The University of Maine Board of Trustees and Chancellor Dannel Malloy announced today that victims of the Lewiston shooting and families of the deceased now have the opportunity to attend the public universities of Maine for free. 

Per the request of Gov. Janet Mills, a scholarship fund established through the University of Maine system will waive tuition for anyone directly impacted by the Oct. 25 mass-casualty event, which took the lives of 18 citizens in Lewiston and injured several others. 

According to UMS News, “Those eligible include spouses and biological, adopted and step children of the 18 individuals who were killed, as well as the 31 Mainers who sustained physical injuries connected to the shootings.”

Trauma can have a detrimental effect on financial stability and education. UMaine is ensuring that the people who were personally afflicted by the recent tragedy have no monetary barriers in their pursuit of higher education. 

The UMaine foundation has established a Lewiston Strong Scholarship Fund, which accepts donations digitally or via mail to 2 Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469-5792. These donations will be put towards the cost of room, board and books for applicants accepted under the program.