AUGUSTA — Next Step Maine has announced today that $35,600 has been awarded to 28 Maine employees who were nominated by their employers for a 2016 Next Step Maine Employee of Promise scholarship this spring.
Among the scholarship winners are Ashley Belmain and Tracy Whitten, both employees at The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle.
The program is a free statewide initiative that awards funds to Maine employees who are currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree or certificate program. The recipients were selected from 40 applicants from a variety of Maine companies and many educational institutions.
Next Step Maine is part of the Maine Development Foundation (MDF), a private, non-partisan membership organization that drives sustainable, long-term economic growth for the state of Maine. MDF’s strategic focus is a productive workforce.
“We are extremely pleased with the progress the Next Step Maine program is making to help Maine’s workforce continue with their education and training,” said Yellow Breen, president of Maine Development Foundation. “There were double the number of applicants compared to last year and we raised $35,600 for scholarship funds, which is double from last year, as well.”
The Next Step Maine 2016 scholarship winners are from seven different counties across the state from a wide range of businesses and educational institutions. Scholarship amounts for each individual range from $600-$2,000. Scholarship recipients, their employers and family members will be recognized at a special breakfast awards ceremony on Friday, June 10, at the Senator Inn and Spa in Augusta.
