Quote from awardee, “Integrity is keeping my values from not veering from who I am despite challenges. If I’m struggling, maybe I can help someone else.
ORRINGTON — Lauren Voteur, Hampden Academy senior, was awarded a Mainely Character Scholarship for $5,000. These are awarded annually to Maine high school seniors who demonstrate exemplary concern for others, responsibility, integrity, and courage. Voteur was selected from nearly 380 scholarship applicants statewide. Her scholarship is sponsored by Northern Light Hospital.
During her middle school years, Voteur realized she was in a crowd that was not a good one for her. At 13, she was determined to change lunch tables and thus ultimately changed herself and her life.
Seen as a natural leader even as a 10th grader, Voteur was recruited to be the manager of 80-100 students in a summer program at the local Northern Light Hospital. The hospital’s patient concierge noted that Voteur could and would talk to anybody entering the hospital; she was also featured in a hospital marketing program because of her extraordinary leadership. Described as the “glue” of the program, Voteurwent out of her way to bond with other volunteers as well as with patients.
Voteur’s work has set the model going forward. Her work also led to 10 community summits specifically for mental health in the community. An impressed hospital president determined that the program would continue even when Voteur graduates. She also maintains a job, her schoolwork, and her friendships!
Voteur is a young person keenly aware of the importance of service and outreach. The Mainely Character Scholarship Board of Directors is pleased to recognize her as a person upholding its tenets of character: concern, responsibility, integrity, and courage.
Voteur plans to attend St. Joseph’s College.
Mainely Character has been awarding scholarships to students of character since 2001. Twelve scholarships are being awarded in 2024 for students entering a higher education institution in the fall. For more information visit mainelycharacter.org.
