Scholarships for Fishing Families

The Maine Fishermen’s Forum has been dedicated to raising money and providing scholarships to secondary school students from Maine’s Fishing Families for over 25 years. The funding for these awards is donated by Forum attendees, fishermen and organizations.

2026 Scholarships

On Saturday, March 6th, two scholarships of $8,000 each were drawn and awarded to Leah Beal and Brevan Kenney, thanks to our generous anoymous donor.

The following individuals also received a scholarship award from the Maine Fishermen’s Forum:

Oceania Black

Celia Brinkler

Maya Brown

Jenna Colby

Ella Cushman

Aidan Dow

Maddy Eaton

Hannah Erickson

Jackson James

Olivia Larrabee

Grace Lemoine

Mary Mcdonald

Alexander Pinkham

Mariah Watkinson

Anna Zlotkowski

Congratulations to all of the 2026 Scholarship Award Recipients.

Thanks to our Auction donors, bidders, and cash scholarship donations.

Our annual silent auction on Thursday evening and our live auction on Friday evening raise money for scholarships for secondary school students from Maine fishing families. 100% of the money raised in our auctions goes to students.

Letters from Students

“Thank You for awarding me a scholarship book award at the 44th Maine Fishermen’s Forum. I am deeply grateful for the generosity of our fishing community, and I have immense pride in the hard work and dedication that made this fishing scholarship possible. I will be entering my senior year at Harvard College, and am thankful for the role that this award plays in reducing the financial burden of higher education.”

Marvin Merritt IV, Deer Isle2019 Book Scholarship Winner

“I want to write and personally thank you for your scholarship through the Maine Fisherman’s Forum. I received one of your $6,000 scholarships and I am so grateful for your generosity.

I am currently finishing my sophomore year at Grove City College in Western PA with a major in history and a minor in bible and religion. I am a thirteenth-generation Mainer and a third-generation lobsterman. My experience growing up on the coast of Maine surrounded by my family’s history is what prompted me to pursue history.

For as long as I can remember, I have been surrounded by the ocean and boats. This summer, I am coming back to Maine to fish on my sister’s lobster boat in the Blue Hill area.

My sister and I grew up going to the Maine Fisherman’s Forum every year with my father and grandfather. Those memories of driving to Rockland and running around the forum “talking shop” with the two of them are still some of my favorite memories.

I want to come back to Maine with my degree and start a business creating more comfortable marine gear. In this way, I hope to invest in Maine’s future and build a stronger and more vibrant fishing industry.

Thank you for your generosity and for fueling my dreams.”

Grace Tarr, Blue Hill area2019 Book Scholarship Winner

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