SOUTH PORTLAND — Southern Maine Community College more than doubled its student scholarships at a Dec. 2 award ceremony.

The SMCC Foundation awarded $153,000 in scholarships to 156 students at a ceremony in the HUB Gymnasium. Last year, the school gave out less than $60,000, the school said.

The college said the average scholarship award is $500 per semester, or about 40 percent of the average student’s tuition bill. Seventy-nine benefactors funded the scholarships.