LYNNFIELD, Mass., Dec. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- HP Hood®, New England's leading dairy processor, will award 18, $5,000 Hood Sportsmanship Scholarships® to high school seniors who demonstrate integrity and sportsmanship on and off the field. Three high school seniors in each of the six New England states – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont – will be awarded a $5,000 college scholarship for a total of $90,000.

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The Hood Sportsmanship Scholarship has become increasingly popular across New England as more students apply and friends and family get to participate in the voting. While academics remain a component, Hood looks to celebrate the importance of good sportsmanship.  To be eligible for the scholarship, high school seniors must have proven their ability to put the spirit of competition above winning while participating in a varsity sport.

"Hood is so proud that we have been able to grant $270,000 to student–athletes over the past three years, and we look forward to receiving this year's outstanding entries from across the region," said Lynne Bohan, spokesperson for HP Hood. "We are committed to supporting communities and families across New England and look forward to inducting even more tremendous students into the Hood Sportsmanship Scholarship Hall of Fame."

The Hood Sportsmanship Scholarship program is open to seniors enrolled in a high school in one of the six New England states. Seniors must be attending a two- or four-year accredited college or university in the fall of 2013 and meet the following criteria:

• Minimum of a 3.0 GPA
• Participated in a varsity sport in high school
• Volunteered in his/her community
• Displayed a high degree of sportsmanship while participating in sports in high school

Entry forms will be accepted online at Hood.com now through March 1^st, 2013. Students will be asked to complete the entry form and write a short essay explaining how they display sportsmanship and integrity on and off the field. Voting will be open to the public beginning March 15^th and will run through April 15^th online at Hood.com to determine the 10 finalists from each state who will then be interviewed by a panel of judges. The final 18 winners – 3 from each state – will be notified in May and be invited to attend an awards banquet at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, where Patriots player Danny Woodhead will speak about the importance of sportsmanship.

For more information, and rules and regulations, please visit Hood.com.  

About Hood
Founded in 1846, today Hood is one of the largest branded dairy operators in the United States.  Hood is the number-one dairy brand in New England, and Hood's portfolio of national and super-regional brands and franchise products includes Hood, Crowley Foods, Simply Smart Milk, Heluva Good!, LACTAID®, BAILEYS® Coffee Creamers, HERSHEY'S® Milk and Milkshakes and Blue Diamond Almond Breeze®. For more information about Hood, please visit www.Hood.com.

SOURCE HP Hood