The Maine State Society of Washington DC is pleased and proud to welcome our 2025 scholars. Each year, the MSS has the great privilege of helping students attend Maine colleges and universities through the foresight and efforts of our supporters, donor and volunteers. These gifted Mainers are our future!
$1,500 Marjorie Pearson Scholarship Recipient: Lilly DesRoberts
Lilly is a rising Senior at the University of New England in Biddeford, ME where she has a 3.75 GPA and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Medical Biology with a minor in Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician. Lilly submitted a professional resume that highlights her ongoing work as a dental assistant, social media manager, and student ambassador. Lilly is a leader on campus as well as in the community. She is the president of the class council for her graduating class at UNE, serves as the public relations director of the Pre-Dental Club on campus, and is the communications director for the UNE Philanthropy Association. She has volunteered since 2023 as a dog walker for the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk. Lilly is a graduate of Thornton Academy in Saco, ME, and previously served as the 2023 Maine Cherry Blossom Princess.
Her essay focused on what the state motto, Dirigo, means to her. She shared her experience as a survivor of domestic violence and how since August 2024 she has served as a survivor ambassador at Finding our Voices to spread awareness. Thanks to her dedication to that role, she has now joined the board of that organization and continues her efforts to support the mission. She is planning to pursue dental school to support a lifelong goal to own her own dental practice, and aims to also support the Finding our Smiles program by providing pro bono dental care to domestic violence survivors.
$1500 Dirigo Scholarship Recipient: Alice Skiff
Alice is a rising Senior at the University of Maine at Farmington, where she has a 3.915 GPA and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Special Education. Her extracurricular activities include a leadership position with the Rotaract Club, for which she also serves as the lead planner for blood drives and other campus-wide community health initiatives. Alice’s resume details her work during school breaks at Renys (a Maine adventure!) and as a volunteer counselor at Camp Sunshine for children with life threatening illnesses. Alice is a graduate of Lincoln Academy in Newcastle, ME, from which she graduated with honors.
In her essay on what Dirigo means to her, Alice detailed how the state motto became a philosophy that shaped her approach to life. It helped her to manage her fear and persevere following a childhood cancer diagnosis. Her desire to lead has also shaped her drive to become a special education teacher so that she can use her experience to help children facing disabilities of their own. “Teaching is about guiding students, helping them believe in themselves, and showing them that they, too, can lead their own lives with confidence and determination. I hope to be a source of encouragement and inspiration, just as so many people were for me during my battle with cancer.”