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NANTUCKET SCHOLARS ANNOUNCED Eleven Nantucket High School seniors have been selected as Nantucket Scholar finalists. The students are: Russell Bartlett, Brian Chitester, Lena Civitarese, Miranda Dale, Anita Elahi, Martina Ivanova, Molly MacKay, Nellie Morley, Tomas Smaliorius, Julia Wendelken, Jasper Young.

This is the third year of the program in which two students are awarded full tuition and fees for four years at the college of their choice by the Nantucket Golf Club Foundation. The eleven finalists were selected from 31 students who applied for the scholarships in October. Scholarship recipients will be announced at Nantucket Golf Club in mid-April.

MMARECEIVES TWO EDUCATION GRANTS The Maria Mitchell Association has received two grants to expand and enhance its educational programming: one from the Cape and Islands United Way and another from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation.

Cape and Islands United Way Community Impact Committee has provided a grant to MMA to support its efforts to continue to offer "After School Hands-On Science Programs." This grant will allow expansion of the Association's Nantucket outreach program, which seeks to serve the local community by offering quality, accessible, science-based classes for children. These efforts are already well underway. Offerings have included classes such as Winter Wonderland, Geocaching, and Mad Scientists, as well as programs for the Nantucket Boys and Girls Club and local home school students.

Agrant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Inc. will support collaboration outreach between MMA and other island organizations to develop science education and outreach programs for learners of all ages. The MMA recently partnered with The Trustees of Reservations to offer educational programs at Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge. In addition, the new Teen Outdoor Club is the result of a collaboration with Strong Wings Adventure School. The program enables teens to experience the outdoors, explore, form friendships and gain confidence. Other cooperative efforts are currently in the works and will yield new and exciting programs in the coming year. For more information, contact www.mmo.org.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE The guidance department of the Nantucket Public Schools is accepting applications for the 2008 scholarship program, which provides over $600,000 in awards for graduating seniors and alumni. To apply, visit : www.npsk.org.

SBPF REACHES OUT The Siasconset Beach Preservation Fund has launched an outreach campaign in support of its efforts to protect the shoreline of 'Sconset Beach through a beach preservation project. The project will be the subject of a non-binding community referendum ballot question on Tuesday, April 15. Over the next five weeks, SBPF will reach out to Nantucket residents through mailings, television and newspaper advertisements, and direct phone and door-to-door contact.

"For several years," said SBPF president Kermit Roosevelt, "our organization has worked with experts to study the best, most environmentally-friendly way to protect 'Sconset Beach's rapidly-receding shoreline. Beach preservation is a tested, effective method of preserving our shorefront communities and public beaches that has been undertaken more than 1,500 times since 1922. The proposed plan will restore the shoreline to where it was in 1995 or even earlier."

LEARN ABOUT THE WARNING SIGNS OF AUTISM The Nantucket Autism Resource Center, the Nantucket Public Schools and the Community Network for Children will provide a presentation for parents, childcare providers and community members called "Indicators of Autism: What to Know, How to Reach Out, How to Connect," on Tuesday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m. in the Nantucket Elementary School library. Pathways Preschool Teacher Kim Albertson will lead the presentation. Speech Pathologist Jody Newman will also be available to answer questions. The free presentation will address Autism Spectrum Disorder and allow time for questions and answers.

Albertson trained at the May Center for Children in Chatham, working with autistic children prior to working at the New England Center for Autism as a teacher and teacher trainer. When Albertson relocated to Nantucket 15 years ago, she joined the Nantucket Public Schools as Pathways Preschool teacher.

The mission of the Nantucket Autism Resource Center, sponsored by Autism Speaks, is to provide current information and comprehensive resources for families, professionals and the community for the purpose of educating and increasing awareness of ASD. The Resource Center is dedicated to empowering families and individuals impacted by autism to make informed decisions by providing resource information that covers all aspects of autism and ASD, from birth through adult care.

Upcoming workshops, sponsored by the Nantucket Autism Resource Center, include the April 15 program "An Overview of Sensory Integration," co-sponsored by the Special Needs Advisory Council and presented by Renee Gamberoni, Occupational Therapist for Nantucket Public Schools.

To learn more about Autism Speaks, visit www.autismspeaks.org. I