Colby College in Waterville, Maine, has announced a $7 million gift from the George G. Petrikas Revocable Trust in support of financial aid for students from Maine.

The gift will establish the George G. Petrikas Financial Aid Fund, which is designed to support high school graduates from Bangor or Waterville. Should no student meet either criterion in a given year, the fund may then award financial aid to Maine students who are graduates of high schools in the counties of Kennebec, Penobscot, or Somerset and then to graduates of any Maine high school.

A Maine native, Petrikas ('56) graduated from Bangor High School before earning a bachelor's degree in history from Colby. He passed away in 2019 at the age of 85.

"We are so grateful to Mr. Petrikas for his commitment to providing greater opportunities to students from Maine to attend Colby," said Randi Arsenault ('09), assistant vice president of admissions and financial aid and dean of admissions. "Gifts like this one not only highlight the profound impact Colby has on its community, but they further our efforts to enroll the most talented students from all backgrounds and create long-lasting benefits that extend well beyond campus."