2022 Program Recap
We kicked off our 15th year of the cPort Career Aspirations Program! Every year cPort staff look forward to reading the Career Aspiration Essays from students in the communities we serve. We held our aspiration workshops in seven elementary schools and one organization throughout the Portland, Augusta, Gardiner, and Scarborough communities.
cPort staff helped to read just under 700 essays and selected over 100 scholarship recipients! Since our start in 2008, cPort has given our 1,200 scholarships to deserving students in the community. That's over $120,000 awarded with the goal to begin the conversation early about aspirations after high school!
We thank each and every school, after school program, teacher, principal, staff member, parent, guardian, and friend of the program for making this another successful year! We are extremely grateful that each school made the time to help influence and promote the aspirations of these students at such an early age. The program is the heart of cPort and we are so grateful we get to continue it.
About the Program
cPort is proud to partner with elementary schools and local organizations in our Portland, Scarborough, and Augusta communities to provide this innovative career aspirations program. We believe that it's never too early for students to start preparing for life after high school.
The cPort Career Aspirations Program began as "Riverton & Beyond" at Gerald E. Talbot Community School in 2008 and has since expanded to multiple schools in our local communities.
2008 – Gerald E. Talbot Community School
2010 – Lillian P. Hussey Elementary School, Farrington Elementary School, Sylvio J. Gilbert School, and Lincoln School
2011 – Ocean Avenue School
2013 – Reiche Elementary School
2015 – Presumpscot Elementary School
2016 – Wentworth School
The program begins with students in grades 3-6 participating in an aspirations workshop with Bob Stuart of Maine College Circle. Following the workshops, students are encouraged to write an application essay for a $100 scholarship focused on their interests and future career aspirations. cPort staff read and select recipients based on effort, creativity, and their passion for their future goals.
The scholarships are awarded to recipients in a school-wide ceremony, where all participants are acknowledged with a t-shirt and certificate of participation.
We believe that this program is truly making a difference for students by encouraging them to dream big and plan early.