CASTINE – Maine Maritime Academy is seeking nominations from the public for student awards recognizing outstanding service and leadership within the Castine community.

According to Deidra Davis, dean of Student Services, the fourth annual Participation and Leadership Awards Banquet, to be held Monday, April 4, is designed to honor truly distinctive and exceptional students who have contributed to Maine Maritime Academy or the community at large.

The top student achievement award is named in memory of the late Phyllis Tenney. A Castine resident, Tenney served for more than 30 years as the college’s social director and staff adviser to the service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega.

The Phyllis Tenney Community Service and Leadership Award is given annually to students who have shown dedication to Maine Maritime Academy, loyalty to its students, faculty, and staff, and have contributed positively to the Castine community. Award recipients receive a crystal plaque and a cash award. The names of recipients are recorded annually on a plaque for campus display.

Members of the community are invited and encouraged to submit nominations for the awards. Students nominated for recognition may be long-standing volunteers, club or group leaders, or a constant, positive academy-related student employee who has been especially committed or has demonstrated an uncommon work ethic.

Students may be nominated for service to Maine Maritime Academy or to the community. Nominations will be evaluated in conjunction with the student’s overall academic standing and behavior record. Nominees will be accepted in the areas of community service, leadership and academy-related employment.

Nomination forms will be accepted through Feb. 28 and are available at all Castine churches, the Castine Variety Store, the Castine Town Hall, and Witherle Memorial Library. Forms may be returned to the MMA Student Services Office in the Alfond Student Center or mailed to Deidra Davis, dean of Student Services, Maine Maritime Academy, Castine 04420. For information on the program, e-mail Davis at ddavis@mma.edu or call 326-2138.