PHILLIPS - - MSAD #58 Superintendent Clark last week shared some good news and information on newly expanded guidelines for scholarships for college and college bound students. He is hoping to get the information out so that MSAD #58 students —past and present— and their families can receive over $5,000 annually.

"We have some very exciting news to share," Emily Liebling wrote in an email to Clark. Liebling is the GEAR UP assistant director and part of the Maine Support Network.

The U.S. Department of Education funds nearly $1.6 million dollars annually to support GEAR UP recipients with college scholarship funds.

The original grant was written from an organization in Danforth nearly 10 years ago and is now administered through the Financial Authority of Maine.

The past grants and scholarships were available to students who met lower income financial status or qualified for free or reduced lunch programs during their K-12 years. Also, scholarships were considered if they lived or went to schools in specific towns with K-8 elementary or middle schools and those schools had a higher percentage of low income students.

In the case of MSAD #58, students from Phillips, Strong and Stratton were considered along with those students from the unorganized territories who attend or attended the respective elementary schools in those towns. Some other areas include Carrabec, some portions of Portland School Dis- trict, Madison and Danforth.

Kingfield students do not qualify because at the time the original grant was written, the school did not meet the financial qualifications.

Among other requirements, the guidelines specifically said in the past that recipients must only attend a State of Maine institution to qualify. Those who qualified financially and chose to attend a college outside of Maine were denied.

Liebling and Clark are trying to get the word out that nearly $5,200 is available each year for many full-time students and now, students attending college out-ofstate as well.

"Starting this fall 2009, eligible GEAR UP students will be able to receive the GU scholarship out of state. The 'one year off' minimum has also been removed," Liebling wrote.

"I would love to see as many college and collegebound students receive the benefits of these scholarships," Clark explained. "I think the new guidelines are great because it expands the students' ability to do what they want to do."

Liebling said they'll all be working hard to notify students who may now be eligible because of this change. "2009 graduates will be easier, but we will need your help locating prior year graduates," she asked Clark. "If you know of GEAR UP students that are attending out of state, please send me their names and whatever current contact information you have for them. To check on their eligibility, students or their parents should call FAME directly at (800) 228-3734 or email education@ famemaine.com."

The MSN scholarship guidelines and FAQs have also been updated on the following Web site: http://www.gearupme.org/students/scholarship.php.

"What would be tragic is if the kids and their parents didn't know about the scholarships and parents took out second mortgages or stopped their children from attending school because of money —and all they had to do was fill out some paper work," Clark said.

The money, which is administered through FAME, is sent directly to the institution for up to four years or eight semesters. For some local eligible families this can amount to nearly $21,000 over four years.