LA PLATA, Md.—The College of Southern Maryland celebrated the 2014-15 academic year scholarship awardees and donors on Sept. 17 during a reception at the Center for Business and Industry on the La Plata Campus. More than $300,000 in scholarships were awarded to 259 students.
CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried recognized 77 scholarship donors, who are making a difference in Southern Maryland by partnering with the CSM Foundation in keeping education affordable and accessible—which in turn, he said, enhances the health and welfare of the local economy.
“I see daily the lives that are being changed here at CSM and it is because of the support of our donors that we are able to continue our work of helping students realize their potential,” said Gottfried. “The more opportunities we present as a community for our students to succeed, the bigger impact we will make in transforming the Southern Maryland region.”
Speaking to scholarship recipients, CSM Foundation Chair Chris Rush said, “I have firsthand knowledge of the support of this community because just like you, I attended the College of Southern Maryland, Class of 1987. Today, as the chair of the Foundation and an active member of the Southern Maryland community, I see the impact of CSM. Everywhere I turn there is something CSM-related: a campus, a student, a program, an employee. That says a lot about CSM and its presence in the community, and you are now a part of this great tradition.”
Two scholarship recipients spoke at the reception, Nichole Estep of Lusby, who received the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce Annual Scholarship, and Liza Dalrymple of Prince Frederick who received the Dennis Lake Smith Memorial Art Scholarship and the Jerome A. Zanelotti, Sr. Memorial Scholarship.
Estep, a nursing student, told donors that in addition to her supportive husband, mother and siblings, she is “thankful for the people who are not my family, who don’t know much about me, who I never met—until tonight—but who have also encouraged me, stood by me and believed in me: the people who create and donate to scholarships so people like me can pursue their dreams. I would personally like to thank all of you who give to the foundation for your selfless charity.”
Dalrymple returned to college to pursue a passion in art. “At this present moment, the opportunity to return to college is a joyous gift. I’m living in the moment—and enjoying the present. But I’m also living with the understanding that everything I do, every class I take, every teacher’s lecture, every art project—is shaping my future. I want to promise the donors of the scholarships that I received--I will make you proud. I promise, your generous donations are appreciated,” she said.
More than 72 percent of college students nationwide graduate with student loan debt, according to Gottfried. “This is why CSM is taking great strides to educate our students, their spouses and parents about the opportunity and wise decision to save more than $29,000 by starting here at CSM for their freshmen and sophomore years.”
Scholarships awarded for the 2014-15 academic year include:
Adjunct Faculty Scholarship: Hannah Arnold, Christina Day, Valerie Dowell, Kenneth Howard
Albert L. Elder Jr. Family Scholarship: Sean Frost
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Scholarship: Keanuu Smith-Brown
Anna Mae Ziencik Hess Memorial Scholarship: Monica Jones, Mandi Ransome
Besche Family Scholars and Mentoring Program Annual Scholarship: James Eppley, Wesley Olsen, Kenneth Parker
Bill Wood Memorial Scholarship: Annie Mendoza
Brad and Linda Gottfried Against All Odds Annual Scholarship: Ciera Gantt
Brad and Linda Gottfried Art Scholarship in Memory of Bernice Gottfried: Emma Ansell
Brock Nikolas Guerrieri Memorial Scholarship: Valerie Dowell
Bryce T. Sanders Memorial Scholarship: Christina DeNeale
C. Emmitt Woodey Theatre Scholarship: Joanna Espiritu
Calvert Chamber of Commerce Endowed Scholarship: Crystal Kirven
Calvert County Chamber of Commerce Annual Scholarship: Abreellen Brown, Stephen Dodson, Nichole Estep, Jordan Stearns
Charles County Nursing and Allied Health Programs Scholarship: Lindsey Acquaviva, Rheya Brown, James Byrnes, Rochelle Douglas, Brittany Halmon
Charles County Woman's Club Scholarship: Toyan Bell
Charles Robert Posten Memorial Scholarship: Samuel Allen
Chiaramonte Hope Scholarship: Christina DeNeale, Crystal Kirven, Symone Matthews, Kara Merritt, Heather Santimays, Lindsey Thurman
Christopher Chinault Scholarship: Matthew Owens, Heather Santimays, Susan Wallish
