Pine State News

Orono, ME – On June 26, 2023, U.S. Senator Susan Collins met with students involved in the Cohen Institute High School Leadership Program at the University of Maine. Several dozen high school students from across the state were selected to participate in the program and earn early college credits in courses that focuses on the fundamentals of leadership studies. The program is free for students.

“I enjoyed meeting with Maine high school students who were selected to participate in the William S. Cohen Institute High School Leadership Program at the University of Maine,” said Senator Collins. “These bright young people will spend the week developing their skills and taking rigorous classes as they prepare to become the future leaders of our state.  I was delighted to speak with them about the public service of my friend, Secretary Cohen, and share some of my own experiences in the U.S. Senate."

The William S. Cohen Institute for Leadership & Public Service teaches leadership and public service through programs taught by Maine’s most influential leaders. The Cohen Institute also provides a weeklong D.C. travel course, Projects for Peace, the Mary Berry Gerwin Scholarship fund, as well as research and course development grants.

During her time in the Senate, Senator Collins has championed policies to expand access to higher education. As co-chair of the Congressional TRIO Caucus, Senator Collins led a group of bipartisan Senators last month in introducing a bill to reauthorize the Federal TRIO Programs, which help to ensure that underserved students have equal access to a college education and the support they need to prepare for, succeed in, and graduate from higher education.

Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen represented Maine for 18 years in the Senate and six years in the House. Upon graduating from college, Senator Collins worked for him for 12 years. At the beginning of the 117th Congress, Secretary Cohen escorted Senator Collins through the Senate Chamber as she was sworn in for an historic fifth term.

Original source can be found here.