Scholarships awarded to children of National Guard members

Scholarships awarded to children of National Guard members

By Staff

AUGUSTA (July 28): The Maine Sentinel Scholarship Fund, launched a year ago for the children of active-duty members of the Maine National Guard, has given grants totaling nearly $42,000 to 10 college-bound students. The scholarships range from $2,000 to $6,000.

The fund was established in August 2004 through the efforts of the Maine State Bar Association and Michael Knowles, office manager at the Saco law firm of Smith Elliott Smith & Garmey. It was announced at a Statehouse press conference headed by Gov. John Baldacci. Money was raised through donations and activities including an MSBA charity golf tournament.

It is being administered by the Maine Community Foundation to help pay the college expenses of Maine National Guard members called to active duty since Sept. 11, 2001.

In letters seeking contributions, Knowles wrote that “Maine has one of the highest activation rates in the country” of National Guard members being sent to Iraq and elsewhere, and “We all recognize the emotional burden this type of deployment must place on the families.”

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