On August 4, more than 30 Leadership Students, 13 to 17 years old, from Camp Susan Curtis toured the University of Southern Maine (USM).   At the event, sponsored by Unum and hosted by USM, students visited the Southworth Planetarium, and attended a Leadership Lunch and Learn at the Glickman Library.  They heard advice on college, career and life from Olympian  Joan Benoit  Samuelson, TD Banknorth Maine President Larry Wold and Unum Executive Sonja Bowie.  Our Leadership Student Campers expressed appreciation to TD Banknorth and President Larry Wold for the naming of the Susan L. Curtis Foundation as this years Beach to Beacon Award recipient. 

Raising College aspirations, reducing fear of going to college,and helping lift kids out of the cycle of poverty, through education are the goals of Susan L. Curtis Foundation.  According to Executive Director Alan F. Cartwright, “A recent ten-year tracking study shows that more than 90% of those who have attended Camp Susan Curtis at least four years and entered the Leadership Program graduate high school, and 77% go on to college”.

“Although this is far beyond the state average (of just over 50%) for kids in the general population attending college, this Camp to Campus event should help us maintain our numbers, and possibly even increase the percentage of underprivileged children going on to college by attending camp.” adds Cartwright.  Students who visit college campuses, according to research, are likely to have reduced anxieties, to be able to visualize themselves in the campus culture and become more likely to choose higher education after high school.