Rebecca Miller of Potsdam Central School and Linda Moore of St. Regis Falls Central School were recently selected to receive Azure Mountain Friends $500 scholarships.

Miller plans to attend Smith College and Moore is headed to SUNY Canton.

They will each spend five weekend days as volunteer interpreters on the Azure Mountain summit.

After a brief mentorship, they will assist visitors in understanding the mountain fire tower’s history and environment, according to a press release.

While both students have “strong academic records, they also demonstrated strong communication and interpersonal skills, as well as experience in the outdoors,” the release said.

Azure Mountain Friends is a not-for-profit organization formed in 2002 to save and restore the fire tower on the summit of Azure Mountain.

The organization has awarded scholarships to local students since 2006.

Funds for scholarships have largely come from donations made to Azure Mountain Friends.

The group works with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to maintain the trail to the summit and the tower.

On weekends, volunteer interpreters provide educational information to hikers who climb to the summit.

The one-mile climb has long been a favorite with families, students and outdoor enthusiasts. Often it is the first mountain climbed by local hikers, who appreciate the extensive vistas of the Adirondacks and St. Lawrence Valley, especially in fall foliage. In recent years, more than 12,000 hikers per year have climbed the 2,518-foot mountain.

The tower was erected in 1918 and is on the national and state registers of historic structures.

The AMF board is beginning discussions of centennial observances in 2018.

To learn more about the Azure Mountain Friends visit azuremountain.org.