First Wind Announces Opening of Applications for Fourth Year of its Scholarship Program

2013 First Wind Scholars program to offer 15 one-time scholarships of $3,000 and one renewable scholarship of $5,000 to high school seniors residing in host communities

BOSTON--First Wind, an independent U.S.-based wind energy company, today announced that applications are now open and available online for its annual 2013 scholarship program. Entering its fourth full year, First Wind Scholars will make scholarships available to qualified high school seniors in communities where the company currently has projects in operation or in advanced stages of development.


As part of the 2013 program, 15 one-time awards will be granted to students within host communities in Hawaii, Maine, New York, Utah, Vermont, Washington and the company's home state of Massachusetts. Qualified students enrolling in full-time degree programs with an interest in science, technology and/or the environment 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, to the year's single most qualified applicant.

"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 urge students to continue to take advantage of this scholarship program."

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

High school seniors who attend a public or private high school near the following First Wind projects, whether operational or in an advanced stage of development, are eligible to apply. (Communities in parentheses are those with high schools where students are eligible for the scholarship.)

Hawaii

*Kaheawa Wind I & II (Kahului, Lahaina, Kihei and Wailuku, Maui)
*Kahuku Wind (Laie and Kahuku, Oahu)
*Kawailoa Wind (Wahiawa, Waialua, Haleiwa and Sunset, Oahu)

Maine

*Bull Hill Wind (Eastbrook, Ellsworth, Hancock and Sullivan)
*Mars Hill Wind (Mars Hill)
*Oakfield Wind (Dyer Brook and Oakfield)
*Rollins Wind (Burlington, Lincoln, Lee, Mattawamkeag and Winn)
*Stetson Wind I & II (Danforth and surrounding communities)

Massachusetts

*First Wind's Headquarters (John D. O'Bryant School of Math and Science in Boston)

New York

*Cohocton Wind (Cohocton)
*Steel Winds I & II (Lackawanna and Hamburg)

Utah

*Milford Wind I & II (Beaver and Millard Counties)

Vermont

*Sheffield Wind (Sheffield, Barton and surrounding communities)

Washington

*Palouse Wind (Garfield, Oakesdale, Rosalia, Saint John, Spangle and Tekoa)

Since 2010, First Wind has issued forty (40) one-year, $3,000 scholarships for college-bound high school students from project communities, who have an expressed interest in science, technology and/or the environment. Additionally, the company has granted three (3) four-year, $5,000 scholarships for select students from the applicant pools. 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 First Wind Scholars program has grown each year and scholarships have been awarded to forty-three (43) students totaling more than $175,000.

For more information, or for eligible students to fill out an e-application, please visit http://www.firstwind.com/scholars.

About First Wind

First Wind is an independent wind energy company that develops, finances, builds and operates utility-scale wind projects in the United States. Headquartered in Boston, First Wind operates wind projects in the Northeast, the West and Hawaii, with the capacity to generate up to 875 megawatts of power and one project under construction with the capacity to generate up to an additional 105 megawatts. For more information on First Wind, please visit www.firstwind.com or follow us on Twitter @firstwind.

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