Blandin offers area scholarships, internships

Students in central and northern Minnesota, including several area communities, are eligible for the Blandin Paper Co. Scholarship Program for the 2002-2003 academic year.

The application deadline is Nov. 16.

Blandin Paper's scholarship program has two objectives: To encourage students to consider fields of study where Blandin Paper intends to strengthen and to encourage students from northern Minnesota to consider the paper industry as a potential career opportunity.

A scholarship committee will award 10 scholarships of $5,000 each for the 2002-2003 academic year. Recipients for 2001-2002 scholarships will also be invited to renew their scholarships. Any student accepting a Blandin scholarship will be expected to complete an internship at the paper mill during the summer in 2002.

Eligibility requirements are: Successful completion of at least one year of a college or university program with a declared major in forestry, computer science, paper science/engineering, or finance/business/marketing; a minimum 3.0 grade point average; and graduation from a high school within Blandin's specified area.

Those schools in the area include: Aitkin, Brainerd, Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig, Cass Lake, Crosby-Ironton, McGregor and Walker.

In order to be considered for the scholarship, students must submit an application, their resume, a brief essay, two reference letters and a copy of their most recent college transcript.

For more information, contact Blandin by e-mail to Blandin_scholarship@upm-kymmene.com or contact Anne Erola, Blandin Paper Co., 115 S.W. First St., Grand Rapids, MN 55744.