ROCKPORT — Anthony Benson, a member of the graduating Class of 2020 at Camden Hills Regional High School, has been named the recipient of two significant scholarships including a $10,000 scholarship from the Mitchell Institute and a $20,000  Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship. 

The Rockport resident has been a high achiever over the years, according to his father. 

He graduated high school with a cumulative weighted GPA of 97.03, and participated in the University of Maine Aspirations Program through the UMA Rockland campus where he earned 27 college credit hours with a GPA of 3.89. 

At Camden Hills, Benson was a member of the National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and was on the leadership team of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes organization. He has volunteered more than 500 hours, predominantly at Aldermere Farm in Rockport and with the weekly Camden Community Breakfast organized by Chestnut Street Baptist Church in Camden.

Benson has been a member of 4-H at the Aldermere Achievers 4-H Club since January 2018. As a member of 4-H he has developed many different skills related to public speaking, working with and showing cattle, and has taken various courses such as building and using a GPS tracking belt for cattle and being certified to drive a tractor. As a member of 4-H he has served as the club vice president in 2019 and the club treasurer in 2020.

Benson has been awarded scholarships from various organizations including: 

4-H Oxton Trust Scholarship
Camden Lions Club Scholarship
Camden Rotary Scholarship
Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship (Elks National Foundation)
Neal M. Peabody Memorial Scholarship (Federal Masonic Lodge #6)
2020 Mitchell Scholar (Mitchell Institute)
Marion Weidman Scholarship
Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship
Rockland Kiwanis Club Scholarship

“Over the years, I have come to recognize the importance of not only having knowledge, but of applying that knowledge towards making a positive impact on the people around me,” Benson said. “This has fueled my desire to give back to my community by volunteering hundreds of hours working on a local farm, at a local community breakfast, and participating in groups like the National Honor Society (NHS) and 4H.”

Benson credited his parents, George and Jodell, for instilling him with curiosity and passion for learning. 

“Over the years my parents have pushed me to take the reins, so to speak, with doing everything I can to pay my own way,” he said. “They have taught me the importance of getting good grades and putting my education first, which is why I am so thankful for the High School Aspirations Program. This program has had both a positive academic, and a huge financial impact, on me. The opportunity to pursue my college education, for virtually no out of pocket cost has been a massive benefit for me.”

Benson will attend Dickinson College in Pennsylvania this fall and will double major in anthropology and political science. He plans to conduct research on topics he is passionate about and intends to work towards becoming a professor so that he can instill the importance of learning from history, understanding present reality and developing passions to create a better future into future generations.