FAIRFIELD, Maine – Maddie Niles (Benton, ME), a freshman on the field hockey team at the University of Southern Maine has received one of the 16 Maine Sports Hall of Fame scholarships in for 2025. The $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Niles recently at a ceremony at the Aroma Joe’s location in Gorham.
The scholarship check was made possible in partnership Aroma Joe’s Development Office of Maine and New Hampshire. Niles is one of 16 student athletes across the 16 counties who received a scholarship. Since 1978, the Maine Sports Hall of Fame has honored the “Best of the Best” of Maine high school student athletes.
“Maddie is a great example of what makes this scholarship program so great. She has put in the work to excel on and off the field hockey field. Her work to increase the popularity of field hockey is remarkable. She was also the first high school athlete to sign a NIL contract with a Maine business, making her a trailblazer and outstanding role model for future generations,” said Maine Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director Bill Green.
The formal scholarship awards event will take place on Sept. 21 at the Gracie Theatre on at Husson University. The event will be televised statewide on a delayed basis by Maine Public.
“I am very grateful for this scholarship from the Maine Sports Hall of Fame. They have a long history of supporting Maine athletes and I am honored to be part of that group. This scholarship means a lot to me and my family. I want to thank the Maine Sports Hall of Fame and their sponsors, including Aroma Joe’s for making this scholarship possible,” said Niles.
Niles, 18, graduated from Lawrence High School as one of the top high school field hockey players in New England. During her senior season, she scored her 100th career goal and is the all-time scoring leader at Lawrence High School (109) and set the school record for goals in a season (38) and tied the state record for goals in a game (7).
In 2022, Niles helped the Bulldogs to an undefeated season (18-0) and scored the game-winning goal in the Class B State Championship game.
In addition to her skills on the field, Niles is an exceptional student with a 4.0 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society. She also volunteers with several different organizations, including PAL youth sports.
Pictured: Maddie Niles (center) accepts the $1,000 scholarship check from Bill Green, Executive Director of the Maine Sports Hall of Fame (left) and Crystal Brown, Community Marketing Manager for Aroma Joe’s Development Office of Maine and New Hampshire (right). Courtesy: Pliable Marketing.
