Former United States Senator Olympia Snowe Graduates 140 Young Women From Her Leadership Institute
PORTLAND, ME –The Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute (Institute) has graduated its Class of 2022 participants—140 young women from across the state of Maine.
The Institute is designed to raise the confidence and aspirations of high school girls by helping them develop the skills required to be leaders in their lives, families, careers, and communities. Studies show that girls are less likely to take on leadership roles or pursue some classes, passions, and opportunities, yet the Institute is working to reverse that at 37 schools statewide.
“Olympia’s Leaders,” as participants are called, are selected for their leadership potential, which is developed during a three-year progression through the themes: “My Values” (10th grade), “My Voice” (11th grade), and “My Vision” (12th grade).
Olympia’s Leaders engage in a unique curriculum blending experiential activities in small and large groups, individual tasks and reflections, and tailored connections with Maine’s business and community leaders—including former United States Senator Olympia Snowe herself. Each Olympia’s Leader is supported by one or two trained volunteers, who facilitate monthly meetings and serve as mentors and role models. More than 700 students, mentors, and school contacts take part annually.
The Institute’s program was accredited in 2021, meaning Olympia’s Leaders may now receive three college credits for fully engaging in the program. Transcripts are pre-approved for acceptance at the University of Maine; Husson University; Thomas College; and Eastern Maine, Kennebec Valley, Central Maine, and Southern Maine Community Colleges. Both the program and the credits come at no cost to Olympia’s Leaders, their families, or their schools.
At the Institute’s Year End Celebration on May 17, the Institute celebrated its accreditation, another year of hybrid delivery of programming and events, the graduating class of seniors, select scholarship recipients, and the announcement of an Alumni Council.
The 2022 Year End Celebration included remarks from: the Honorable Olympia J. Snowe, Founder of the Institute; Christina McAnuff, Executive Director of the Institute; Craig Larrabee, President and CEO of Jobs for Maine Graduates; and Susan Saltonstall Duncan, Representative of the Sibley-Saltonstall Charitable Foundation.
Class representatives also shared remarks—delivered by sophomore Amany Albahadly of Cony High School, junior Caroline Sheets of Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, senior Ruth Griffith of Piscataquis Community High School, and alumna Tessa Solomon of the University of Maine.
In her final words to Olympia’s Leaders this school year, Senator Snowe shared,
“What an honor and tremendous pleasure it is for me to be able to congratulate all of you on your many accomplishments this year. My greatest privilege is being a part of your journeys of self-discovery and expression, and for the Institute to contribute to your lives today while building a network of support for your tomorrow.”
The Institute distinguished the graduating class of Olympia’s Leaders by celebrating each senior for their successes within the Institute, throughout their high school career, and for their distinct post-secondary plans. In advance of the hybrid event, seniors received a shipment with graduation cords, commemorative pins, certificates of completion, letters written to themselves three years prior, and letters introducing them to the Institute’s Alumni Network.
Eight Olympia’s Leaders were presented with scholarships exclusive to Institute participants. Farhia Gedow of Portland High School and Jenna Sealey of Leavitt Area High School received Former Governor John R. McKernan Jr. JMG Scholarships after excelling academically, within the Institute, and during their Jobs for Maine Graduate programs. Brianna Harriman of Cony High School and Cadence Nadeau of Lewiston High School received Sharon Y. Miller Leadership Awards—named in honor of the Chair of the Institute’s founding Board of Directors to celebrate students who have used their values and voice to positively influence their community. Farhia Gedow of Portland High School, Ruth Griffith of Piscataquis Community High School, Lora LaRochelle of Morse High School, and Lillian Ranco of Westbrook High School received Sibley-Saltonstall Scholarships—created in honor of Elizabeth “Betsy” Sibley-Saltonstall and Nathaniel “Nat” Saltonstall II to carry on their shared value of, and commitment to, education.
Combined, these Institute-exclusive scholarships carry a value of $50,000. Olympia’s Leaders have received scholarships, either from the organization or its partners, totaling nearly $500,000 to date.
From the Class of 2022, 100% of Olympia’s Leaders have graduated high school; 100% will begin higher or specialized education, military service, or enter the workforce within three months; 71% will stay in Maine; 20% will be first-generation college students; and 75% of college students will pursue a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field. The final statistic is significant because it demonstrates that those Olympia’s Leaders interested in STEM now have the confidence to pursue it.
The Institute proudly partners with the following schools: Bangor, Belfast Area, Biddeford, Boothbay Region, Calais, Camden Hills Regional, Cony, Edward Little, Ellsworth, Houlton, Lawrence, Leavitt Area, Lewiston, Lincoln Academy, Medomak Valley, Mount Ararat, Mount Blue, Mount Desert Island, View, Narraguagus, Nokomis Regional, Oak Hill, Oceanside, Oxford Hills Comprehensive, Penquis Valley, Piscataquis Community, Poland Regional, Portland, Presque Isle, Sacopee Valley, Sanford, Skowhegan Area, Spruce Mountain, Westbrook, and Winslow High Schools.