First scholarships awarded through new Project Launch fund

Fund is designed to help students overcome obstacles on their paths to higher education

Wesley Trundy and Sam Robbins, both seniors at Deer Isle-Stonington High School, were awarded the fund’s inaugural scholarships. Photo courtesy of Project Launch.

April 14, 2026

By staff

DEER ISLE—Project Launch, a Deer-Isle based college readiness non-profit organization, has announced the launch of a new Student Support Fund for local students. The fund is designed to help students overcome financial obstacles on their paths to higher education and career success.

According to a press release, the SSF is an application-based scholarship fund that is available to all past and present PL students. It provides “financial assistance for a wide range of college- and workforce-related expenses, including tuition deposits, textbooks, certification programs, equipment, uniforms, and tools,” the release said.

According to the release, the SSF was created in response to a recurring challenge faced by students. “Over the years, we have found that the critical extra funds needed for college and workforce expenses often derail student progress,” said Executive Director Kimberly Hutchinson in the release. “The SSF fund is meant to bridge that gap and ensure students can continue moving forward toward their goals.”

The program has already begun making an impact. According to the release the first scholarship recipients, Wesley Trundy and Sam Robbins, both seniors at Deer Isle-Stonington High School, were each awarded a $695 scholarship to enroll in the Mariner’s Learning System Captain’s License online course and exam.

“I’m excited to start the journey toward getting my unlimited captain’s license,” Robbins said in the release.

The release said that the SSF was created through “the generosity of many individual supporters and local businesses” and PL staff hope “that this is just the beginning of the fund and that it continues to grow” and support more students.

Project Launch was established in 2012 and is an education-based non-profit organization serving communities in and around Deer Isle and Stonington. The organization originally focused on post-secondary college readiness and completion rates, cornerstone programs but have since expanded to include workforce pathways, mentorship and adult career coaching, the release said. Over the years, PL has “worked with over 200 local adults and students on college and career readiness and skill-building.”