Berwick Academy Awarded 3rd Place and $35,000 in Follett Challenge

Maine - The Maine State Library is proud to recognize Berwick Academy which has been chosen as the 3rd place winner in this year's Follett Challenge. The School will be awarded $35,000 for use in its library programming.

State Librarian Linda Lord complimented Berwick Academy's collaboration with its Jackson Library and the Academy's focus on critical thinking skills and on individualized learning opportunities.

The Follett Challenge is a nationally recognized program run by Follett to identify and reward schools for their work applying technology, content, and creativity in ways that engage students, foster literacy and promote critical thinking through their library programs. Berwick was among over 100 other schools and school districts in the running for the cash-equivalent of a total of $200,000 worth of products and services. Visit http://www.follettchallenge.com for more information.

For the challenge, the School featured the Berwick Innovation Center (BIC) in its contest entry and video submission. BIC is a supplemental program run through the Jackson Library, which is designed to help meet the creative and intellectual needs of our students in all three divisions. The program offers an opportunity for these students to pursue a mentor-supported area of study about which the student holds a strong interest or curiosity. Visit http://www.berwickacademy.org/BIC for more information about the Berwick Innovation Center.

Library Director, Jennifer Brewer commented, "The Jackson Library team is proud and excited to have won 3rd place in this year's Follett Challenge. We are thankful for all the support, votes, and encouragement we received from our campus as well as from the extended Berwick Community in this process. Although details have not been released about the specifics of the award, we look forward to spending the $35,000 in ways that will enhance our collection and program and that will promote 21st century learning skills."

Founded in 1791, Berwick Academy is an independent, coeducational country day school located in South Berwick, Maine. For over 200 years, the Academy has pursued its mission of promoting "Virtue and Useful Knowledge" through a purposeful blend of strong academics, arts, and athletics. Berwick serves nearly 600 students in grades PK-12 from the seacoast area of southern Maine, New Hampshire, and northeastern Massachusetts.

Photo caption: (From left) Berwick Academy librarians Meg Blakemore, Darcy Coffta, and Jennifer Brewer are thrilled to be the recipients of 3rd place in the Follett Challenge. Third place recognition comes with a $35,000 cash prize that will go toward library programming and materials.