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 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.

Student Opportunity: Register Now for Climate&Me Youth Leadership Summit

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is excited to be partnering with the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, the Maine Environmental Education Association, Maine Youth for Climate Justice, the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, and JustME for JustUS to host the Climate&Me Youth Leadership Summit in April.

This all-day event is designed to empower high school students in climate action. It will include student-led workshop sessions, time to meet and connect with other students, opportunities to build skills, and a library of climate action resources. Students will have the chance to hear from other young climate leaders and experts about how to drive action and change in their own schools and communities. Featured speakers and agenda updates will be announced soon!

Summit details:

Where: Wells Conference Center on the University of Maine Orono campus (131 Munson Road, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04473)

When: Friday, April 4, 2025. Check-in and breakfast begin at 8 a.m. The Summit starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m.

What to expect: The full-day Summit will offer Maine high school students and adult leaders the opportunity to connect with fellow emerging climate leaders, attend student-run breakout sessions, and build a toolkit of climate action project planning skills and resources. Educators and administrators who accompany students to the Summit will join a separate “adult track” to exchange knowledge and build connections.

How to register: First, form a cohort with one to two adult leaders (for example, a teacher, administrator, or school staff member) and two to ten students from your high school. Cohorts may be based on classes, pre-existing eco-clubs, or newly-formed groups. No prior experience running a climate project at your school is necessary!

Then, register here by March 3, 2025. Space is limited, so please consider applying early.

Download the flyer here (PDF).

For any questions, please contact Teddy Lyman, Maine DOE Climate Education Specialist, at theodore.lyman@maine.gov.

Registration Now Open for the MLTI Student Conference in May

Registration is now open for the 2025 Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) Student Conference in May! The deadline to register is March 28, 2025.

This event will be held on May 22, 2025, at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The conference is open to all MLTI school administrative units (SAUs) and is expected to welcome more than 1,000 students in grades 5 through 10.

Steps to register:

Start by filling out this brief form to receive your comprehensive registration packet, which will be sent electronically via email.
Submit the registration packet:
- Complete the registration packet and use the link in your packet to upload the required documents.
- The deadline to complete your registration is March 28, 2025 (to ensure the correct T-shirt sizes for your group).
Sign up for sessions.
- After your registration information is reviewed, you will receive a link to sign up for sessions.
- Sessions are first-come, first-served, so sign up early!

This year’s conference will celebrate travel with the theme #LetsDiriGo. Students will receive a T-shirt designed by a fellow student. The MLTI Student Conference T-shirt design contest is accepting submissions until March 16.

At the conference, students will explore cutting-edge technology topics in hands-on sessions. Past sessions have focused on multimedia creation, AR/VR, 3D design, robotics, machine learning, and game design. Both students and educators can apply to present. The call for session proposals is open until March 21.

The day will conclude with an exciting “Uber session,” where hundreds of students will participate in a large-scale interactive activity.

For questions about the MLTI Student Conference, MLTI Maine Winter Classic, or other MLTI events, please contact Maine DOE MLTI Project Manager Bethany Billinger at bethany.billinger@maine.gov.

The Maine Learning Through Technology Initiative (MLTI) is part of the Maine DOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning.

Applications Open for Student Position on Maine State Board of Education

The Maine State Board of Education is currently seeking applications for its newest student member to join the Board. This is an extraordinary opportunity for Maine students to practice civic engagement and serve as both a representative of Maine students and an active education leader in the state.

Applications will be accepted through Friday, February 28, 2025, for students from Maine’s First Congressional District, which includes Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, York, and part of Kennebec Counties. All applicants must currently be a high school sophomore.

The Maine State Board of Education has two non-voting student members who serve two-year terms on the Board. Students join the Board as a high school junior and end their two-year term after their senior year. One student is enrolled in a public school in Maine’s First Congressional District, and the other is enrolled in a public school in Maine’s Second Congressional District. At all times, the Board has one high school junior and one high school senior as members, with staggered appointments.

Application materials for students are available on the State Board of Education webpage. The Board has also mailed application materials to all First Congressional District high school principals, school counselors, and Career and Technical Education directors.

Completed applications may be sent either in hard-copy form via U.S. mail or electronically via email.

Please send applications via U.S. mail to:

Emily Cummins
State Board of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023

Please send electronic application materials to:

Emily.C.Cummins@maine.gov

After applications close on February 28, a screening committee of the State Board of Education will be inviting semi-finalists to participate in a Zoom interview, after which three finalists will be chosen. The names and application materials of those finalists will be sent to the Governor’s Office for final selection.

Then, the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs of the Maine State Legislature will interview the nominee in a public hearing and make a recommendation about the nominee to the Maine Senate. The Maine Senate is charged with confirming the appointment.

For further information about this opportunity or the application process, please email Emily Cummins at Emily.C.Cummins@maine.gov or call 207-624-6616.

Submit a T-Shirt Design to Represent the 2025 MLTI Student Conference (#LetsDiriGo!)

The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) is excited to announce a T-shirt design competition for the 22nd annual MLTI Student Conference on May 22, 2025. All students in MLTI schools are invited to unleash their creativity and design the official T-shirt for this in-person event, which will be held at the University of Maine. The theme for this conference is #LetsDiriGo!

Every year, this competition gives student designers a unique opportunity to see their work come to life beyond a computer screen. Last year’s winning designs came from Maranacook Community Middle School in Readfield (for the MLTI Student Conference) and the Samuel L. Wagner Middle School in Winterport (for the MLTI Maine Winter Classic). Other recent winners have included students from Gray-New Gloucester High School, Waterville Junior High School, and Southern Aroostook Community School.

The Maine DOE is, once again, looking forward to selecting a student design for these T-shirts, which will also be available in youth sizes this year. Please review eligibility and submission guidelines for the 2025 MLTI Student Conference T-shirt design competition here. You may submit your entry using this submission form.

Upcoming Competition Dates:

March 16, 2025: T-shirt designs due (no late entries accepted)
April 4, 2025: finalists selected/winner notified

If you have questions about this contest or need assistance, please contact MLTI Project Manager Bethany Billinger at bethany.billinger@maine.gov.

The Maine Learning Through Technology Initiative (MLTI) is part of the Maine DOE Office of Teaching and Learning. For more information about the MLTI Student Conference, please email doe-ltt@maine.gov.

Register Now for the 2025 Maine Winter Classic Student Event in March

Registration is now open for the Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) 2025 Maine Winter Classic student event, put on by the department’s Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI). This event will be held the week of March 3, 2025. It is open to all MLTI school administrative units (SAUs), and thousands of students of all ages from across the state are expected to participate.

This is the second year that MLTI has hosted this event, which effectively replaced the MLTI Virtual Student Conference. The Maine Winter Classic provides an interactive game-based learning experience for students, as they “travel” around Maine on a virtual gameboard, completing a variety of tasks, earning tokens, and learning about topics like computer science, digital citizenship, digital design, and gamification.

Those interested in learning more can access the overview materials from the 2024 Maine Winter Classic, as well as a variety of support resources. MLTI also asks that all participating staff please watch this recorded session before the 2025 event.

Registration is free, and all materials will be provided. MLTI strongly recommends that teams register prior to January 3 to ensure they receive their materials (including MLTI t-shirts) before the big week! MLTI will accept registrations after this date but cannot guarantee t-shirts and materials for late registrations.

The Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) is part of the Maine DOE Office of Teaching and Learning. For questions about the Maine Winter Classic or other MLTI student conferences, please contact MLTI Project Manager Bethany Billinger at bethany.billinger@maine.gov.