FAME Announces 2010-2011 Educators for Maine Loan and Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Recipients

AUGUSTA — The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010-2011 Educators for Maine Loans and Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships. 

“FAME congratulates this year’s recipients of the Educators for Maine Loan and the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship.  They represent the best of Maine and forecast a bright future for our state as a whole,” stated Beth Bordowitz, FAME’s Chief Executive Officer.

The Educators for Maine Loan Program is a competitive, merit-based loan program for Maine students pursuing careers in teaching, including speech pathology and child development.  The loan may become forgivable for recipients who provide return service as educators in Maine.  The loan is awarded to seniors graduating from high school who are residents of Maine, have demonstrated academic achievement, and intend to become Maine educators after graduating from college.  The loan is also awarded to current college or university students who are residents of Maine, are enrolled in an education program of study, have demonstrated academic achievement, intend to become Maine educators after graduating from college, and do not currently hold state certification.  Students are also evaluated based on their community involvement, awards and specials honors received, as well as the style and content of an essay. 

For the 2010-2011 academic year, forty Maine students were selected to receive the $3,000 loan.  Twenty undergraduate students enrolled in education programs and twenty graduating high school seniors intending to major in education were selected to receive the $3,000 award.  The loan is renewable for each year of study, up to a maximum of $12,000.  Recipients were recently notified by letters personally signed by Governor John E. Baldacci.

FAME is also pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship.  The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship program is a highly competitive, merit-based scholarship that is funded by federal dollars and offered to students in all fifty states.  Awards are made to graduating high school seniors who are residents of Maine and have demonstrated significant academic achievement in a rigorous program.  Students are also evaluated based on their community involvement, awards and specials honors received, as well as an essay.  While the number of awards varies from year to year, at least one recipient is selected from each Maine county annually. 

For the 2010-2011 academic year, twenty-seven students were selected to receive the $1,500 Byrd Honors Scholarship.  The award is renewable for up to four years.

FAME has posted more information about the Educators for Maine Loan Program and the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship on its Web site:  www.famemaine.com.  The information includes names of 2010-2011 recipients (who have authorized such disclosure), as well as their high schools and home towns.