LEWISTON – The Bates College Republicans, a student organization, has been named the 2008-09 Maine College Republicans Chapter of the Year for its work on the Bates campus and its statewide contributions.

The Maine College Republicans will formally recognize the Bates chapter during the state College Republican convention, taking place at Bates on Saturday.

Also, two members of the Bates organization have been elected to the Maine College Republicans State Committee for 2009-10.

Brendan O’Brien, a member of the Bates class of 2011 from Mont Vernon, N.H., will serve as committee vice chairman. Hope Staneski, a member of the class of 2012 from Milford, Conn., will serve as committee secretary.

During the current academic year, the Bates organization canvassed for local and national candidates, launched the biweekly newsletter “The Right Side” and raised money for the Maine College Republicans.

More than 100 Republican political figures and students from Maine colleges are expected to gather at Bates for the convention, taking place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Chase Hall, 56 Campus Ave.

To attend, please RSVP at www.mainecr.org/convention09 or contact O’Brien at [email protected] for more information.