First Wind offers scholarships

First Wind has announced that applications are now open and available online for its 2013 scholarship program. Entering its fourth full year, the program offers scholarships to qualified high school seniors in communities where the company currently has projects in operation.

Students at schools in the north half of the county, where First Wind now operates its Naff Ridge turbine farm, are eligible to apply. That includes students at Garfield-Palouse, Oakesdale, Rosalia, St. John-Endicott, Liberty (Spangle) and Tekoa.

For more information or to fill out an application online, go to: http://www.firstwind.com/scholars.

As part of the 2013 program, as many as 15 one-time awards will be granted to students within host communities. Students enrolling in full-time degree programs focused on sciences or technology are invited to apply. First Wind Scholars recipients will be awarded a one-time $3,000 scholarship for one year. The company also awards one scholarship of $5,000, renewable for up to four years.

“We are very pleased to open up the application process for our First Wind Scholars, which demonstrate our commitment to the communities that host our project sites across the Northeast, West and Hawaii,” said Carol Grant, senior vice president of external affairs at First Wind. “Last year, we received the most applications ever and this year we hope to see even more. We hope students continue to take advantage of this scholarship program.”

In order to be eligible, students need a GPA of at least 2.75 and must plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study with a major in the sciences and/or engineering or technology. Applications are open and available online with all submissions due by Feb. 15, 2013. Applications are evaluated on a number of factors, including academic performance, work experience, school and community activities and a 300-word essay. Recipients will be announced in May.

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 other institutions. The program has grown each year and scholarships have been awarded to 43 students totaling more than $175,000.