SOUTH PORTLAND – Former Sen. Bob Dole was so impressed with a scholarship program established in George Mitchell’s name that he’s considering starting one in Kansas.

Dole joined his former colleague on Friday night at the Portland Marriott for the Mitchell Institute’s fall scholarship gala.

It has been more than eight years since Mitchell, a Democrat, and Dole, a Republican, shared the Senate floor, but the senators made time at the gala to congratulate the institute’s scholarship recipients.

More than $3.2 million has been awarded to 871 students since Mitchell created the scholarship fund in 1995 after retiring from the senate. Each year 130 seniors receive the award, which can total $4,000, or $1,000 per year.

Dole praised the institute for encouraging more students to pursue a college degree. “The most important challenge we have in America is education,” he said.

Showing just a touch of competitive spirit, Dole said he was inspired by the Mitchell Institute’s work to consider starting a similar scholarship organization in his home state of Kansas.

Mitchell said encouraging Maine students to go to college is just the first step in helping better the state’s communities and its economy.