Riverton Students Receive College Scholarships
In partnership with Riverton Elementary School, cPort Credit Union will award 15 college scholarships to students in third, fourth and fifth grade in a ceremony on Monday, June 9 at 2 p.m. at the school, located at 1600 Forest Ave., Portland.
Riverton teamed with the credit union, one of its business partners, to launch the “Riverton and Beyond” scholarship program earlier this year. The program encourages students to start thinking about higher education at a young age. Five, $100 college scholarships will be given at each grade level. A team of cPort employees and cPort College Club members selected scholarship recipients based on their entries in an essay contest.
The credit union’s college advisor, Bob Stuart, met with Riverton students to get them thinking about what they love to do now and how that might carry into future college studies. He shared his 10 tips for writing college scholarship essays. Those tips were used to grade the entries.
“It has been delightful to hear students say, “Where do I go to college to be a lawyer. . .or a race car mechanic?” reports Riverton Principal Nancy Kopack. Kopack encourages parents to talk to students about their interests and help them discover the many opportunities available to them.
Some of the scholarship recipients have been college-bound practically since birth, said Stuart, the college counselor. But many have not, he said. Stuart said that the group includes students aspiring to be an electrician, a vet, a marine biologist, a musician, a surgeon, a fashion designer, a gymnast, a Lego designer, a lobsterman, a football coach and a pediatrician.
