Unity College Fishing for Scholarships Hits Record, Farmington Native Wins One Year Scholarship

Unity, Maine – July, 2009 – The seventh annual Unity College Fishing for Scholarships Tournament, part of Get Hooked on Unity Weekend, featured a record number of tagged fish caught.

“The fishing conditions were great and among the countless fish caught, nine had fishing tournament tags,” said Unity College Vice President for College Advancement Rob Constantine. “The previous record was four.”

The catch-and-release scholarships fishing tournament, the only one of its kind in the United States, was held on Sunday, July 26 on Unity Pond, a stone’s throw from the Unity College campus in Unity, Maine.

Among the awards for tagged fish and prize drawings was the crown jewel of the weekend, a one-year tuition scholarship valued at $20,000. The fish tagged for the one-year tuition scholarship was landed by Jacob Hastings ’13 of Farmington, Maine. A $5,000 scholarship was won by Josh Wade ’11 of Alstead, New Hampshire.

Jacob Hastings

There were eleven additional students who won scholarships and prizes, bringing the value of all scholarships and prizes awarded to $29,000.

“By any measure this was an outstanding weekend for new and returning Unity College students and their families,” said Vice President for College Advancement Rob Constantine. “The entire Get Hooked on Unity Weekend, beginning with registration on Friday and culminating in the fishing tournament on Sunday, is much more than a means to win tuition dollars. This weekend has become a cherished event and rallying point for the entire Unity College community at a time when the new academic year is in sight, but there is still plenty of summer yet to enjoy.”

A group photo of students who won scholarships and prizes

Constantine issued a special congratulation to Jacob Hastings, who upon receiving his scholarship pumped his fists and danced across the gym floor as a large crowd cheered.

“Meeting Jacob and his supportive family was a joy,” said Constantine. “What a great way to begin his college experience, celebrating the good fate to have landed the fish that carried the one year tuition scholarship.”

The start of the tournament

Over 400 students and their guests participated in the tournament.
Event coordinator Kate Grenier praised the support of faculty, staff and community volunteers whose commitment made the event successful.

“It takes a lot to pull something like this off and it speaks to our entire campus community that we are able to put together such a top notch event,” said Grenier. “I would especially like to acknowledge Associate Director of Admissions Joe Saltalamachia for his efforts during this tournament and for the original idea.”

John Eddie

Unity College is a small private college in rural Maine that provides dedicated, engaged students with a liberal arts education which emphasizes the environment and natural resources. Unity College graduates are prepared to be environmental stewards, effective leaders, and responsible citizens through active learning experiences within a supportive community.