Scholarships will be awarded to Maine high school seniors who will pursue post high school education and who demonstrate key attributes of character — responsibility, courage, integrity and concern for others. Scholastic achievement, athletic achievement or financial need are not considered in awarding the scholarships.

Many scholarships for Maine high school seniors reward academic or athletic achievement. Few, however, focus on character development. Mainely Character makes character count. We reward exemplary individual behavior and make continuing education possible for deserving Maine students. Since 2000, we've awarded one $5,000 scholarship annually.

Three scholarships are available in 2017, one $5,000 scholarship sponsored by R.M. Davis Inc. of Portland and two $2,500 scholarships, one sponsored by Market Decisions of Portland and the other from individual contributions to Mainely Character.

Information on the scholarships and an application can be downloaded from www.mainelycharacter.org. The deadline is March 1. Scholarships are awarded in the spring.

Past scholarship winners demonstrated attributes of character in a number of ways, for example - by organizing an effort for Haitian relief, by providing free childcare for strangers, by volunteering at the humane society and by assisting the disabled.

Everyone involved in Mainely Character is strictly on a volunteer basis. Because we have no paid employees, we are able to keep our costs very low, maximizing scholarship funds. Our organization depends upon the support of individual and local business contributions.