Details of the Plan

1. Number of Scholarships and Amount of the Grant
   Downeast Energy may award several scholarships each academic year. The scholarship recipients will be announced before May 30th each year. Scholarships will be awarded to students who are high school seniors or graduates planning to enroll, or students already enrolled full-time at an approved secondary vocational technical institute for the heating or building trades.
   
   The maximum amount of each scholarship will be $1,000 per academic year. The Scholarship Committee based on criteria described below may award smaller amounts.


2. Objectives of the Plan
   Downeast Energy realizes that a post secondary education is increasingly necessary but increasingly expensive. The goal of the program is to help students pursue post secondary vocational education.
   
   We hope that in helping students attain post secondary degrees we can foster leaders of tomorrow who will make substantial contributions to their communities. Regardless of whether a scholarship is awarded, we want to encourage our employees' children to accomplish their educational and career goals.
   
   Financial need will not be a consideration in awarding scholarships to qualified applicants.
   
   The Company assumes no responsibility for the conduct, personal affairs, or debts of scholarship recipients or candidates for scholarships and shall not be liable, therefore, in any manner.
   


3. Eligibility Requirements
   The Scholarship Plan is open to any student who is not a child of an active, Downeast Energy employee with a minimum of one year of continuous service or a seasonal employee with two years of service.
   
   Applicants must be high school seniors or graduates planning to enroll, or students already enrolled in a full-time course of study leading to a certificate at an approved vocational technical institute.
   
   No more than two academic-year grants will be awarded to one applicant.
   
   The applicant must possess scholastic merit and provide evidence of a well-rounded personality and qualities of leadership and good citizenship. Evidence of well-roundedness may include activities and interests both in and out of school. These factors can be supported by references from responsible persons who know the applicant and by appraisal reports from school officials. See below for more information on the definitions of scholastic merit, activities and interests, and leadership qualities.
   


4. Duration of Scholarships
   Scholarships will be awarded for one academic year. Conditions of renewal are explained below.
   


5. Conditions
   The committee reserves the right to withdraw a scholarship at any time when, in its opinion, the student's action in or outside the post secondary shows the scholarship holder is unworthy of the honor.
   
   No more than two academic-year grants will be awarded to one applicant.
   


6. Procedures for Application
   Applications are available:
   
   • From the Training & Development Department, Downeast Energy, 18 Spring Street, Brunswick, ME 04011
   • By downloading the application in PDF format.
   
   Full application packet must be completed and submitted to the Training & Development Department no later than April 1st of each year. The application packet includes:
   
   
   1. Completed word processed Application.
   2. Transcripts of high school (or post secondary, if already enrolled).
   3. Two or more non-family character references. References should be submitted from someone in a supervisory capacity who can objectively comment on your abilities. If this is a renewal application, the references must be new. At least one of these should be from a teacher. Please use the teacher evaluation form.
   4. A word processed cover letter describing your intended course of study and anything else that might help us in our decision.


7. Procedures for Renewal Application
   Applications are available:
   
   • From the Training & Development Department, Downeast Energy, 18 Spring Street, Brunswick, ME 04011
   • By downloading the application in PDF format.
   
   Application packet must be completed and submitted to the Training & Development Department no later than April 1st of each year. The application packet includes:
   
   
   1. Completed word processed Application.
   2. Transcripts of current post secondary year.
   3. Two or more new character references. At least one of these should be from a teacher. Please use the teacher evaluation form.
   4. A word processed cover letter highlighting this current scholastic year and anything else that might help us with our decision.


8. Scholarship Committee
   The committee will consist of two or more members approved by the Company President and the Vice President of Training & Development, with one serving as Chairperson.
   


9. Selection of Scholarship Recipients
   1. The Human Resources Department will verify the eligibility of the applicant through employment records prior to the application going to the Scholarship Committee.
   2. The Scholarship Committee will review all applications to determine those with qualifications that meet the standards established by the committee. In awarding scholarships, the committee will work within monetary or budget constraints established by the President and Vice President of Training & Development for that year.
   3. Notification of awards will be made by the VP of Training & Development during May of each year.


10. Payment of Scholarship Funds
    The award will be made in two payments, one-half in August and the other in December. Payments will be made in accordance with IRS regulations in effect at the time. Students receiving scholarships should consult a tax advisor or review Section 117 of the code and Revenue Procedure 76-47 for further details.
    
    Under no circumstances will payments be made if the student is no longer enrolled in accordance with plan requirements. It is the responsibility of the scholarship recipient to notify Downeast Energy should they leave school during the year.

Definitions

Activities and Interests	The Committee will carefully consider extracurricular and out-of-school activities, interests, and work experience. This includes school, church, community, civic and/or business activities.
Character References	Two or more non-family character references (preferably typed). References should be submitted from someone in a supervisory capacity who can objectively comment on your abilities. If this is a renewal application, the references must be new. At least one of these should be from a teacher. Please use the teacher evaluation form.
Child	Son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, legally adopted child or legal ward supported principally by the employee.
Employee	Any active, full-time Downeast Energy employee with a minimum of one year of continuous service or a seasonal employee with a minimum of two years of service.
Leadership Qualities	Highly developed capacity for leadership, both inside and outside the classroom. Self-reliance, initiative, creative ability, and other potentialities for success in post secondary and post-post secondary life.
Scholastic Merit	The student is deemed to possess scholastic merit if he or she has a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Not all applicants with a 3.0 GPA or better are guaranteed scholarships. In addition, exceptions may be made for some applicants with lower averages; for example, scholarships may be awarded to applicants with lower GPA's whose grades indicate significant improvement in their second or third year of study.
Selection Factors	Selection factors, because they serve as a basis for selecting the most deserving students, include such measurable abilities and characteristics as scholastic merit, leadership qualities, and extracurricular activities.