University of Southern Maine

News Releases

Upward Bound at USM student Selected by The Barking Foundation for College Scholarship

May 17, 2006

The Barking Foundation recently announced the recipients of its annual scholarship awards. Ashley Rochefort, a senior at Biddeford High School and participant in the Upward Bound at USM program, was among them. Rochefort will be attending the University of Maine at Farmington to study elementary education.

“Ashley is a highly motivated, intelligent young student leader,” said Johannah Burdin, director of Upward Bound at USM. She is also a woman of character, who “sticks up for the underdog…holds and shares opinions in respectful ways, and treats others with great dignity,” Burdin went on to add.

Rochefort will be the first person in her family to attend college. She said that she “takes this privilege very seriously” and understands that “she will be an important role model for her younger brother.”

The Barking Foundation is a private, non-profit foundation that provides grants for the undergraduate education of meritorious Maine residents.

Upward Bound is a federally-funded program established by Congress to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate, and move on to participate more fully in America's economic and social life. USM has hosted an Upward Bound program for 10 years. Approximately 235 high-school students have graduated from the Upward Bound at USM program.

MORE INFORMATION: Johannah Burdin, USM Upward Bound can be reached at 780-5231. Judie O'Malley of USM Public Affairs at 780-4200.

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