Bring Constitutional Learning to Life: Register Your Third Graders for the Virtual Mock Trial on Constitution Day!

On Constitution Day this year, Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Maine third-grade teachers are invited to have their classes take part in a unique national virtual learning experience: the Third Grade Virtual Mock Trial, hosted by Olathe Public Schools in partnership with the Kansas 10th Judicial District Court.

What Is Involved

Event Date and Time: September 17, 2025, beginning at 11:30 a.m. EST (10:30 a.m. CT)
Format: A live, interactive mock trial designed especially for third graders—offering a fun, civic-themed activity to celebrate Constitution Day and Freedom Week. It’s completely free and accessible to educators across Maine and beyond.

This engaging mock trial supports the Maine third-grade social studies standard—that societies are shaped by the identities, beliefs, and practices of individuals and groups, and that choices have consequences, and individuals have rights and responsibilities. Students will connect with civic concepts such as:

Understanding why we have laws and rules
Learning about the roles of court officials
Exploring how giving back through civic duties, like jury service, strengthens the community
Experiencing the workings of the judicial branch and Constitution firsthand

Ready-Made Classroom Tools

To ensure a seamless and enriching experience, participating teachers can access:

Instructional materials that support classroom learning before, during, and after the event.
Lessons exploring rule-making, the various roles in a courtroom, and even a virtual courtroom tour!

How to Sign Up

Visit the registration page to sign up; once confirmed, you will receive the Zoom event link via email.
Review the instructional materials in advance to fully engage students in this civic learning experience.
Contact the Johnson County Kansas Courts via their email at Johnson-ConstitutionDay@kscourts.gov with any technical or procedural questions.

Launched more than a decade ago by Judge Robert J. Wonnell at Forest View Elementary in Olathe, the Third Grade Virtual Mock Trial has grown from a local classroom activity to a nationwide celebration of civic learning.

In 2024, the mock trial engaged more than 13,000 students across 542 classrooms in Kansas alone, featuring notable appearances by Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert, Governor Laura Kelly, and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran via livestream—and even attracted attention from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

For further information, please visit the Olathe Public Schools website or contact the Johnson County Kansas Courts at Johnson-ConstitutionDay@kscourts.gov.

Bring Space into the Classroom with the NASA TechRise Student Challenge

NASA is launching an exciting opportunity for middle and high school students across the country—and it’s free to participate! Applications are now open for the NASA TechRise Student Challenge, which invites students in grades 6-12 to submit ideas for science and technology experiments that could fly on a suborbital flight, such as a high-altitude balloon or rocket from the commercial space industry.

This is more than just a science project; it’s a chance for students to get hands-on experience designing experiments for real NASA-sponsored flights, working like NASA engineers and scientists and engaging deeply in STEM learning.

Winning teams receive:

$1,500 to build their experiment.
A spot on a NASA-sponsored flight.
Technical support from expert NASA TechRise advisors.

Additionally, every participating educator and student team will gain access to:

Free educational resources to support classroom instruction.
An exciting student virtual field trip in the fall.
Optional informational sessions for educators and organizations to learn more and get involved.

The NASA TechRise Student Challenge welcomes teams of all skill levels, whether your students are experienced in STEM or just getting started. Maine is already represented among the stars! Check out the winning experiment from Gorham High School, which flew during the 2024-2025 NASA TechRise Student Challenge.

You may visit the NASA TechRise Student Challenge website to register for the challenge, find updates, and view the challenge flyer. Additionally, your school, district, or organization can request a NASA TechRise information session tailored to your needs. Complete this form to schedule a session and learn how to bring this opportunity to your community.

For further information and questions, please contact the NASA TechRise team at techrise@futureengineers.org.

No-Cost Student Opportunity at York County Community College: Foundations of Machining Training Bootcamp

Applications are now open for the Foundations of Machining Training Bootcamp this summer for recent Maine high school graduates. Hosted by York County Community College, this 16-day training provides both classroom and hands-on machine time for students to learn how to safely operate mills and lathes and receive an introduction to CNC operations. Students who complete this program will be ready to apply for high-demand careers.

This program is no cost to Maine students, thanks to the generosity of the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce.

Participants will learn:

Shop Safety Blueprint
Reading Math for Manufacturing
Precision Measurement
Lathe and Mill Operation
Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing
Metallurgy Essential Skills for the Workplace

Foundations of Machining Training Bootcamp schedule (Monday-Thursday):

July 7-10: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
July 14-17: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
July 21-24: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 28-July 31: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information and to apply, please contact York County Community College at YCCCworkforce@mainecc.edu or by calling 207-216-4475.

Second Annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit Empowers Maine Students with Disabilities to Dream Big

(Students from the Winslow High School Cheerleading Team pose with Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.)

