AUGUSTA – The Maine Education Association announced the winners of the Clyde Russell scholarships for 2007 at its annual meeting on May 20. The recipients were honored at the representative assembly awards banquet.

Among the winners was Brian Banton of Lewiston, a graduate of St. Lawrence University. He is a 29-year-old student at the University of Southern Maine trying to get through graduate school on an educational technician’s salary. A $10,000 Russell scholarship will ease the burden of paying for USM’s Extended Teacher Education Program as Banton uses his skills and knowledge to become an elementary educator.

The fund was created by the Maine Education Association through a trust established by Audrey Lewis, who served as president of the Maine Teachers Association in 1958. The trust was named after Clyde Russell, who served as MEA executive director from 1945 to 1966.

Applications for the 2008 awards will be available beginning in November at financial aid offices of all institutions of higher education, all high school guidance offices, all public libraries and town offices in Maine, or by writing to the Clyde Russell Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 2457, Augusta, ME 40338. Also, applications may be downloaded at www.clyderussellscholarshipfund.org.