Our Team: Helping You On Your Journey

Julie Bourgoin

President

Julie is a development professional with 30 years of experience in hospital, education, and social services fundraising. She began her career at Beth Israel Hospital, Boston managing the hospital’s annual fund campaign, events, and committees. She raised funds for Suffolk University Law School’s capital campaign and later served as a reunion class liaison. She has served as vice president and president of a parent teacher organization, and co-chaired a public elementary school technology campaign that raised over $100,000. ​Her particular interest in poverty alleviation led her to Lutheran Social Services of New England where she developed fundraising opportunities to provide shelter, education, and life skills for homeless teenage mothers in Massachusetts and Nurturing Minds in Africa, a secondary school for vulnerable girls in Tanzania, where she served as a volunteer, board member, and program officer. Julie is a graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder and holds a B.A. in political science. She lives with her husband and two sons and, in her free time, enjoys skiing, hiking, and taking long road trips.

Maitana Cormier

Scholar Advocate

Maitana is from Mount Desert Island and grew up experiencing all that Acadia National Park has to offer. After graduating from MDI High School, she knew that Maine was where she wanted to stay. She attended the University of Maine where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology in 2020. Following graduation, she entered a job where she helped children and young adults with extremely difficult situations, obtaining services, and creating positive experiences. Her goal has always been to help and to advocate for children and students.

“I’m so thankful to be working with the Worthington Scholarship Foundation and to be making a difference in the lives of Maine students. My husband was a Worthington Scholar and has continued to talk about his experience working with them and the difference it made for him while attending Husson. When this opportunity arose, I knew that my own goals aligned perfectly with the foundation.”

Whitney Lytle

Director of Scholar Advocacy

Whitney comes to the Worthington Scholarship Foundation with an extensive background working in education-focused nonprofit organizations and higher ed. She graduated with a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Texas San Antonio in 2020 and moved to Maine in the fall of that same year. Combining her diverse skills in research design, program management, instructional design, student mentorship, and community outreach she is excited to serve as a member of the WSF team helping students realize their vision of a successful future. Whitney lives in the mid-coast with her husband, young daughter, and gecko named Ludo. She loves to travel, is an active member of her archaeological project in Belize and is always in the mood for a coffee.

Emily Pratt

Marketing & Executive Assistant

Emily is a mid-coast local who grew up in Rockport and attended Camden Hills Regional High School. She graduated from Wheaton College (MA) with a B.A. in Business and Management. After working as a marketing intern at the Island Institute in Rockland, she discovered a passion for helping those in Maine and is thrilled to continue to do so at the Worthington Scholarship Foundation.

Shawna Thomas

Scholar Advocate

Shawna came to the Worthington Scholarship Foundation after realizing the lifelong dream of living in Maine. She hails from Kentucky and the Chicagoland area, which always felt like a paradox to her. She has experiences that include teaching, volunteering, student advocacy, mentoring, higher education, instructional design, creating professional development curriculum for faculty, and service learning. Shawna is a graduate of Trinity International University with a B.A. and Wheaton College Graduate School with an M.A. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Romania. She is looking forward to continuing to explore Maine and getting to know her new community.

Sebastian Yattaw

Student Accounts Manager

Sebastian was a Worthington Scholarship recipient upon graduation from Oceanside High School in 2013, while obtaining a B.S. in Business Administration in both Finance and Business Management at the University of Maine. “I’ve always been so thankful for the support I received from the Worthington Scholarship – it definitely reduced the financial burden of attending college”, he stated. Sebastian is a lifelong resident of Owls Head and is pleased to remain in Maine, in “such a beautiful area, close to family and friends. I’m thankful that the Worthington Foundation is helping me yet again by providing me this career opportunity. I look forward to helping current and future Worthington Scholars.”