AUGUSTA – The Maine Lobster Promotion Council, which recently launched the Certified Maine Lobster program, has announced that it has awarded the first of $75,000 in scholarships to Maine students who attend the Culinary Institute of America.

Recipient Meghan Conlogue of Lewiston will be a legacy at CIA. Her uncle attended the institute, and her love of food comes from working at his restaurant in Old Orchard Beach. She hopes to use her training to open her own restaurant and “to live a happy, healthy life” doing what she enjoys most: cooking.

Recipient Candace Poirier, 26, of Portland, hopes to focus on wine and the sommelier certificates available through the CIA. She also plans to hone her skills at people management.

The institute, located in Hyde Park, N.Y., is one of the premier cooking schools in the country. Five $5,000 scholarships will be awarded from the Maine Lobster Promotion Council each year for the next three years to students who want to train at the institute.

Kristen Millar, council executive director, said she is eager to support the students of the Culinary Institute of America. Millar’s organization recently launched the Certified Maine Lobster ™ program aimed at preserving the brand recognition of one of Maine’s natural resources.

In addition to the $75,000 in scholarship award money, the council will also provide gift-in-kind lobster products at several alumni events and participate in educational demonstrations at the CIA.

The scholarship program is available to students pursuing an associate of occupational studies in culinary arts management and/or bachelor of professional studies in culinary arts management. Applicants should have a grade point average of 3.0 or better and have demonstrated a financial need. For more information, visit www.ciachef.edu or call 1-800-culinary for admissions.

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