Applications for Maine Skilled Trades and Engineering Scholarships are now open

Irving Forest Products, a subsidiary of J.D. Irving, Limited, is once again offering its Maine Engineering Scholarship and Maine Skilled Trades Scholarship to support local students as they pursue careers close to home.

With a value of 50 per cent of tuition, the scholarships also provide paid summer internships at Irving Forest Products’ sawmills and guaranteed full-time employment after graduation.

The scholarships are open to grade 12 students and mature students in Maine who will be pursuing programs in mechanical, electrical and power engineering fields at Maine post-secondary institutions. Eligible applicants must reside in Maine’s Androscoggin, Aroostook, Franklin, Oxford or Penobscot counties.

By helping local students enter high-demand fields in engineering and skilled trades, the scholarships aim to keep local talent in the community by providing opportunities for education and meaningful jobs.

“Receiving this scholarship reassures me that I have what it takes to make it in this field and that a local company cares enough about their community to help students pursuing higher education,” said Teddy Donovan, a Mechanical Engineering Technology student at the University of Maine and one of the program’s inaugural recipients.

“There is so much opportunity and room for growth here at J.D. Irving that it makes me excited to come to work. That is why I am pursuing a career here,” said Cameron Sherbinski, a Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Maine, who also received the scholarship.

Applications are open until Oct. 23, 2026, and can be found here.