AUGUSTA – Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, addressing legislators at the State House on Thursday, gave a status report on his scholarship fund and asked lawmakers to continue supporting programs that make it easier for Maine students to move on to higher education.

“Maine has before it a great challenge and a great opportunity,” Mitchell said. “Not only do Maine students have a real problem paying for college, but their perception about the high cost of education means that many students talk themselves out of college before they even start.”

Mitchell cited recent statistics revealing that out of 100 high school freshmen, 78 will graduate high school. Only 39 of those 78 will move on to college, and just 25 will graduate with a two- or four-year degree.

Mitchell said that since the creation of the George J. Mitchell Scholarship in 1995, more than $5 million has been awarded to help more than 1,250 Maine students pay for college. More than 500 of these students have graduated college since being awarded the scholarship.

The program selects one senior from every public high school in the state each year, meaning 130 new Mitchell Scholars are chosen each year.

“After my family, this scholarship program is the most important thing in my life,” Mitchell said.

He said the current awards of $5,000 per student, when spread out over four years, equal only $1,250 toward each year of school.

“Rising costs of higher education mean that we must continue to increase the value of our scholarship and, I hope, the numbers of students we reach,” Mitchell said.

“This legislative session, help make higher education a priority,” he asked of the Legislature. “It will mean a world of difference to our students, and our state.”