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education held its second annual “I Belong” Youth Summit at Central Maine Community College on Thursday, May 29. This event brought together students from across the state with individualized education plans (IEPs) for a day dedicated to empowerment, connection, and celebration of student voice. Student participants ranged in age from 10 to 22 years old.

The summit is an initiative that happens through the Transition Maine program, which was developed by the Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education to provide accessible and inclusive transition services for students moving from high school into adulthood. The Executive Student Transition Committee, a team of students who assist with the Transition Maine program, plays a large role in the organization of this event, designed to amplify the voices of youth with varying abilities.“To see our students meaningfully engage and included in hands-on activities to help them imagine their future makes me and our team very proud,” Executive Student Transition Committee Co-Chair Connor Archer said, reflecting on the success of the summit. “As someone who received special education services right here in Maine, I know how unique and powerful this experience is.”

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows kicked off the summit by speaking with students about Maine’s new accessible voting machines, known as the ExpressVote.

The system allows voters to mark their ballots using a touchscreen or keypad, and it includes audio instructions for those who are visually impaired. It then prints a paper ballot that can be scanned and counted. Bellows emphasized the importance of civic participation and ensuring that all Mainers, including those with disabilities, have full access to the process.

The daylong event allowed students to discover post-secondary opportunities through engaging, hands-on activities. Career paths in trades, culinary arts, agriculture, health care, media, and more were highlighted throughout the day. Students practiced knife skills with chefs, pulled lobsters from traps, and planted vegetables. They participated in Central Maine Power’s “Safety City” demonstration, regarding safety around power lines, and joined the Maine DOE Rethinking Responsive Education Ventures (RREV) team, along with the Student Leadership Ambassadors of Maine (SLAM) from Nokomis High School, for mock media interviews, designed for those interested in journalism and broadcasting.

L.L. Bean introduced the students to the world of retail through an interactive clothing activity that focused on merchandising and apparel knowledge. The iconic “Bootmobile” was also on display, drawing students in and sparking conversations about careers in retail and outdoor recreation.

“I want to become an EMT. If that doesn’t work out, I want to work in a mortuary,” Abagail Giles, a student from Stearns High School, shared in an interview with NEWS CENTER Maine.

Educators and business partners at the summit emphasized the importance of creating inclusive pathways to employment.

“There is a ton of value, skill, brainpower, and I think it’s essential not to exclude a segment of the population,” Kim Cotta, Talent Development Manager at Darling’s Auto Group, said.

Titus O’Rourke, the Transition Specialist with the Maine DOE, emphasized the goal of the event in an interview with NEWS CENTER Maine: “[These students] belong in every single career pathway, and it’s important for students to understand what is available to them.”

By connecting students with real-world experiences and professional mentors, the “I Belong” Youth Summit helps to ensure that all Maine students with IEPs have the tools and confidence they need to shape their futures.

The third annual “I Belong” Youth Summit is set to take place in the Bangor area next spring. Due to the strong student participation from across the state for this event, Transition Maine and the Executive Student Transition Committee have plans to expand the “I Belong” Youth Summit.

For more information about the Maine DOE Transition Maine program, click here. Educators interested in connecting with someone about the Transition Maine program may contact her Titus O’Rourke at titus.orourke@maine.gov.

Reminder: School Registration Open for Second Annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit

Are you ready to open doors to boundless possibilities for your students? Consider registering for the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education’s (OSSIE) second annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit, scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Maine Community College.

This Summit invites schools across Maine to join a transformative initiative, designed specifically for students with disabilities who are at the age of transitioning from school to their future. This dynamic gathering goes beyond traditional career fairs to offer meaningful exploration, skill-building, and work-based learning opportunities, tailored to each student’s interests and abilities.

Making a Difference Together

By participating in this summit, you become part of a statewide movement to reshape post-secondary pathways for ALL Maine students with disabilities. Your involvement creates ripple effects of opportunity:

Students discover career paths they may never have considered, building confidence and practical skills for their future.
Educators gain valuable resources, evidence-based practices, and direct connections with industry partners.
Businesses develop tomorrow’s workforce, while fulfilling community engagement goals.

Join the Movement

Help your students find where they belong in Maine’s future workforce. The ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit provides a student-centered environment for youth to explore career pathways at their own pace, connect with potential employers, and envision new possibilities for their lives after school.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of something extraordinary! Together, we can create a more inclusive, opportunity-rich future for Maine’s students with disabilities.

Maine middle and high schools may register their students here if they plan to bring them to the second annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit.

For more information, please contact Maine DOE Transition Specialist Titus O’Rourke at titus.orourke@maine.gov.

School Registration Open for Second Annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit

Making a Difference Together

Students discover career paths they may never have considered, building confidence and practical skills for their future.
Educators gain valuable resources, evidence-based practices, and direct connections with industry partners.
Businesses develop tomorrow’s workforce, while fulfilling community engagement goals.

