LEWISTON – Scholarships totaling more than $180,000 were awarded to local students in a ceremony at the Ramada Inn on May 30.

The Lucien E. and Georgiana M. Martin Memorial Scholarships are awarded annually to Franco-American applicants residing in the Lewiston-Auburn area. The awards are based on merit and need.

Following remarks about the late Lucien E. Martin and his wife, Georgiana M. Martin, who established the scholarship fund by bequest in her will, first-time recipients received their checks from Robert L. Couturier, who represented the ACA Education Fund and is administrator of the scholarship fund. A member of the selection committee, Jean Gastonguay of Lewiston, announced the names of the awardees.

Eight $5,000 scholarships were awarded. The recipients are:

Christopher Blais of Litchfield. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Blais. He is graduating from Oak Hill High School in Wales and will attend the State University of New York in Albany, N.Y.

Sarah Daigle of Lewiston. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Daigle. She attends Lewiston High School and will attend either the University of Maine in Orono or the University of Southern Maine.

Brittiny-Rae Gagnon of Sabattus, daughter of Paul Grandmaison of Greene and Susan Potvin of Sabattus. She is a student at Oak Hill High School and plans to attend Northeastern University.

Elise Giasson of Auburn, daughter of Michael and Kim Gaisson of Auburn. She attends Edward Little High School and plans to attend the University of Maine at Farmington.

Abigail Gilbert of New Gloucester, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marc Gilbert. She attends St. Dominic Regional High School and plans to study at Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y.

Lauren Landry of Lewiston, daughter of Ronald Landry and the late Mrs. Landry. She attends Lewiston High School and will be enrolling at Emerson College in Boston.

Jordan Paquet of Lewiston, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Paquet. She attends St. Dominic Regional High School and will attend Xavier University in the fall.

Erin Saucier of Lewiston, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Saucier, attends St. Dominic Regional High School and will attend the University of Delaware in the fall.

Scholarships of $4,000 were awarded to:

Brian Bilodeau of Lewiston, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul J. Bilodeau. He is graduating from Lewiston High School and plans to attend Central Maine Community College.

Rudie Cyr of Auburn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Cyr. He is graduating from Edward Little High School and plans to attend Husson College.

Lindsey Dostie of Lewiston, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Dostie. She is a student at Lewiston High School and plans to attend St. Joseph’s College.

Danielle Laplante of Lewiston, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Laplante, who attends Lewiston High School and will attend University of New England in the fall.

The following received $3,600 scholarships:

Renee Bissonnette of Lewiston, daughter of Attorney and Mrs. Ronald L. Bissonnette. A graduate of St. Dominic Regional High School, she will attend the University of Maine in Orono.

Christine Chamberland of Auburn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Chamberland. She will graduate from Edward Little High School and will enroll at the University of Maine at Machias.

Daniel Cloutier of Lewiston, son of John Cloutier of Lewiston and Maria Higgins of Lewiston. He attends Lewiston High School and will attend the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy.

Heather Dube of Poland, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dube, attends Poland Regional High School and will attend St. Joseph’s College in Standish.

Ryan Guerin of Lewiston, son of Pamela Guerin. He attends St. Dominic Regional High School and will attend Hamilton College in Clifton, N.Y.

Ethan Guerette of Sabattus, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joel Guerette. Guerette is a student at Oak Hill High School and will attend Husson College.

Kassie Labrecque of Lewiston, daughter of Nancy Labrecque, who attends Lewiston High School and will be enrolling at the University of New England.

Nathan Lavoie of Wales, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Lavoie. He attends Oak Hill High School and will attend Southern Maine Community College.

Matthew Levasseur of Lewiston, son of John Levasseur of Lewiston and Susan Levasseur of Lewiston, attends Lewiston High School and will attend the University of New England in the fall.

Receiving $3,000 grants:

Katelyn Beeckel of Turner, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Peter N. Beeckel. A graduate of Leavitt Area High School, she plans to study at Bishop University in Lennoxville, Quebec, Canada.

Victoria Cloutier of Auburn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cloutier. She attends Edward Little High School and plans to attend the University of Maine at Farmington.

Sylvie Demers of Auburn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Normand Demers, attends Royal Academy in Gray and plans to attend the Massachusetts College of Art.

Carter Handy of Lewiston, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Handy, attends Lewiston High School and will attend Southern Maine Community College.

Keith Hopkins of Lewiston, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hopkins. Hopkins attends Lewiston High School and will attend Bentley College in Massachusetts.

Alex Klemanski of Lewiston, son of Michael Klemanski of Lewiston and Catherine Langelier of Lewiston, graduated from Lewiston High School and plans to attend the University of Southern Maine.

Amanda Siragusa of Lewiston, daughter of David Hanson and Christina Siragusa. She attends Lewiston High School and plans to attend Thomas College.

Celena Turmel of Lewiston, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Turmel, attends Lewiston High School and intends to study at St. Joseph’s College in Standish.

Students who are awarded a scholarship upon being admitted to college may apply three additional times for grants to cover a total of four years of studies, so long as they keep up their grades. This year, scholarship grants of $1,200 were awarded to the following students:

Jamie L. Alexander, Turner; Kathleen Asselin, Lewiston; Jessica Audet, Auburn; Lori Baker, Lewiston; Michelle R. Bernier, Auburn; Heather L. Bilodeau, Lewiston; Sarah L. Biron, Auburn; Raechel M Biron, Auburn; Joseph R. Bissonnette, Lewiston’ Kimber E. Bolduc, Auburn; Abby Bosse, Lewiston; John Bosse, Lewiston; Kevin Bui, Auburn; Sarah C. Caron, Lewiston; David A. Chamberlain, Lewiston.

Also, Jeanelle M. Demers, Auburn; Andre T. Demers, Auburn; Elizabeth L. Dulac, Auburn; Joshua A. Dwinal, Lewiston; Joseph R. Gauthier, Lewiston; Jeremy D. Gervais, Lewiston; Dustin Gilbert, Lewiston; Courtney Gladu, Lewiston; Stephen Guerette, Sabattus; Jason J. Guerette, Sabattus; Michael R. Guerin, Minot; Michelle S. Hamann, Auburn.

Also, Roland Hamann, Auburn; Alexis Handy, Lewiston; Jonathan D. Lachance, Lewiston; Nicholle B. Laliberte, Auburn; Nicholas D. Langlais, Lewiston; Katherine A. Lauze, Lewiston; Chantel L. Lavoie, Wales; Amanda M. Lepage, Lewiston; Kyle Levasseur, Lewiston; Alison Leveque, Lewiston; Carolyn E, Little, Lewiston; Jessica Madore, Auburn; Soleil L. Mathieu, Lisbon; Amanda L. Michaud, Lewiston; Danielle D. Moreau, Lewiston.

Also, Rachel L. Nadeau, Auburn; Renee Ouellette, Greene; Kathleen Parent, Lewiston; Nicholas J. Parker, Lewiston; Rachael L. Penley, Auburn; Michael D. Perreault, Lewiston; Aimee R. Poulin, Auburn; Jeremy R. Prue, Wales; Felicia K. Robishaw, Lisbon Falls; Jessica L. Roy, Lewiton; Amy M. Sarrazin, Lewiston; Lauren St. Laurent, Lewiston; Katelyn D. St. Pierre, Lewiston; Amanda L. Toussaint, Lewiston; Jeffrey M. Truchon, Greene; Adam Wilding, Lewiston.