MAPS Educational Scholarship Foundation
The following scholarships are offered to graduating
Old Orchard Beach High School Seniors in the amount of $1,000 each:
Old Orchard Beach High School Seniors in the amount of $1,000 each:
Jerome A. LePelletier Memorial Scholarship
Jerome was born in 1930, the only child of Alexander and Pearl Lepelletier. Until the age of five he spent winters with his parents in Florida where they had a gift shop. There he attended a nursery school where music was taught to very young children. Thus began his early interest in music. In 1935 his parents gave up the Florida store and the family moved back to Old Orchard Beach full time. Jerome attended public schools and graduated with the class of 1947. Growing up he mastered a number of interests, a favorite being classical music. He became an accomplished pianist, and in 1949 he signed up for the Rachmaninoff piano concert. However, his father thought it better for him to keep music as a hobby and to attend law school. Jerome earned a Law degree at the Portland University Law School. He continued on to University of New Hampshire and received a master’s degree in English Literature. Jerome was very quickly hired to teach English at OOBHS where he remained for 25 years as both a highly regarded teacher and teaching principal.
Herbert R. Bean Memorial Scholarship
Herbert was a Bates College graduate, served as the first principal of Old Orchard Beach High School for 28 years retiring in 1963. He was a decorated veteran of the First World War having served with the 103rd Infantry, Yankee Division in France. From the time of WWII he had served with and chaired the York County selective service board in Kennebunk. Mr. Bean was very active in the community along with his duties as teacher and principal. He was a past president and active member of the Kiwanis Club, trustee and former chairman of the school district and director of the Webber Hospital.
Roger Stevens Memorial Scholarship
Roger was a graduate of Old Orchard Beach High School, class of 1966. He was drafted into the US Army in 1967 and served in Korea during the Korean DMZ Conflict. Roger worked for the OOB Public Works department for 37 years and was a 20 year volunteer for the Breakaway 5K race. He served on the OOB Conservation Commission and oversaw the Maine Piping Plover Project.
The MAPS foundation is establishing this scholarship to honor Roger Stevens' contributions to the town and to his dedication to making the beach a better place.
The MAPS foundation is establishing this scholarship to honor Roger Stevens' contributions to the town and to his dedication to making the beach a better place.
Alice T. Langdon Memorial Scholarship
Alice T. Langdon was a long time resident of Old Orchard Beach who was very active in the OOB community. She was a founding member of the OOB Girl’s Softball League and an officer for the OOB Band Boosters. Alice served on the OOB Zoning Board of Appeals, the OOB Conservation Commission, the OOB Planning Board, and the OOB Recreation Department Committee. Retiring after 30 years with the phone company, Alice worked as OOB’s Deputy Registrar of Voters and the OOB Police Department as a parking enforcement officer. She had many connections with OOB schools as her daughters and grandchildren graduated from OOBHS. Her father, Jim Murphy, coached football and taught English at OOBHS, her daughter Donna Stearns is a teacher in OOB and her daughter Denise Rancourt is a teacher at Bonny Eagle. Alice was an energetic fundraiser for her children’s and grandchildren’s activities including the OOBHS basketball program, the OOB skateboard park and the Libby Memorial Library where she volunteered and was a driving force behind the fundraising efforts for the library’s expansion. This scholarship will be awarded to a student pursuing a career in education, music or sports studies.
Benny Emery Memorial Scholarship
Ben was born and raised in Old Orchard Beach attending OOB schools until his graduation in 1964. He was very active in sports including football which he played at a high level in high school and at Dalhousie University. He was a dedicated, husband, father and "Grand B" to his grandkids, an active volunteer, lifeguard, Marine combat veteran, fisherman and all-around boat rocker. Despite having lived elsewhere for over 40 years, Old Orchard Beach was always home to Ben. He and his wife Pam retired to OOB in 2014 and immediately became involved in volunteer work as members of the Libby Memorial Library board of directors and Friends of Libby Library. Ben was a loyal friend to many and a credit to his community.
Benjamin R. Grant Memorial Scholarship
Benjamin Grant was a junior high school math teacher in the O.O.B. School System for twenty-four and one half years. His teaching career came to a close with his unexpected death in 1983. Following his death, Ben’s co-teachers and friends felt it would be appropriate to honor his memory as a dedicated teacher by establishing a memorial trust fund bearing his name. This scholarship is managed by the MAPS Scholarship Foundation.
John McSweeney Memorial Scholarship
John McSweeney was a Math and World Geography teacher at Old Orchard Beach High School from 1953 until his retirement in 1979. He was head basketball coach, track coach, assistant football coach and Athletic Director. The gymnasium at the high school (now the Loranger Middle School) was named for Mr. McSweeney in 1971. Following his teaching career, he served on the first Maine Lottery Commission and was elected to the State of Maine Legislature as a State Representative for several years. John’s students were like his extended family. He helped many of these students, financially and emotionally, through his counsel and guidance while in high school and following their graduation as adults. John died in 1995.