Join the Movement

Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of something extraordinary! Together, we can create a more inclusive, opportunity-rich future for Maine’s students with disabilities.

Maine middle and high schools are invited to fill out a school interest form, if they are planning to bring students to the second annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit. (Registrations for individual students will be sent directly to schools that complete the interest form.)

For more information, please contact Maine DOE Transition Specialist Titus O’Rourke at titus.orourke@maine.gov.

Registration Open for New England Youth Identity Summit to Help Develop Student Civic Engagement

Registration is now open for the ninth annual New England Youth Identity Summit, which will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, on the campus of Waynflete School in Portland. This event is free to attend, with lunch included for high school students from Maine and across New England who register in advance. This full-day program will feature inspiring speakers, student-led workshops, and performances designed to foster relationships within and across communities.

With support from Educate Maine, the Summit will include an educator track with morning and afternoon workshops for educators who come with their students. Led by teachers for teachers, these workshops will explore how to develop and support cultures of civil dialogue and civic engagement in schools and communities.

Transportation for Students

Thanks to program support from M&T Bank, a limited number of transportation grants will be provided to schools in need. You may use this link to apply.

Registration Information

To register for the New England Youth Identity Summit, please visit the Summit website. For further questions, please reach out to summit@waynflete.org.

FedPoint Accepting Applications from High School Seniors for Nursing Scholarships

FedPoint, a federal benefits administrator and marketplace operator, is accepting applications for its annual nursing scholarships program. Four $5,000 scholarships will be announced in May during National Nurses Week, which occurs from May 6-12. Applications must be submitted by Sunday, March 16, 2025.

To be eligible for the merit-based scholarships, candidates must be graduating high school seniors who reside in New Hampshire, Maine, or Massachusetts and who will be attending an accredited nursing program in the fall of 2025. Additional details about the scholarship, eligibility requirements, decision criteria, and important dates are available here.

FedPoint employs several dozen registered nurses who work with thousands of claimants insured through the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) and their family members to provide care coordination and planning services. The company introduced the nursing scholarship in 2023 to promote nursing as a highly rewarding career and to help bolster the future nursing workforce in northern New England and beyond.

Again, the application submission deadline for the 2025 FedPoint Nursing Scholarship is Sunday, March 16, 2025. The scholarship review panel will include members of FedPoint’s care coordination team and nurses from the Cornerstone Visiting Nurse Association.

Student Opportunity: Applications Open for No-Cost, Immersive Keller BLOOM Ocean Research Experience

Do you know a Maine high school junior who is interested in the ocean? If so, please consider spreading the word that the application for the free Keller BLOOM Program through the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is now open!

Enrolled students will spend one week (May 18-23, 2025) living on the Bigelow East Boothbay campus, gaining experience with advanced scientific equipment and learning from world leaders in oceanographic research.

The Keller BLOOM Program was founded by Bigelow scientist Maureen Keller to provide students with a hands-on ocean science experience. This program offers Maine high school juniors an opportunity to be immersed in a research environment, working alongside professional researchers. Through field sampling and laboratory activities, including data collection, synthesis, and analysis, participating students learn what a career as an ocean scientist involves.

Current Maine high school juniors (2024-2025 school year, including homeschooled students) are encouraged to apply by April 14, 2025. No prior research experience is necessary. Sixteen students will be selected, and Bigelow will provide chaperoned room and board. In addition to getting laboratory access, students will also get out on the water aboard Bigelow’s new research vessel, the R/V Bowditch!

Bigelow is hoping to include representation from each county in Maine in this year’s student roster. You may read more about the program and its history here.

For questions or more information, please contact Dr. Nicole Poulton at 207-315-2567 x513 or npoulton@bigelow.org.

Scholarship Opportunity for Maine Students: Applications Open for Barowsky Scholars Program

The Barowsky Scholars Program has opened applications for the 2025-2026 school year. This program offers scholarships for Maine students who are planning to attend a four-year college. Applications are due Friday, March 14, 2025, at noon.

Barowsky Scholars seeks to support students who are interested in honing their careful listening, civic discourse, facilitation, and negotiation skills to become leaders who build trust and find common ground across people and groups with differing views and experiences. Students residing in the state of Maine who are planning to attend a four-year college to obtain their bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply.

Details about the scholarship award:

It is a four-year, renewable scholarship to cover tuition, fees, and educational expenses at a four-year college/university in the U.S.
It is a merit-based scholarship for students who are motivated to excel in college, able to be open-minded, committed to bridging divides, and working toward building a better society.
Scholarship amounts will be determined in part based on the financial aid award package the student receives from the college they choose to attend. They will range from $5,000 to $25,000 per year.

This program is funded by the Andrew P. Barowsky Foundation and administered by The Philanthropic Initiative.

Please find application information and criteria here (PDF). With questions, please contact barowskyscholars@tpi.org or visit the Barowsky Scholars website.