First Wind rolls out scholarship program for 2011

    BOSTON — First Wind, an independent U.S.-based wind energy company, today announced the availability of its 2011 First Wind Scholars program to high school students residing in each community in Maine where the company currently has a project in operation or in an advanced stage of development. First Wind Scholars offers one-time $3,000 scholarships to support local high school students who display strong potential for a successful college experience, as well as interest in the environment, energy or the sciences.
    Last year’s scholarship winners from Maine included a student from Central Aroostook High School in Mars Hill and a student from Stearns High School in Millinocket. As part of the 2011 program, as many as 15 scholarships will be granted to qualified students throughout the country. In addition, First Wind will provide one renewable scholarship of $5,000 for up to four years to the most qualified student.
    “We are pleased to offer our successful First Wind Scholars program in Maine again this year,” said Carol Grant, Senior Vice President of External Affairs at First Wind. “Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders, and we hope that this program will continue to support young people who show interest in and the capacity to contribute to the fields of environment, energy and science.”
    The First Wind Scholars program will be open to high school seniors in communities served by one of First Wind’s area locations (schools outlined below). In order to be eligible for the scholarship, students will need a GPA of 3.0 or higher and plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study majoring in earth and/or environmental sciences, technology or engineering. Applications are open and available online as of today with all submissions due by Feb. 15, 2011. Judging will be based on a number of factors, including academic performance, work experience, school and community activities and a 300-word essay.
    The program and selection of recipients is administered by Scholarship Management Services, a leading designer and manager of scholarship and tuition reimbursement programs for corporations and others. The names of the scholarship recipients will be announced in May 2011. The selection of winners is conducted with a two step process. First, a group of finalists are selected based on a number of criteria including their academic record, demonstrated leadership, work experience, and a statement of educational and career goals. Finalists then must submit additional materials such as a
transcript, applicant appraisal, and an essay which will help determine the winners. All scholarship recipients will be notified in the spring of 2011.
    Students attending the following local schools will be eligible to apply for the scholarship:
    * East Grand School (Danforth)
    *  Region Two School of Applied Technology (Houlton)
    *     Central Aroostook Junior-Senior High School (Mars Hill)
    As of Dec. 15, students could begin submitting their applications, and enrollment will remain open through February 15, 2011. For more information on this program or to fill out an application, interested people can visit www.firstwind.com/firstwindscholars.