BANGOR – Graduating seniors at Bangor High School will have a better chance to receive scholarship money for college thanks to two donations from alumni totaling $350,000 over the last month.

James Taylor, a 1944 graduate of Bangor High School who died in August 2004, left $300,000 to the Bangor High School Scholarship Foundation in his will. The foundation received the funds three weeks ago, said Paul Newman, a member of the organization.

“This is such a great shot in the arm,” Newman said in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon.

Taylor lived much of his life in Detroit, Mich., while working in the automotive industry, according to Newman, and the money was donated for students going to the University of Maine. The contribution will provide students with $10,000 in tuition money yearly.

Virginia Boyd, a 1929 graduate of Bangor High School who died last November, left $50,000 to the foundation in her will. Her husband owned Bangor-Merrifield Office Supply Co.

The foundation previously had about $615,000 in the scholarship fund, which now totals $965,000. With interest and dividends, Newman said, around 5 percent of that amount is awarded annually.

About 90 percent of graduating Bangor High School students go on to postsecondary education, Newman said, but 35 percent to 40 percent of them also have free or reduced lunch, so these donations are vital in aiding less fortunate students with the rising costs of college.

“The aspirations are high,” Newman said. “The only thing that sometimes holds them back is the monetary support.”

Newman said the board members knew that the foundation was receiving the donations, but it was still a surprise to see one of the largest amounts of money given to the fund.

“We knew we were going to get it and they kept saying it’s coming and coming,” Newman said. “We were getting quite anxious.

“When you have a $600,000 endowment and someone adds $300,000 to it … wow,” Newman said. “It helps.”

Bangor Schools Superintendent Robert Ervin commended the actions of Taylor and Boyd, and said that this was one of many instances when Taylor has helped students reach their educational goals through a donation.

“What these individuals have done with their generosity is give students a ticket to their dreams,” Ervin said. “It’s a wonderful thing.”

The scholarships will be awarded based on merit and need, Ervin said.

“I think the finances for some students can be a significant barrier,” Ervin said later adding, “In this case we’re talking kids who have little to nothing. We have very bright kids who will benefit from this donation.”