nLIGHT Sponsored Mentoring Advanced Programs for Students Scholarship Awarded

Vancouver, WA  July 1, 2008 

nLIGHT Corporation, a leading manufacturer of high-power semiconductor lasers, announced today that it has awarded the company’s third sponsored Mentoring Advanced Programs for Students (MAPS) scholarship to Erica Ellingson, a recent Skyview High School graduate.

“Erica exemplifies the type of student that MAPS serves.” says MAPS’ founder and nLIGHT CEO Scott Keeney. “She has taken a wide variety of rigorous classes during her high school career, and has also found time to be involved in the community and develop her leadership skills.”

Scholarship winner Erica Ellingson is recognized by her teachers as an excellent leader, intelligent, hard-working, incredibly focused and one of the finest scholars they have come across. Erica plans to study chemistry and bioengineering at the University of Washington, and ultimately work to pursue a degree in medical school to become a reconstructive surgeon. She is also a skilled violinist, playing in her school orchestra, in addition to working part time at the local Dairy Queen.

Erica was active in MAPS last school year (2007-2008). MAPS provides mentors from businesses for high school students pursuing advanced coursework. Mentors not only to help students succeed in this rigorous coursework but also to provide them with real world exposure to how the concepts are translated in the workplace. MAPS provided 30 mentors to 164 students from Washougal, Camas, La Center, Ridgefield, Vancouver and Evergreen school districts. MAPS also provides enrichment opportunities for students and teachers including tours of local high tech companies, free tickets to math and science related lectures, and county-wide study sessions.

Erica will use her $1,500 scholarship towards her college tuition and books cost. The scholarship was awarded on the basis of the student’s involvement in MAPS, academic achievement, and leadership.