Rural community-college students needing help to cover child care expenses soon will be eligible for $150,000 in scholarships, the Maine Community College System announced Tuesday.

The Rural Maine Child Care Scholarship will be available to students at each of the seven community college campuses, starting this fall.

Individual awards are for $35 and $100 per week, according to a statement from the community college system. The amount awarded depends on financial need.

Up to 150 awards will be available for the 2008-09 academic year, funded by a portion of racino funds set aside for community college scholarships.

The scholarships are a part of the system's Rural Initiative, a $6.2 million program begun in December aimed at expanding rural students' educational opportunities.

"We hope this scholarship will make it possible for more parents to pursue a degree," Maine Community College System President John Fitzsimmons said in a statement.

Qualifying students must have financial need and live in a rural community, which the community college system defines as ahaving fewer than 10,000 residents and not bordering a town of 10,000 or more residents.