Damariscotta, Maine - (January 15, 2004) Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute's Executive Director Shippen Bright announced today that MLCI's Student Portal Web site is featured on the George Lucas Education Foundation (GLEF) Website as an innovative model of American education. GLEF's web-based video documentary on the Maine laptop program shot last summer features the Maine Lakes Conservancy Institutes educational programs. The video, entitled "The Maine Event", can be seen Foundation's website, www.glef.org and includes interviews with Nobleboro Central School and former Maine Governor Angus S. King, Jr.

The George Lucas Educational Foundation chose the MLCI educational program because it demonstrates many facets of excellent 21rst century education-students working on real-world, problem-based projects, effective use of technology, and connection with community based educational resources like MLCI, according to Diane Curtis, content producer. "We travel the country to find jewels of educational ingenuity and the Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute's Student Portal passed with flying colors," remarked Producer Curtis.

The Maine Learning Technology initiative is the world's largest technology initiative of its kind. Because of more than 33,000 laptops in the hands of Maine Middle School students The George Lucas Educational Foundation flew out from California this past spring summer to document the impact how technology is transforming education. The Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute's Students' Portal is featured in the documentary as an example of transformative education.

"MLCI's Student Portland shines as the premier example of utilizing laptop technology," stated Bette Manchester, director of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative [the "laptop program"].

In 2003 MLCI launched their Internet based Students' Portal that was envisioned to be a place of learning and sharing about the freshwater natural resource jewels of Maine-her lakes. With the introduction of laptops into Maine middle schools through the Maine Learning Technology Initiative, the Students' Portal raised the educational bar, becoming an example of how technology can transform education and build stronger communities.

MLCI's Student Portal began with nine partner schools throughout the state of Maine that represented Maine's geographic and cultural diversity. MLCI's program begins in the classroom and culminates with a trip to the students' nearby lake where they research, learn, share, communicate and perform community service as part of their MLCI project based learning. MLCI is currently working on expanding the Students' Portal to all schools that want to participate.

The Nobleboro Central School, located in the midcoast region of Maine, is one of MLCI's partner school and is featured in the documentary as part of MLCI's educational program. Nobleboro's partnership with MLCI has a goal of creating stronger communities in Maine as students actively participate in the understanding, preserving and sustaining of the health and values of their communities' lakes. "As MLCI's logo states, we are 'Creating better stewards for today and leaders for tomorrow' and the laptops are helping them do just that," said MLCI's Executive Director Ship Bright. "Recognition from GLEF propels MLCI onto the national stage."

Click here to view the video.