ROCKLAND — Students representing Rockland Lodge 1008 won the female and male Outstanding Student Awards for the State of Maine in the Elks National Foundation (ENF) Most Valuable Student Scholarship Competition.

Payton Billingsley, daughter of Greg and Hope Billingsley and a graduating senior at Oceanside East HS, won the Ginny Bristol Outstanding Student Award and a $1,000 per year scholarship for four years. Billingsley will be attending Mississippi State University in the Fall of 2015.

Maxwell Holtzman, son of Cate Monroe and Bob Holtzman of Rockport, and a graduating senior at the Maine School of Science and Mathematics, won the Dr. Leonard Bristol Outstanding Student Award and a $1,000 per year scholarship for four years. Holtzman will be attending S.t Andrews University in Scotland. These two students were the top students of the 150 applicants competing for an ENF most Valuable Student Scholarship in the State of Maine.

Winners are selected based upon academic performance, SAT/ACT scores, leadership, community activities and service, financial need and a writing sample. Each student's application is vetted at the local lodge level, the district lodge level, the state level, and at the national level at the ENF Headquarters in Chicago, IL.

University of New England Tops Maine Colleges for Impact on Graduates' Economic Success

BIDDEFORD – The University of New England (UNE) was ranked number one among Maine universities and colleges for its ability to increase students' career earnings, according to a recently published report by the Brookings Institution.

"Beyond College Rankings" graded more than 7,000 two and four-year schools on their effect on graduates' economic earnings, using three markers: midcareer earnings, student-loan repayment and occupational earnings.

Unlike most other rankings systems, the Brookings "value added" ratings seek to isolate the actual impact of the school, itself, on alumni earnings, adjusting for the economic status and academic characteristics of its student body.

UNE President Danielle Ripich, Ph.D., commented, "We are pleased with this new rating that recognizes the positive impact of a UNE education. The value-added approach to the analysis contributes a dimension that captures the effect of our university on our graduates' economic success. To be ranked first among Maine schools is an accomplishment of which we are proud."

Researchers at the Brookings Institution identified five main traits of schools that are strong indicators of students' future earnings: the value of the curriculum; alumni skills; a science, math, engineering and mathematics (STEM) orientation; completion rates; and student financial aid.

Pre-K information session at Hope School Committee special meeting May 11

A public information session on pre-kindergarten education will be the focus of the Hope School Committee special meeting on May 11. The meeting will be held at the Hope Elementary School at 6 p.m.