LEWISTON – The grand prizes are two $2,500 college scholarships. First- and second-place prizes are computers and an iPhone or a digital camera. Plus, winners will be featured on television.

Trouble is, not enough high school juniors and seniors have applied for the first-ever “L-A, It’s Happening Here!” scholarship campaign. The March 15 deadline has been extended to March 19, said Paul Badeau, marketing director of the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council.

To compete, students must submit an entry in either photography or writing (an essay or poem) on what they think is the most happening thing in Lewiston-Auburn, and why.

“This is the first time we’ve done this,” Badeau said. “I’m told it’s unusual to have local scholarships in the $2,500 range.”

The scholarships are being offered to help local students pay for college, to get feedback on what they like, and what they would like to see in the community.

The “L-A, It’s Happening Here!” campaign, launched in 2003, is in its third phase. The first was to promote Lewiston-Auburn’s image in the community, the second was to get the word out beyond the cities’ borders. The third is outreach to young people, Badeau said.

“That’s a real critical audience for us,” he said. “We often tout the quality-of-life features of the community from a business perspective. But there’s a whole other generation we hope will want to stick around.”

The contest is open to high school juniors and seniors who attend school in Lewiston-Auburn, including home-schooled students.

Everyone who submits an entry will be featured on the growth council’s Web site. Winners will be featured at an art exhibit at Gallery Five, next to Fuel on Lisbon Street. Winners will also be featured in a television commercial promoting L-A on WGME.

The contest is sponsored by the growth council and funded by Time Warner and the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce. Winners will be announced in April.