University of New England

Seven local students awarded Osher Scholarships

BIDDEFORD –The University of New England has selected seven local students to be Osher Scholars for the 2007-2008 school year. This is the third year the scholarships have been awarded.

The Bernard Osher Foundation, whose namesake grew up in Biddeford and became a highly successful businessman and noted philanthropist, gave UNE a $1 million grant three years ago to support undergraduate students from Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach. 

This year's newest recipient, Ali Arsenault, is a Thornton Academy graduate majoring in occupational therapy.

The remaining six students are also recipients from last year:  Ashley Binette, a Biddeford High School graduate majoring in psychology; Erin Fitzgerald, a Thornton Academy graduate majoring in applied exercise science; Cassandra North, an Old Orchard Beach High School graduate majoring in psychology; Anthony Fusco and Jaimie MacDonald , medical biology majors from Old Orchard Beach High, and Pui Ki Mak, a Thornton Academy graduate also majoring in medical biology.

The Bernard Osher Foundation Endowed Scholarship pays 1/3 of the student’s tuition at UNE, or $8,257. Among other criteria for the award are strong academic and leadership skills, and financial need. All income from the endowment is used for direct support of the students, with none of the money used for administrative costs.   Osher Scholars are also eligible for additional $5,000 travel scholarships for summer study abroad programs. 

First preference for the new Osher Scholars are students from the three local communities who meet the scholarship's parameters and wish to attend UNE. If scholarship slots are not filled by students meeting these parameters, the geographic area expands to include students from anywhere in York County, then Maine, then out of state.

Bernard Osher is well known in the area as “the quiet philanthropist.”  He grew up in the Biddeford area with his four siblings: Alfred, Harold, William and Marion. Osher went into business after graduating from Bowdoin College and owned the popular Palace Playland in Old Orchard Beach. He later moved to northern California, where he ran Butterfield and Butterfield Auctioneers, which was sold to eBay in 1999. He is married to Barbro Osher, the Consul General for Sweden in San Francisco who also chairs The Bernard Osher Foundation.  The Oshers live in the San Francisco area and visit Maine regularly.  Mr. Osher received a Doctor of Law Honorary Degree from the University of New England in May 2007.

The Bernard Osher Foundation seeks to improve quality of life through support of higher education and the arts by providing postsecondary scholarship funding to colleges and universities across the nation.  Since 2001, the Foundation has provided financial support for local students at UNE when it donated more than $100,000 for four, four-year student scholarships.

(Press release issued Dec. 13, 2007)