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The Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute recently graduated its inaugural class of program participants, called Olympia’s Leaders, at Bates College in Lewiston. Forty-five young women, selected from the seven Maine high schools serving Androscoggin County, graduated after participating in the Institute’s three-year program rooted in the themes “My Values,” (10th grade), “My Voice” (11th grade), and “My Vision” (12th grade).
The evidence-based program 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. Each year since the program launched, the Institute has expanded, growing from seven to 36 partner high schools across Maine’s 16 counties. During the 2018-19 academic year, there will be more than 450 Olympia’s Leaders supported by more than 200 caring, trained advisors who deliver the curriculum.
The graduation ceremony distinguished the inaugural class of Olympia’s Leaders and included remarks from the Honorable Olympia J. Snowe, former United States Senator and Founder of the Institute; Clayton Spencer, President of Bates College; Christina McAnuff, Executive Director of the Institute; and select Olympia’s Leaders. It also incorporated a networking activity with local industry experts, a tribute to Senator Snowe, and a formal graduation ceremony in which participants received graduation cords and certificates of completion.
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