Charles County students, from left to right, Jessica Davis, Elizabeth Wilson, and Erin Chapman have been named to the Maryland Distinguished Scholars Program. (Submitted photos)
LA PLATA, Md. (October 14, 2010)—The Maryland Higher Education Commission named three Charles County Public Schools students as finalists in the area of academic achievement through the Distinguished Scholars Program. They are Jessica Davis, senior, Henry E. Lackey High School; Elizabeth Wilson, senior, Maurice J. McDonough High School; and Erin Chapman, senior, North Point High School.
Three other CCPS students were recognized as semifinalists. La Plata High School senior Colin Qualters and North Point senior Bryn Allston were named semifinalists in the area of academic achievement. La Plata senior Matthew Hancock is a semifinalist in the talent in the arts category.
The Distinguished Scholar program rewards finalists with a $3,000 scholarship per year for four years as an incentive to attend a two-year or four-year Maryland college or university. Students apply for the program during their junior year and are eligible for awards in three areas: academic achievement, talent in the arts, and national merit and achievement.
Semifinalists are eligible to receive the award once all finalists have either accepted or declined the scholarship offer. Finalists must decline the award if they plan on attending a college or university outside of Maryland. More than 5,300 students applied in the achievement and talent categories, and 350 were named finalists.
Students considered for the academic achievement award must have an unweighted grade point average of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale in academic subjects taken during their first five semesters of high school. Final eligibility is determined on the basis of grade point average and SAT/PSAT/ACT scores.
Students considered for the talent in the arts category for areas in visual art, instrumental or vocal music, dance or drama must audition or undergo a portfolio review before a panel of professional judges.
National merit and national achievement finalists, identified in their senior year, are automatically eligible for the scholarship and are offered the award after they indicate they will attend a Maryland college or university.
The $4.2 million program provides 350 new scholarships annually and provides continuing awards to students who maintain a 3.0 grade point average. The scholarship award can be used toward any college-related costs.
Additionally, the Maryland Higher Education Commission lists 89 CCPS as honorable mention recipients.
Students recognized as honorable mention in the area of Academic Achievement from Henry E. Lackey High School are Valerie Commerford, Chinyere McKoy-Nwachukwu, Helayna Roberts, Andrew Bode, Deborah Cline, Gwynette Lacap, Marcus Hashagen, Gustin Paras, Johnette Johnson, Joshua Boyd, Corey Chotkowski, Darryle Smith, Tamara Dixon, Troy Conner and Chynna Keys.
Students recognized as honorable mention in the area of Academic Achievement from La Plata High School are Katherine Huber, Shelby Smith, Candace Radcliff, Bradleigh Chance, John Jarboe III, Michael Bradford, Max Flerlage, Chelsea Clark, Benjamin Szoch, John Sackman Jr., Alison Homan, Alyssa Hamill, Holly Gonzalez, Cheryl Frazier and Elizabeth Hair.
Students recognized as honorable mention in the area of Academic Achievement from Maurice J. McDonough High School are Jessica Youmans, Kristen McCahill, Anna Albrittain, Megan Keesee, Tionna Lake, Dasul Lee, Kevin Shin and Brianne Holter.
Students recognized as honorable mention in the area of Academic Achievement from North Point High School are Audrey Springer, Molly Bauman, William Still, Ashli Haggard, Nicholas Teleky, John Thomas, Moriah Rochlinski, Benjamin Walsh, Kristina Milman, Ryan Cleaveland, Andrea Sherlock, Tiona Smith, Elaine Yeoh, Jada Smith, Latanya Trojanowski, Rebecca Creighton, Jocelyn Ihrig, Keyawna Griffith, Ina Marie Sanabria, Thomas Williams, Cierra Johnson, Aaron Kauffman, Angela Norton, Jazmyn White and Briana Guerrero.
Students recognized as honorable mention in the area of Academic Achievement from Thomas Stone High School are Dominic Barrasso, Kayla Robben, Emily Le, Marquise Johnson and Jennifer DeMarco.
Students recognized as honorable mention in the area of Academic Achievement from Westlake High School are Jessica Grant, Princess Cunanan, Emilian Hilario, Asia Lamar and Tracey Hardos.
Students recognized as honorable mention in the area of Talent in the Arts are: Alexandra Brown, Lackey; Taryn McClure, Lackey; Jewellianna Palencia, Lackey; Julia D’Alessandro, Lackey; Erica Spurlin, La Plata; Benjamin Brown, La Plata; Kelly Perna, La Plata; Victoria Anastasi, La Plata; Shaun Gardiner, McDonough; Robert Balint, McDonough; Samantha Willett, McDonough; Keeley Raths, McDonough; Ryan Harris, McDonough; Victoria Munoz, Westlake; Margaret Bartolomeo, Westlake; and Joshua Franklin, Westlake.
Source: Charles County Public School System