LEWISTON — The 135 Jobs for Maine’s Graduates students of Lewiston Regional Technical Center awarded a total of $3,000 in grants among seven local nonprofit organizations through the Jumpstart Our Youth student philanthropy program in a school celebration to present the “big checks.”

From youth mentoring to homelessness to literacy, the students found a variety of compelling missions to support.

Local nonprofits receiving grants include:

* Community Concepts: Big Brothers/Big sisters of Androscoggin and Oxford Counties.

* Tree Street Youth.

* Step & Store Next Door.

* Lewiston Public Library

* LRTC Skills USA.

* Lots to Gardens (St. Mary’s Nutrition Center).

* Future Business Leaders of America.

“Making smart grants is a lot of work and organization,” said Lynn MacDonald, LRTC’s JMG specialist. “We researched our interests, hosted presentations and debated the needs, and we did this across four grades and many classrooms. In the end, the students made meaningful choices and learned how hard it is to support so many community challenges.”

For five years, Lewiston students have participated in the statewide Jumpstart Our Youth Student philanthropy program, learning how to make smart grants to support the role of nonprofits in local communities.

Students learn how to issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs), assess applications, examine budgets and evaluate presentations and pitches for the funds. JOY was founded by and is funded by the Unity Foundation of Unity, with Maine Community Foundation and UniTel, Inc. Statewide 3,750 participating students have awarded close to $250,000 and volunteered more than 4,000 hours.