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The story goes like this: A young man with potential was encouraged by the late Joe Sawtelle to go to college. After several exchanges, the boy鈥檚 mother asked the New Hampshire Seacoast benefactor to stop talking to her son about furthering his education because it just wasn鈥檛 financially possible.

And that鈥檚 how the scholarship program at Portsmouth High School was born.

Sawtelle didn鈥檛 think a lack of money should prevent qualified students from attending college, so with help from friends, he and his wife started the fund that provides the last dollars needed for selected high school students to continue their schooling. Since its inception 30 years ago, Futures has distributed more than $1.5 million in scholarships, according to program coordinator Amy Brnger, 鈥�87, 鈥�92G.

鈥淭his program helps fill the gap that could stop some of our students who have the grades, the drive and the ambition but not the money to attend college,鈥� says Brnger, whose daughter, Audrey Hood, will attend UNH in the fall where her father, Craig Hood, is a professor of art and chairs the .

While students may attend the college of their choice, the amount of unmet need Futures will pay is based on the cost to attend UNH, including tuition, fees, room and board.听Assistance is provided for up to four years. Students can opt for a听two-year college instead or a technical school as long as the program is certified.

鈥淭his program helps fill the gap that could stop some of our students who have the grades, the drive and the ambition but not the money to attend college.鈥�

Between eight and 10 students are accepted each year. Currently, Futures scholarships are supporting 28 college students and 30 students in middle or high school. To date, 192 individuals have benefited from the program. Of those, 听47 have attended or are now attending UNH.

Futures participants are mentored throughout the course of their education,听beginning in eighth grade, when they are selected on the recommendation of teachers and guidance counselors or by applying directly to the program. Income guidelines are about 200 percent of the poverty level. Students are expected to apply for financial aid and scholarships. They also must perform 20 hours of community service a year.

鈥淪ome kids get a lot of money. And sometimes a student qualifies the first year but not the second because the family income changes,鈥� Brnger says. Students must fill out a federal financial aid form annually.

鈥淣ot everyone gets last dollars,鈥� says Shanyn Grenier 鈥�97, Portsmouth High School鈥檚 college counselor. 鈥淎bout five or six years ago, awards to buy books and gift cards for school supplies were added. Every little bit helps.鈥�

Grenier should know. She was the first student selected for the Futures program when it was started.

鈥淚 remember knowing I was part of something that was going to help pay for college and that was comforting,鈥� Grenier says of being recommended to Futures when she was in middle school. 鈥淚 was kind of a driven kid; it was empowering to think I would have resources like that.鈥�

Being driven earned Grenier enough local scholarship money that she didn鈥檛 need Futures help until her junior and senior year.

鈥淥bviously the money is great, but the mentoring the program offers is as important,鈥� Grenier says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what made me really think I could go to college, that constant encouragement.鈥�

While Futures participants are among the high school students Grenier works with 鈥� 鈥淭hey sort of get double duty鈥澨�鈥� Brnger starts meeting with them when they are still in middle school.

鈥淭hose first meetings are to learn about them, about what they want to do and what their thoughts are on college,鈥� Brnger says. 鈥淟ater I try to help them stay on track, checking in on grades and stress and doing any troubleshooting that鈥檚 needed.鈥� Both women offer support and guidance, including having numerous conversations on choosing a college, completing applications and applying for financial aid.

Adds Grenier, 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about helping students answer the question, 鈥榃here鈥檚 the place I鈥檓 going to be the best me?'鈥