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The Lighthouse CU Foundation has awarded a total of $53,000 in scholarships to sixteen student-members representing thirteen schools throughout New Hampshire and Maine. These awards recognize students for academic achievement, community involvement, leadership, and commitment to personal growth during the 2025–2026 school year.
“Our scholarship committee reviewed 298 applications from our student-members of the credit union throughout our communities,” shared Johanna Corcoran, Executive Director for the Lighthouse CU Foundation. “Each recipient has demonstrated dedication to service, education, and personal development that reflects our mission to enrich and nourish the lives of others. We are proud to support these students as they pursue their goals and continue making a positive impact in their communities.”
The scholarships support students pursuing accredited programs at technical institutes, two- and four-year colleges and universities, and vocational or trade schools. Each award reflects the Foundation’s mission to invest in the next generation of leaders, professionals, and changemakers within local communities. Featured scholarships and recipients include:
Lighthouse Community Beacon Award – $10,000
Recipient: Kara Carlson – Portsmouth High School
College and Major: Interior Architecture, Endicott College
This flagship award recognizes a student who has demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence and making an impact in their community. Funded through a voluntary employee payroll deduction program, the Lighthouse Community Beacon Scholarship embodies the Foundation’s mission to enrich and nourish the lives of others—a mission wholeheartedly championed by the credit union’s team members. This scholarship is specifically designed for students pursuing careers that directly support the Lighthouse’s core focus areas: housing, food insecurity, and education.
Peter J. Kavalauskas Memorial Scholarship – $5,000
Recipient: Maxwell Grondin (Gorham, NH) – Gorham Middle High School
Future College and Major: Automotive Technology Major, Central Maine Community College
Awarded to a student attending or planning to attend a 2- or 4-year accredited program, technical institute, vocational, or trade school.
Philip W. Sullivan Memorial Scholarship – $5,000
Recipient: Lauren Jordan (South Berwick, ME) – Noble High School
Future College: Public Health, University of Rhode Island
Given to a high school senior in the top 25% of their class who has demonstrated a strong commitment to extracurricular activities and academic excellence.
Bart M. Dalla Mura and Roger G. Marois Memorial Scholarships – $3,000 each
Recipients:
- Roe Beland (Portsmouth, NH) – Portsmouth High School
- Future College: Stonehill College
- Brayden Leland (Portsmouth, NH) – Portsmouth Christian Academy
- Future College: Liberty University
These scholarships honor students with strong academic records and a track record of volunteerism.
Adult Achievement Scholarship – $2,000
Recipient: Todd Herderhurst – Raymond, NH
College: Great Bay Community College
This award recognizes a member returning to school to improve their life, family, and community.
“Nourish” Scholarships – $2,500 each
Recipients:
- Noelle Gagnon (Portsmouth, NH) – Portsmouth High School
- Future College: Connecticut College
- Elizabeth Maloney (North Hampton, NH) – Winnacunnett High School
- Future College: University of New Hampshire
- Taylor Goodspeed (Sunapee, NH) – Sunapee High School
- Future College: Western Connecticut State University
- Teagan Thurber (Brattleboro, VT) – Brattleboro Union High School
- Future College: University of Richmond
- Hallee Albert (Gorham, NH) – Gorham Middle High School
- Future College: Endicott College
- Lorelei Heckman (Kingston, NH) – Sanborn Regional High School
- Future College: University of Connecticut
- Riley DeGange (Belmont, NH) – Belmont High School
- Future College: Emerson College
- Kaya Miskinis (Exeter, NH) – Exeter High School
- Future College: Bard College
- Gibson Griffith (Lee, NH) – Home Education Program
- Future College: Illinois Central College
- Hudson Goulet (Berlin, NH) – Berlin Senior High School
- Future College: Providence College
Awarded to ten high school seniors who have demonstrated a commitment to academic success and community involvement.
The Lighthouse CU Foundation invites all eligible student-members to apply for scholarships when the application window reopens in early 2027.
For more details, visit: www.lighthousecufoundation.org/scholarships.