Hodgdon High grad named Arnold Bushner-Mainely Character Scholarship recipient

    CARY PLANTATION — Alexandria Neher of Cary Plantation has been named the 2008 recipient of the Arnold Bushner-Mainely Character Scholarship, sponsored by Northeast Bank.
Submitted photo
    AWARD — Alexandria Neher of Cary Plantation has been named the 2008 recipient of the Arnold Bushner-Mainely Character Scholarship, sponsored by Northeast Bank. Pictured at the presentation of the scholarship are, left to right: Bob Caswell, vice president of the Mainely Character Board of Directors; Alexandria Neher; and Barbara Esposito, business development manager of Northeast Bank, and a member of the Mainely Character Board of Directors.
    The $2,500 scholarship was presented at the recent awards assembly at Hodgdon High School. Neher, the daughter of John and Gail Neher of Cary Plantation, will attend the University of Maine at Presque Isle in the fall, where she will major in biology, with a minor in criminology. She hopes to pursue a career as a forensic biologist.
    Mainely Character is a volunteer, scholarship organization that recognizes Maine high school seniors who have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the principles of courage, integrity, responsibility and concern for others. The scholarship is named in memory of Mainely Character founder Arnie Bushner, who believed that a student’s character should count equally with academics and athletics.
    “With the support of Northeast Bank, this scholarship shines a light on the successes of students in the skills that truly count in life,” said Judy Katzel, president of the Mainely Character Board of Directors.
    Neher was in Department of Health and Human Services custody for much of her childhood, yet took exceptional steps to care for her siblings and other family members. She also found the time to volunteer for community events. Neher, who was recently adopted, traveled to Washington where she and her mother, Gail Neher, met with Senator Susan Collins to advocate for improvements in federal adoption assistance programs.
    For more information on Mainely Character, visit www.mainelycharacter.org.