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I am a senior at the Maine School of Science and Mathematics (MSSM). Being able to attend Maine’s flagship public school has given me a deep appreciation for the work that Susan Collins has done for Maine.
In 2017, Sen. Collins helped champion a $1.87 million grant to the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance. This grant directly helped to support STEM educators and coaches in rural Maine.
In 2004, she was a keynote speaker at a MSSM graduation, where she praised us as “an exceptional school.” The MSSM community remembers these gestures of goodwill and, I believe, trusts that Collins will continue to fight for the educational opportunities that are essential to our success.
Our senator’s impact on education also extends far beyond MSSM. In an FY2026 funding bill, she maintained the maximum Pell award at $7,395, benefiting an estimated $126.6 million in aid to Maine students.
The underlying cause of Collins’ success cannot be ignored. As the chair of the Appropriations Committee, our senator holds the authority to work to redirect federal resources back to the people of Maine time and again. Mainers should remember that the path to becoming the appropriations chair was long and difficult. Collins had to spend decades in Washington to be put in such a powerful position.
If Maine loses Sen. Collins, I believe we will have lost our most influential advocate of the last half century. I urge Mainers to bind together this November to reelect our senator.
Sheldon Pennell
Harpswell