April Flagg, Executive Director, Aroostook Aspirations Initiative (AAI) accepts a Fort Fairfield Rotary Club tote bag from Carl Young, President, and speaks about the AAI sucess rate.

April Flagg, Executive Director, Aroostook Aspirations Initiative (AAI) spoke at a recent club meeting. April expressed that the AAI goal is to reverse youth outmigration from The County. To achieve this goal AAI has partnered with all four post-secondary institutions in The County and all county school districts to provide Gauvin Foundation scholarships to graduating seniors who are going to attend an in-county post-secondary institution. Additionally, many county businesses are supporting the AAI by providing student internships during the summer months. The AAI model currently enjoys a high success rate reflected in 97% of the Gauvin Scholars completing a college degree, and 75% of the past Gauvin Scholars having remained in or returned to Aroostook County.