Scholarships

Stories of Grit, Perseverance, and Impact

Josephine Katandula ’21

Josephine Katandula ’21

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Josephine arrived six years ago in Portland, Maine, alone and on her own. As an asylum seeker, she took on a new country, a new language, and a new culture. Her immigration status made things challenging, but with perseverance, she began working as a financial eligibility specialist for the City of Portland and attending USM part […]

Joshua Mutshaila ’24

Joshua Mutshaila ’24

Joshua, a graduate of Casco Bay High School in Portland,entered USM in fall 2020 planning to study Political Science and pursue a career as a lawyer. He learned about the Promise Scholarship from the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine, which helped him to develop a strong academic work ethic while teaching him valuable life lessons. “I struggled in math and science for […]

Josie DiPhillipo ’21

Josie DiPhillipo ’21

Josie is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Piano Performance/Collaborative Piano at USM’s Dr. Alfred and D. Suzi Osher School of Music. She supports herself as a freelance pianist/accompanist and works at Specialized Housing, Inc., a nonprofit that supports people with disabilities in home ownership settings.  Commenting on her undergraduate experience, Josie says, “I am […]

Ronnie Harness ’20

Ronnie Harness ’20

Ronnie earner his BA in Leadership and Organizational Studies in May of 2020 and,  just weeks later, was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army. A year earlier, Ronnie had exhausted his GI benefits and was forced to navigate the final year of his degree with the stress of financial uncertainty. To cover tuition […]