Scholarship program helps students step into renewable energy

Applications will be open and available online for the 2011 First Wind Scholars program beginning on December 15. Independent energy company First Wind says extension and expansion of the program will provide new scholarship opportunities for high school seniors attending school in communities where the company currently has projects in operation or in an advanced stage of development (outlined below).  Launched in October 2009, the program offers several scholarships to support local high school seniors who display strong potential for a successful college experience, as well as interest in the environment, energy or the sciences.

In 2010, First Wind awarded 11 scholarships in six states to top high school graduates from Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Utah and Vermont. For 2011, as many as 15 one-time $3,000 scholarships in seven states will be granted to qualified students, including new scholarships for students in communities in Hawaii, Maine, and Washington. In addition, First Wind will provide one renewable scholarship of $5,000 for up to four years to the most qualified student overall.

“We are pleased to expand our successful First Wind Scholars program to our project sites throughout the Northeast, West and Hawaii,” said Carol Grant, Senior Vice President of External Affairs at First Wind. “We were so impressed with the candidates and recipients that we got to know through last year’s program. First Wind is pleased to support promising students as they pursue degrees and hopefully careers in the areas of environment, energy and science.”

In order to be eligible for the scholarship, students need a GPA of at least 3.0 and must plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study with a major in earth and/or environmental sciences, technology or engineering. Applications are open and available online as of today with all submissions due by February 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.

Students residing near the following First Wind projects (or planned projects) will be eligible to apply for the scholarship. (Communities in parentheses are those with high schools where students are eligible for the scholarship.) A star (*) indicates a new scholarship for 2011:

Hawaii
· Kaheawa Wind (Kahului, Lahaina, Kihei and Wailuku, Maui)
· Kahuku Wind (Kahuku, Oahu)
· Kawailoa Wind (Wahiawa, Waialua, Haleiwa and Sunset, Oahu)*

Maine
· Bull Hill Wind (Eastbrook, Ellsworth, Hancock and Sullivan)*
· Mars Hill Wind (Mars Hill)
· Oakfield Wind (Dyer Brook and Oakfield)*
· Rollins Wind (Burlington, Lincoln, Lee, Mattawamkeag and Winn)
· Stetson Wind I & II (Danforth)

Massachusetts
· First Wind’s Corporate Office (John D. O’Bryant School in Boston)

New York
· Cohocton Wind (Cohocton)
· Steel Winds (Lackawanna and Hamburg)

Utah
· Milford Wind I (Milford)
· Milford Wind II (Beaver County or Millard County)

Vermont
· Sheffield Wind (Sheffield and Barton)

Washington
· Palouse Wind (Garfield, Oakesdale, Rosalia, Saint John, Spangle and Tekoa in Whitman County)*

First Wind www.scholarshipamerica.org/firstwindscholars