NORWAY – Rent-A-Center Inc. has announced that it has awarded at $1,000 scholarship to Patrick Emery of Mechanic Falls. He was named as one of the company’s 2005 Make A Difference Scholarship winners.

“The 2005-2006 school year is Rent-A-Center’s inaugural year to award the Make A Difference Scholarship,” said Mark Speese, chairman and CEO. “We are pleased to say that 50 students in 26 states will benefit from this program.”

Rent-A-Center began the Make A Difference Scholarship program to help its employees’ children and its customers and their children with the cost of post-secondary education. The company gives 50 $1,000 scholarships to deserving students.

To be eligible to apply for the scholarship, an applicant must be a Rent-A-Center customer, the child of a customer or have been a Rent-A-Center customer within the last two years. Employees’ children may also apply.

For more information about Rent-A-Center or the Make A Difference Scholarship, visit www.rentacenter.com.