2026 Bill and Joan Alfond Family Scholarship Award winner
Piper Hamilton of Waterville was selected as the 2026 Bill and Joan Alfond Family Scholarship Award recipient from a field of applicants.
Hamilton graduated this spring from the Waterville Senior High School Class of 2026.
Williams carried an unweighted GPA of 95.8, served as the vice president of Student Council, and was a dedicated member of Key Club. Piper was inducted into the National Honor Society and held numerous class officer roles. She serves as the varsity soccer and tennis team captain. She participates in Homeroom Buddies, Prom Committee, and Spanish Club. Piper actively volunteers at events such as Day of Caring, Walk for Warmth, youth sports programs, and the Trunk or Treat at Alfond Youth and Community Center. Outside school, Piper is involved in everyday tasks such as raking leaves, dog sitting, and joining the Adult Education Course, as well as regularly attending the Albert S. Hall school sports club, mentoring students in learning and playing different sports.
Hamilton plans to continue her post-secondary education at the University of Maine, pursuing a degree in finance.
The scholarship selection committee convenes annually to identify a local graduating senior with an exemplary record of citizenship and community service among a pool of applicants. Applicants are required to submit an essay on their community involvement, and finalists are interviewed by the Scholarship Award Committee.
“We are very pleased to award the 2026 Bill and Joan Alfond Family Scholarship Award to Piper Hamilton,” said Kimberly N. Lindlof, executive director of the Central Maine Community Betterment Collaborative and coordinator of the scholarship selection committee. “The Chamber’s committee chose Piper from an impressive group of accomplished applicants, because her dedication to service and leadership truly reflects the Bill and Joan Alfond family’s interest in citizenship, community service, and exemplifies their spirit and vitality.”
The scholarship is awarded by the Central Maine Community Betterment Collaborative. Recipients must be graduating from Waterville Senior High School, Messalonskee High School, Lawrence High School, Winslow High School, the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences, or the Glenn Stratton Learning Center at Good Will-Hinckley. Awardees receive a $750 scholarship after successfully completing one semester with a grade point average of 2.0 or higher. This amount will be awarded for up to 4 years, for a total of $3,000.