The BMA fund granted scholarships to the following students in 2023 for a total of $21,000.00
Dylan Griffin
Dylan was a friend and Bluewave teammate of Blain’s. He is playing basketball at the University of Maine Farmington. He is pursuing a major in Physical Education and a minor in coaching. It was a great surprise for him to see Blain’s little cousin Elyse wearing a #9 shirt at Saco Youth Camp, where Griffin is a counselor. Griffin wrote a great essay about his friendship with Blain and the exciting visits to Peaks Island.
Mitchell Labbe
Mitchell is a repeat recipient. He continues his studies at High Point University in NC. This year he wrote an essay on team sports. He shared his thoughts on the emotions that come with being on a team and impact it can have on a your life.
Mpore Semuhoza
Mpore was a fellow DHS Class of 2021 teammate of Blain’s, as well as one of Blain’s great friends. Mpore is currently playing basketball and studying Digital Media at Great Bay Community College. His essay describes the first encounter with Blain, opposing middle school basketball teams. They were on high alert for the kid named Blain, who would end up “lighting them up” with 5 three pointers. We wish him well and support his college and basketball career.
Aalliya Ferreira
Aalliyah is another repeat recipient. She continues to do a great job studying Psychology at UMO earning all As & Bs. She was a great friend to Blain and continues to be touch, coming out each year on the anniversary of Blain’s passing. Aalliyah is playing volleyball in college and wrote a great essay on how being on a team sport has taught her structure and accountability and has found forever friends on her team.
Heather DeMerchant
While Heather did not know Blain personally, she has known him from her first roommate in college in the year of 2020 pandemic, Madison. Heather has been a great friend and support to Madison. Heather is studying Food Science at UMO. Heather was a softball pitcher in high school and writes an essay about what being on that team meant to her. She talks about memories and the great friends that she made, and becoming a family.
Jonah Green
Jonah is also a repeat recipient. But this was his last year. Jonah graduated from Trinity College with a major in economics, Class of 2024. Congratulations to him! This year Jonah wrote as an essay that makes us smile, telling the infamous story about the duck and bear that crashed a late season wedding on Peaks Island and the lesson he learned from it. Blain taught him to have fun with life and to not be embarrassed to do something silly.
Logan Brown
Logan is attending St Joseph’s College and studying Exercise Science. Logan has been a Hoop Camp counselor with Madison. She wrote an essay on what being on a team sport meant to her. Falling in love with basketball in the 5th grade. She continues to play basketball at St. Joseph’s and has fallen in love again with the sport and her teammates.
Lilah Green
Lilah is attending Middlebury College in VT. She is the little sister of Jonah. She wrote us an amazing essay about growing up on Peaks Island with Blain, her big brother’s friend. She describes Blain as unlike anyone else she knew, unwavering generosity and harmless cruelty. She describes how she made fun of his pink Crocs, but he passed them on to her, they fit perfectly, and she still wears them to this day. As well as their love of french fries.
Richard Marston
Richard is a 2024 graduate of Deering High School. He will be letting us know what college he will attend. He wrote an essay about being on a team sport. How he went from basketball to lacrosse and fell in love with a new sport. Making team captain and figuring it out, how to be a leader. Bringing great spirits to each and every practice.