← Back to home

The Maine Center’s Alfond Ambassador program provides financial support and leadership development for graduate students in business, law, policy, engineering, and computing who are committed to strengthening Maine’s economy after graduation. The Alfond Ambassadors are a distinguished cohort of future leaders and changemakers empowered to leverage their education to tackle challenges and drive innovations critical to advancing Maine.

Established in 2022 through the generosity of the Harold Alfond Foundation (External Site) as part of the UMS TRANSFORMS initiative, two graduate students are selected as Alfond Ambassadors annually from each of the Maine Center’s collaborating academic programs: the University of Maine Graduate School of Business (External Site), the University of Maine School of Law (External Site), the Muskie School of Public Service (External Site), and the Maine College of Engineering and Computing (External Site).

Recipients benefit from:

  • Multi-year financial support
  • Expanded professional networks
  • 30+ hours annually of immersive leadership development training, designed to prepare them for transformative careers to address the evolving needs of Maine’s workforce and economy
  • Engagement in a community service initiative designed to strengthen their leadership skills while also giving back to communities across Maine.

The Maine Center, in partnership with the collaborating academic programs, oversees the Alfond Ambassador application process and program. Selection is based on academic excellence, leadership potential, a shared vision for positively impacting Maine’s economic future, and a demonstrated dedication to fostering economic growth and innovation in Maine after graduation. The Alfond Ambassador scholarship is part of a broader effort by the University of Maine System to make higher education accessible to students with financial need while establishing a pipeline of highly skilled professionals for Maine’s workforce.

  • Prospective Ambassadors must be currently applying to or accepted into a full-time Master’s Program at the University of Maine Graduate School of Business, the Muskie School of Public Service, or the Maine College of Engineering and Computing, or must be currently enrolled as a first-year student at the University of Maine School of Law.
  • Ambassadors must demonstrate a commitment to strengthening Maine’s economy and professional landscape post-graduation. 
  • Applications will be evaluated based on academic excellence, leadership potential, a shared vision for positively impacting Maine’s future, and a demonstrated dedication to fostering economic growth and innovation in Maine after graduation.
  • Ambassadors must reside in Maine for the duration of their academic program (i.e., cannot be a remote, online student living outside Maine)
  • In-person participation in the leadership development programming and community service initiative is mandatory. The leadership development program includes a two-day overnight retreat in the fall, a daylong session in the spring, and three to four additional meetings throughout the academic year. The community service initiative involves a minimum of four hours throughout the academic year.
  • Ambassadors cannot be a full-time graduate assistant or a full-time employee of the University of Maine System or any of its universities. There is no prohibition on working full-time outside of the University of Maine System.
  • For each year of their degree program, Alfond Ambassadors receive an academic scholarship totaling $12,000 annually and expenses for accommodations, meals, and travel related to overnight and daylong leadership programming.
  • Alfond Ambassadors are expected to:
    • Maintain good academic standing
    • Maintain full-time student status
    • Participate in all Alfond Ambassador program-related activities
    • Travel to the Greater Portland area, or other locations, for in-person events as scheduled
  • Post-graduate professional employment in the field of study and in Maine is strongly encouraged but not a requirement of program participation.
  • Application Deadline Extension
    • The application deadline has been extended through February 28, 2025, for individuals enrolled in or applying to programs at the University of Maine Graduate School of Business, the University of Maine School of Law, and the Maine College of Engineering and Computing.
    • The application deadline has been extended through March 21, 2025, for individuals applying to programs in the Muskie School of Public Service
  • Applications should be submitted online here (External Site) by 11:59PM on the stated deadline
  • Applicants associated with the University of Maine Graduate School of Business, the University of Maine School of Law, and the Maine College of Engineering and Computing.will be notified of selection by March 15, 2025 and must confirm acceptance of the scholarship by April 1, 2025
  • Applicants associated with the Muskie School of Public Service will be notified of selection by April 11, 2025, and must confirm acceptance of the scholarship by April 25, 2025


Please email Heather York, Special Assistant for the Maine Center, at heather.f.york@maine.edu with any questions regarding the Alfond Ambassador program or application process.