Pair of Rangeley scholarships awarded

RANGELEY — Winners of two scholarships were announced during graduation ceremonies at Rangeley Lakes Regional School on July 11.
Winnie LaRochelle received the Seasonal Friends of Rangeley Scholarship, and Mya Laliberte was awarded the Rangeley Lakes Region Legacy Scholarship.
LaRochelle will receive a multi-year stipend totaling $5,000, and Laliberte will get $1,500.
Both were recognized for their strong academic records, activity in various school programs and participation in community service, which is a major criterion used in selecting recipients of these scholarships.
While attending RLRS, LaRochelle maintained honor roll grades, was a three-sport athlete and participated in multiple community service projects. She was named to both the National Honors and National Honors Technical societies, was elected class vice president and secretary, belonged to the Math Team and was chosen captain of her soccer, basketball and softball teams.
Her community service activities ranged from participation in the volunteer Interact program and a number of projects for the elderly, to mentoring a young student. She received honors from Daughters of the American Revolution, several All-Star and Best Athlete recognitions and an Unsung Hero Award.
LaRochelle will attend Central Maine Community College before transferring to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminology. Her long-term objective is to work as a detective in forensic science. She said her goal is “to be a positive influence in a community to help children and adults make better choices in their lives, to stay out of the criminal justice system.”
Laliberte – whose parents were teachers –- says that she always has had “a love for education.” S She took all of the honors-level classes offered at RLRS, as well as dual-enrollment college-level courses. She is a member of the National Honors Society.
Laliberte was named to the honor roll each high school year, was named to the National Honors Society in grades 11 and 12 and was a member of the Math Team. She was a school board student representative, member of the Youth Leadership Team and class vice president.
Community service ranges from fundraising to environmental drives, coaching youth soccer to babysitting so parents could attend various meetings, she was ready, willing and able to step in when assistance was needed.
Laliberte will attend Bates College, with plans to attain a psychology degree and eventually become a lawyer. She hopes to foster the importance of education among others.
The Seasonal Friends of Rangeley Scholarship, in its 26rd year, is funded by visitors to, and seasonal residents of, the Rangeley Lakes region, as a way to thank those who live there for sharing its many attributes. The Legacy Scholarship is supported by permanent residents. Contributions may be made in honor or memory of a person, living or deceased.
The directors of the scholarship program are Rebekah Carmichael, town treasurer; Heidi Deery, RLRS student services director; Leeanna J. Wilbur, Franklin Savings Bank vice president and branch manager; and one anonymous seasonal resident. Scholarship recipients are selected by a committee of high school teachers.
Contributions to the Seasonal Friends of Rangeley Scholarship and the Legacy Scholarship, which are tax deductible, may be sent to P.O. Box 321. Rangeley, ME 04970. Donors receive a receipt for tax purposes and the thanks of the deserving students who benefit from the program.