students overcome barriers to higher education. By providing financial support, personal guidance, and a lifelong network, the Institute empowers Mitchell Scholars to graduate, build meaningful careers, and strengthen Maine’s communities and workforce through their success and leadership.
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