Dale Blow Vocational Scholarship
Dale helped his Dad with the family business, Blow Brothers, when he was just a youngster and continued to grow the business with his own five sons. Today Blow Brothers operates in 2 states with over 130 employees. Dale believes that hard work along with a good education can help young people start their own family business and prosper in good times and bad.
Armand "Blackie" St. Hilaire Memorial Scholarship
Blackie was the Director of Public Works for Old Orchard Beach. He was an employee of the town for 35 years up until his death in 1982. Due to the Great Depression years of the 1930’s Blackie left school in the 6th grade to help his family survive. He always stressed the importance of continuous education beyond high school. He felt that vocational education was a vital part of a thriving community.
Charles A. Loranger Memorial Scholarship
Charlie spent most of his life in Old Orchard Beach. He was an all-sports athlete at Old Orchard Beach High School. He excelled as a student and graduated in 1945. Right after high school he enlisted in the Army Corps of Engineers, returning to Maine to study education at the University of Maine. He came back to Old Orchard Beach High School as a teacher and an all-sports coach. He believed in hard work and was an advocate for higher education. He was a CCD teacher for St. Margaret's Parish, a mentor and tutor to young people of all ages in Old Orchard Beach. At the time of his death at age 40 in 1967, he was an active member of the OOB School Committee. After his death, the Town of Old Orchard Beach honored him by naming the then Junior High School in his memory. It is now the Loranger Memorial School. At the dedication of the school it was said: "To Charles A. Loranger, Teacher, Coach, School Committee Chairman, Businessman and Community Leader we dedicate this school. Whether in the classroom, on the athletic field, in business or among his fellow citizens he was known for his patience, his kindness and his understanding. We were proud to have called him friend."
Michael G. Schoonjans Scholarship
Michael Schoonjans was the manager of the Biddeford-Saco Board of Textile Workers (TWUA) and was instrumental in organizing several industrial unions in the area during his 20 years of head of the local TWUA from 1947 to 1967 when he retired. He also served on the State Labor Relations Board and the State Arbitration Board. Mr. Schoonjans was a member of the State Comprehensive Health Planning Council, the Governor’s State Employees Labor Relations Advisory Council, co-chair of Concerned Citizens for Better Government and was a member of the Governor’s Committee on Aging. He was a member of the Ross Community Center in Biddeford and of the York County Fish and Game Association. Mr. Schoonjans was instrumental in the creation of the Biddeford Vocational School. He passed away in 1983.
Idle Sons of Rest Memorial Scholarship
ISOR (Idle Sons of Rest) is an organization of Old Orchard Beach High School graduates established during their high school days in 1953. At its 30th anniversary gathering the group agreed to give a Centennial gift to the community in the form of a memorial scholarship fund in the memory of its “adopted parents”, the late Amy and Clarence “Tac” Botting and its deceased members, Robert Fitzgerald class of 1953; Robert Collum, Walter McKenna and Robert F. Jenkins, class of 1954; Terrance H. Hackett, Roger P. Hanson, Donald F. Ketola, William J. McNally and Russell Wyman, class of 1955; Charles McKeen, Robert J. Rioux, Robert St.Ours and Brian M. Tierney, class of 1956; James H. Barnhart, Howard Bellevue, Robert Chamberlain, class of 1957; Chester L. Briggs, class of 1958; and Martin Blaney, class of 1961.
Faith "Faye" Hogan Memorial Scholarship
Faye Hogan was a life long resident of Old Orchard Beach having graduated from the high school in 1960. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Faye was the friendly face behind the counter at Hogan's Variety Store which she and her husband George owned for 25 years. You could expect to see her at most sporting events supporting the many talented athletes in her family. Anyone who knew Faye would tell you that she was a kind, friendly, generous person with a big smile for everyone.
Old Orchard Beach Educational Association Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded in the name of the teaching staff of Old Orchard Beach to a student pursuing a career in education.
Joseph Patrick Lafond Memorial Scholarship
Joseph Patrick Lafond was born on March 9, 1986 and passed away from Ewing's sarcoma on May 16, 2011 at Massachusetts General Hospital at the age of 25. At the time of his passing Joe was a senior at Bridgewater State University. He was a dean's list student and hoped to be a screenwriter or film critic upon graduation. Joe graduated from North Andover High School, North Andover Massachusetts in 2004. He was quick witted and humorous with his many friends. Joe loved movies, particularly science fiction with Star Wars and Ghostbusters among his favorites. He also loved sports and cheered passionately for the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics. In high school Joe played lacrosse and participated in baseball and basketball in his younger years. Joe enjoyed coming to OOB during his late high school and early college years with his dad. He liked to attend Portland Sea Dogs baseball games and shoot hoops at the Memorial Park basketball courts. A memorial plaque and tree in Joe's memory can be found in Veterans Memorial Park in Old Orchard Beach. His name is engraved on the “Tree Memorial” at Old Orchard Beach town hall.
