June 27, 2016 — As a Next Step Maine Employer engaged in Maine Development Foundation’s (MDF’s) statewide Employers’ Initiative, CEI participated in the fourth annual Next Step Maine Employees of Promise Scholarship Program by nominating an employee for a scholarship award to support the completion of a degree or certificate.

Jessica Stover, an accounting administrator, received a 2016 Next Step Maine Employee of Promise Scholarship to support her pursuit of an associate’s degree in Accounting at Southern New Hampshire University.

Jessica was honored during MDF’s Annual Next Step Maine Scholarship Recognition event on June 10 in Augusta.

Next Step Maine Employees of Promise Scholarship is part of MDF, a private, non-partisan membership organization that drives sustainable, long-term economic growth for the state of Maine. MDF’s strategic focus is a productive workforce.

The program is a free statewide initiative that awards funds to Maine employees who are currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree or certificate program. This year’s recipients were selected from 40 employer nominations from a variety of Maine companies and many educational institutions.

“We are extremely pleased with the progress the Next Step Maine program is making to help Maine’s workforce continue with their education and training,” said Yellow Breen, president of MDF. “There were double the number of applicants compared to last year and we raised $35,600 for scholarship funds, which is double from last year, as well.”

Next Step Maine received donations and grant support from the Bangor Savings Bank, Cianbro, Maine Chapter Association for Talent Development, Maine Community Foundation, Nellie Mae Education Foundation, Pratt & Whitney, Renys, Saint Joseph’s College, and SHRM Maine State Council.

To learn more about Next Step Maine and how to become a Next Step Maine employer, please visit www.nextstepmaine.org.