A new partnership between MES (Maine Education Services) and Sugarloaf/USA will provide ski and snowboard competitors at Sugarloaf the opportunity to win $1000 college scholarships this winter. Student athletes participating in alpine, freestyle, nordic and snowboarding competitions at all levels to be held at Sugarloaf/USA throughout the '96/'97 season, from first-time competitors all the way up to seasoned athletes, will be eligible to win the scholarships. The scholarships will be awarded to the top male and female finishers with at least a 3.0 grade point average in school.

Sugarloaf President Warren Cook stated, "It's exciting to think that competitors from Maine will have the opportunity to help finance their college educations through ski and snowboard competitions at Sugarloaf/USA this winter. We highly support athletic competition, but we also believe in supporting academic achievement. This partnership with MES helps us support both academics and athletics in a very meaningful way."

"MES and Sugarloaf/USA share the vision that education is the only true means to economic opportunity for the people of Maine," stated Richard Pushard, MES Vice President of Marketing. "But at the same time, we feel that winter sports are a great way for students and their families to enjoy a healthy and balanced lifestyle in a climate where the winters are long and ideal for skiing and snowboarding."

As the largest student loan lender in Maine, MES has differentiated itself nationally by creating a first-of-its-kind program in the nation, providing the lowest cost higher education financing available throughout the country.The mission of MES is to promote educational opportunity and excellence for Maine students.

MES is a Portland-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to making higher education accessible to all people in Maine. They offer a comprehensive combination of attractive financing programs, scholastic and athletic scholarships and professionally-trained consultants to help Maine families plan for future educational needs.

Parents of competition winners from Maine will be awarded $1,000 scholarships, to be applied toward college tuition costs in five, ten or fifteen years. These scholarships will be awarded to the top male and female finishers from Maine, with at least a 3.0 grade point standing in school, at the following events:

December 21: Bud Light US Snowboard Grand Prix Halfpipe Snowboard
December 22: Grand Prix Giant Slalom Snowboard Competition
January 1-2: Dax Brown Combined (two day total) Champion
January 18-20: Freestyle "A" Meet
February 2: Bill Bousum Giant Slalom Champion
February 17-19: Ski Meister High School Class B Championships (Nordic)
March 3-9: Rolex Junior Olympics Combined Champion
March 17-24: Chevy Truck U.S. Alpine National Championships Combined Champion
March 27-30: Chevy Truck U.S. Freestyle National Championships Combined Champion

In addition to receiving the scholarship, the recipients will receive a complimentary MES/Sugarloaf ski jacket, emblazoned with both the MES and Sugarloaf logos, and with block letters embroidered on the back which say "MES Student Athlete."

"We hope that the students will wear the jacket proudly around their school and at ski competitions, as an outward symbol of personal excellence in both athletics and academics," stated Pushard.

The Bud Light U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix Halfpipe Competition is currently underway at Sugarloaf/USA, and one scholarship will be awarded at the end of the day on Saturday and Sunday, for the top Maine student athlete in the Giant Slalom and Halfpipe Competitions. Information about the event will be posted on Sugarloaf's web site at: http://www.sugarloaf.com, and information about MES and their products and services is available at http://www.m-e-s.com.