First Wind, an independent U.S.-based wind energy company, today announced that eleven scholarships have been awarded to college-bound students as part of the 2010 First Wind Scholars program. The awardees reside in communities where the company currently has a project in operation or in an advanced stage of development.
First Wind Scholars offers one-time $3,000 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. A total of eleven scholarships have been awarded to qualified students in Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Utah and Vermont. One exceptional student, Jing Hua of Hawaii, has been awarded a renewable scholarship of $5,000 for up to four years.
“These scholarships demonstrate our commitment to the communities where we develop and operate wind projects,” said Carol Grant, Senior Vice President of First Wind for External Affairs. “The young men and women receiving these scholarships are exceptional and have shown a real interest in the sciences. We wish them luck in their college careers and hope they will continue to pursue their interest in energy, sciences or the environment.”
Hawaii
All three recipients in Hawaii are residents of Lahaina and are recent graduates of Lahainaluna High School. Lahaina is located near Kaheawa Wind, First Wind’s 30 MW project on Maui. Wasseem Bel will enroll at the University of Colorado-Boulder this fall, where he plans to study Aerospace Engineering. Chelsea Gilchrest will enter the University of Montana, where she intends to concentrate on Wildlife Biology. Jing Hua, the recipient of the four-year scholarship, will enroll at the University of California-Davis, where she plans to study Chemical or Electrical Engineering. Ms. Hua was honored at the groundbreaking of the company’s first project on Oahu, the 30 MW Kahuku Wind.
Maine
Mitchell Folsom of Mars Hill, a graduate of Central Aroostook High School, will use his scholarship towards tuition at the University of Maine – Fort Kent where he intends to study Forest Technology. Sarah Rizzo of Millinocket, a graduate of Stearns High School, will attend Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia this fall. She plans to major in Biology. First Wind owns and operates three projects in Maine: the 57 MW Stetson I and 26 MW Stetson II projects, both near Danforth, and the 42 MW Mars Hill Wind project in Mars Hill. Massachusetts
Michael Ly, a recent graduate of John D. O’Bryant School in Boston, will use his scholarship toward tuition at Syracuse University where he intends to study Engineering. First Wind is based in Boston, Mr. Ly’s hometown.
New York
Steven Conrad of Dansville, a recent graduate of Wayland-Cohocton High School, will enroll at the University of Rochester this fall. He plans on studying Civil Engineering. Katherine Landahl of Lake View, a recent graduate of Frontier Central Senior High School in Hamburg, will use her scholarship toward tuition at Canisius College in Buffalo, where she will begin her studies in Chemistry this fall. Matthew Mehlenbacher of Wayland, a recent graduate of Wayland-Cohocton High School, will enter SUNY-Potsdam this fall where he intends to study Biology. First Wind owns and operates two projects in New York: the 125 MW Cohocton Wind project in Cohocton and the 20 MW Steel Winds project in Lackawanna.
Utah
Dalaki Livingston of Milford, a graduate of Milford High School, will use his scholarship towards tuition at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, where he plans to study Environmental Science and Communications. Earlier this year, Kelsey Mitchell, a senior at Millard High School in Fillmore, Utah, was the inaugural recipient of the First Wind Scholars award. Ms. Mitchell receives a $3,000 scholarship towards tuition at Southern Utah University, where she will begin her studies in Forensic Science this fall. First Wind owns and operates the largest utility-scale operating wind farm in Utah, the 204 MW Milford Wind project in Milford.
Vermont
Anna Simons of Sheffield is a recent graduate of the Lyndon Institute in Lyndon Center. She will use her scholarship toward tuition at Norwich University in Northfield, where she intends to study Engineering Management. First Wind is currently developing Sheffield Wind, a 40 MW project in Sheffield.
About First Wind
First Wind is an independent wind energy company exclusively focused on the development, financing, construction, ownership and operation of utility-scale wind projects in the United States. Based in Boston, First Wind has wind projects in the Northeast, the West and in Hawaii, with the capacity to generate up to 504 megawatts of power. For more information on First Wind, please visit www.firstwind.com or follow us on Twitter @FirstWind.
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For more information, contact:
John Lamontagne
Director, Corporate Communications
First Wind
617-964-3340
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