Peoples to Award $25,000 in Scholarships to 10 Maine High School Seniors

Part of the bank's 'Peoples Promise' program

High school seniors headed to college this fall may now apply online for scholarships awarded each year by Peoples Heritage Bank as part of the bank's nationally recognized Peoples Promise program, which is aimed at helping Maine youth.

Scholarships of $2,500 will be awarded to 10 Maine high school seniors from throughout the state. Now in its second year, the scholarship program is designed to reward Maine students from low to moderate income households for academic excellence and help offset their higher education costs.

"Peoples remains committed to expanding the opportunities available to Maine youth by assisting them with the ever-increasing cost of education," said David J. Ott, president and CEO of Peoples Heritage Bank. "This scholarship program is one way we can give back to the communities we serve and help make a difference in the lives of young people in our state."

Awards are based on financial need, academic achievement, involvement in school activities, community volunteer activity, work experience, and a required essay. The application deadline is April 7. Scholarship recipients will be announced in May.

Scholarship applications are available online at the web site of the MES Foundation, a not- for-profit organization which is administering the scholarship program for Peoples. The ten $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to graduating high school seniors who will enroll in a post-secondary institution. Also, the recipients are offered a three-month paid internship position with Peoples after their first year of post-secondary education.

For more information or to obtain an application, go to www.mesfoundation.com, or call the MES Foundation at 1-800-922-6352, ext. 641.

When the program was launched in January of 1999, Peoples committed $250,000 in scholarships over a 10-year period as part of Peoples Promise. The program, which has been recognized nationally by the America's Promise Program as a significant "promise-maker," also includes a school outreach program whereby Peoples employees volunteer in classrooms throughout the year to teach sixth graders about economic concepts.

Also part of the bank's initiative is the annual Groundhog Job Shadow Day, held earlier this month, organized by Junior Achievement and sponsored in the Greater Portland area by Peoples. The event allows middle-grade students to see what a real job is like.

Additionally, Peoples' charitable giving is focused on organizations providing support to children, including the YMCA, YWCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters and others. The annual Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race held in Cape Elizabeth also benefits a different children's charity each year. This year's race, which will be held on August 5, will benefit the newly created Turning Point Farm in New Gloucester. Peoples has pledged to raise a minimum of $30,000 for the organization, which will provide a stable home environment for abused, neglected and at-risk children who are in the state's care.

Peoples Heritage Bank is a Maine-based bank with 75 branches throughout the state, five of which operate as Oxford Bank & Trust, a subsidiary of the bank.

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