First Wind announces scholarship awards

by Staff Pioneer Times
12 years ago

    BOSTON — First Wind, an independent U.S.-based wind energy company, announced May 22 its 2012 recipients for their First Wind Scholars program. Scholarships have been awarded to college-bound students from communities where the company currently has a project in operation or in an advanced stage of development.
    Five of this year’s 16 national recipients are from Maine, including the winner for the $5,000 scholarship that is renewable for up to four years. Christopher Derr from Ellsworth High School, Logan Good from Presque Isle High School, Vance Gustin from Southern Aroostook Community School, and Gavin Higgins from Mattanawcook Academy each received $3,000 scholarships. Isaac LaJoie from Presque Isle High School is this year’s recipient of cumulative $20,000 scholarship.
    Gustin of Smyrna Mills and a graduate of Southern Aroostook Community School, played varsity soccer, basketball and baseball. He is a Pulp and Paper Scholar and First Honors Essayist and enjoys fly-fishing, hunting and camping. He will attend the University of Maine to study chemical engineering.
    “Announcing these awards is always a pleasure, but even more so this year as our largest-yet group is full of young men and women from many of our communities across the country,” said Carol Grant, Senior Vice President of External Affairs for First Wind.  “The past year has seen significant growth for First Wind as a company and as a result we have grown our First Wind Scholars program.  It is so gratifying to see so many students apply to take advantage of this opportunity. These students will make up the next generation of leaders in energy and the sciences, and we are honored to play this role in their academic journeys.”
    The First Wind Scholars program was started in 2009 as a way to support college-bound high school seniors in the communities where the company has projects in operation or in an advanced stage of development.     For more information on First Wind Scholars, visit www.firstwind .com/scholarships.