Maine Student Lands Full Scholarship With Kindness-Themed TikTok

A high school senior in Saco is heading to college with her tuition fully covered, thanks to a creative social media challenge.

During a surprise announcement Thursday at Thornton Academy, Lindsay Levesque was awarded a full-ride scholarship to Saint Joseph's College of Maine.

WGME 13 reported that Levesque is the first winner of the school’s “Make Mercy Real” TikTok challenge, which encouraged students to create videos highlighting everyday acts of kindness, compassion, and service.

The moment she found out she had won is something she says she will never forget.

“I was sitting in the living room with my family,” Levesque said. “I had gotten an email asking to schedule a phone call, and I was excited but didn’t want to get my hopes up. When I heard the news, I was overjoyed. I cried a little and was just so excited it was me.”

The scholarship covers the full cost of attending Saint Joseph’s, where Levesque plans to study nursing.

School officials say the challenge was designed to highlight positive actions and encourage students to make a difference in their communities, even in small ways, the news station said.

Levesque’s video stood out among entries for capturing that message in a meaningful way.

She is one of four students who will ultimately receive the scholarship through the program, with the remaining winners expected to be announced at a later date.