Island Institute Announces Maine Island Scholarship Awards

ROCKLAND, Maine, May. 21 /PRNewswire/ --

ROCKLAND, Maine, May 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Island Institute announced today that it has awarded $125,000 in college scholarships to 59 island students who are pursuing post-secondary studies at colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools in Maine and around the country. Almost $60,000 more than last year's award total, this one-time special distribution, made possible by the generosity of the Institute's donors and members, celebrates the organization's 25th anniversary and brings to more than $525,000 the total dollar amount of awards made since the scholarship program's inception in 1990.

Receiving from $250 to $6,000 each, the 2008 Maine Island Scholars are:

Chebeague Island: Joshua Doughty, Katherine Hill, Denis Johnson, Katie Phipps, Danielle Rich, John Summa

Cranberry Isles: Meagan Blank, Martha Gray, Seth Gray, Christina Spurling, Emily Thomas, Curtis Thormann, James Thormann

Great Diamond: Brenden Myers

Islesboro: Caitlin Anderson, Richard Coombs, Jonathan Cunningham, Nathan Gorham, Joel Grindle, Erica Hatch, Shawna Johnston, Cameron Leach, David Pike, Leila Pike, Colin Schmidt, Tom Tutor

Long Island: John Clark, Zachary Whitener

Monhegan: Jessica Schnell

North Haven: Amelia Campbell, Emmett Hodder, Susannah Stone, Kelsey Jones

Peaks: Sara Cannon, Erica DeMichele, Charles Friedman, Jennifer Mulkern, Mitchell Murdock, Wesley Norton, Echo Presgraves, Molly Radis, Ella Shaw, Nathaniel Walden, Jackman Wood

Swans: Nevora LeMoine, Christie Staples, Angela Tapley

Vinalhaven: Cassie Bennard, Claire Carter, Brianna Conlan, Niall Conlan, Kayla Conway, Meagan Davidson, Flora Drury, Cassandra Martin, Sam Rosen, Alexandra Young, Ethan Warren

Several students received special awards:

Amelia Campbell of North Haven received the Academic and Community Leadership Scholarship, given to a graduating senior who exemplifies a combination of academic excellence and community leadership.

Echo Presgraves of Peaks Island received the new Sweet Scholarship, awarded to a graduating senior who has excellent academic standing.

Martha Gray of Cranberry Isles received the new 21st Century Scholarship, awarded to a college upperclassman focusing on a science, technology, engineering, and/or math career.

Flora Drury of Vinalhaven received an Otter Island Scholarship, awarded to students of good academic standing attending specific colleges around the country.

Danielle Rich of Chebeague received the Shaw Fund for Mariner's Children Scholarship.

John Bird, chair of the Institute's board of trustees, expressed delight at being able to provide such a high level of support, saying, "As we at the Island Institute look back over the past quarter-century of programs, resources and partnerships with island communities, there is nothing that makes us prouder than the Maine Island Scholars; it is truly a special group of young people to which this year's awardees now belong."

Selected by a committee composed of island community members and Institute staff, the 2008 scholars from Maine's unbridged island communities received their awards based on academic achievement, employment, extra-curricular activities, a personal statement, and special circumstances. They are eligible to renew their scholarships each year as long as they remain enrolled in post-secondary studies on a full-time basis.

A luncheon at the Samoset Resort on May 31, made possible by the Catawamteak Fund, will celebrate the accomplishments of these students, recognize the visionary support provided by the late Carol and Charles McLane, and feature keynote addresses by former award recipients Avery Day of North Haven and Zachary Whitener of Long Island. For additional information about the Island Institute's Maine Island Scholarship Program, please visit > or contact Ruth Kermish-Allen, Education Outreach Officer, at (207) 594-9209 x.117 or rallen@islandinstitute.org.