Concerned Black Women of Calvert County - Women in Transition Scholarship: Ashlie Boyd
Connie Kite Memorial Scholarship: Alexandra Knott
Exelon Generation Nuclear Engineering Technology Annual Scholarship: Brandon Cousineau, Benjamin Dunn, Robert Fennelly, Russell Kay, Emily Kerwin, David Maines, Shawn Murphy
Cove Point Natural Heritage Trust Ruth Mathes Scholarship: Erin Tayman
CSM Alumni Scholarship: Bernice Ngere
CSM Foundation Scholarship sponsored by Marrick Homes: Matthew Edgar
CSM Foundation Scholarship sponsored by BAE: Alessia Parks
CSM Foundation Scholarship sponsored by Exelon Generation-Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant: Christopher Isom
CSM Foundation Realize Your Potential Scholarship: David Callahan, Kimberly Campbell, Brittany Cobey, Jenna Courville, Meghan Crout, Kimberly Dubinsky, Andrew Hackney, Daniel Ledbetter, Lisa Parker, Stacie Prinkey, Denise Rhoads, Michael Rice, LaShawnia Wells
CSM Foundation Scholarship for Returning Adults: Lenita Balsbough, Carrie Catalan, Latrice Chase, Kenneth Howard, Doralee Kusztos, Heather Oliver, Aimee Pellegrino, Lori Rushworth, Nieda Tice, Leonard Valley
CSM Foundation Scholarship in Memory of Eric Sawchak: Maria Estevez
CSM Foundation Scholarship sponsored by Brad and Linda Gottfried: Caroline DeHaven, Erica Jones
CSM Foundation Scholarship sponsored by Calvert Memorial Hospital: Melissa Sager
CSM Foundation Scholarship sponsored by Dominion Foundation: Connor Taylor
CSM Foundation Scholarship sponsored by Maureen Cunningham and Gerry: Van De Velde, Nicholas Fastnaught
CSM Foundation Scholarship sponsored by MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital: Kelcei McElvine
CSM Foundation Scholarship sponsored by Miles and Stockbridge, P.C.: Carly Penny
CSM Foundation Scholarship sponsored by Quality Built Homes, Inc.: Kyle Harlow
CSM Prince Frederick Campus Student Association Scholarship: Kristin Hemmer
Dennis Lake Smith Memorial Art Scholarship: Liza Dalrymple
Dr. Elvear B. Johnson Scholarship: Diondella Blanton
Dr. Nallan Ramakrishna Scholarship: Joshua MacKall, Thomas Siehl
Educational Systems Federal Credit Union Special Scholarship: Erin Brown, Aishya Devine, Diamone Hailstock-Williams, Kara Merritt, Christina Vance
Ethelmae M. Lilly Memorial Nursing Scholarship: Kaitlin Benitz
Fannie Louise Sine Henderson Scholarship: Shelly Cain, Latrice Chase, Kaitlyn Willen
Florence B. Trueman Scholarship: Christine Beatty, Kimberly Campbell, Stephen Dodson, Christopher Graham, Eric Graham, Emily Green, James Hilmer, Sarah Manning, Hunter Poore, Elijah Sanchez, Angel Shores, Keanuu Smith-Brown, Jordan Stearns, Melony Vest, Dayna Whitehouse
Gambrill Family Scholarship: Vaughn Gray
Gary D. Smith Memorial Scholarship: Carly Wedding
GRPA Scholarship: Drew Brentlinger, Clinton Garrison, Kristen Mills
Hank Willoughby Foundation Scholarship: Rheya Brown, Jasmine Cabiness, Mary Mills, Kathryn Sine, Melinda Smith, Mallory Tevis
Harland and Lula Cravat Memorial Scholarship: Aryanna Crockett, Samantha Lawler, Stacy Sharper
Helen and Henry Lawlor Scholarship: Alisha Murchison, Mandi Ransome
Helen and Mickey Todd Scholarship: Carrie Catalan, Samantha Enlow, Alexander Huber
Home Towne Real Estate Scholarship: Kaitlin Burkhart, Michael Fray, Lori Rushworth, Tricia Wood
J. Ivey Cline Memorial Scholarship: Desiree Page
Jack Love Sprague Scholarship: Lori Smith
James Mitchell Nursing Scholarship: Melissa Morgan, Jessica Weaver
Jane Hale Sypher Scholarship: Lenita Balsbough, Aimee Pellegrino, Tricia Wood
Jaye S. Ives Freedom Scholarship: Juana Davidson
Jerome A. Zanelotti Sr. Memorial Scholarship: Liza Dalrymple
Joanne Zwick Nursing Scholarship: Christine Beatty
Joseph Patak Memorial Scholarship: Christopher Conklin, Stacie Prinkey, Jeremmy Salazar
Kavetsy Family Foundation Endowed Scholarship: Rheya Brown
L.K. Farrall III Memorial Scholarship: Diondella Blanton, Brittany Cobey
La Plata Lions - Milton M. Somers Scholarship: Samantha Geckle, Mariah Mkandawire, Ayla Padgett, Alexis Proctor, Jennifer Street
LaVerda Francis and Richard Blair Scholarship: Rebecca Butner, Jennifer Colosi, Christopher Graham, Sarah Manning, Seth Spangler
Louis P. Jenkins, Sr. Endowed Scholarship: Melanie Pavone, Valerie Rahill, Melissa Zelonis
Marguerite Cox Family Memorial Scholarship: Brittany Halmon, Makenzie Hooper
Marrick Properties Scholarship: Garry Knight, Ricardo McCaskill
Maurice J. McDonough Scholarship: Nicholas Bears, Michelle Collins, Sarah Kennedy, Katelyn Kimble, Ayana McWillis, Annie Mendoza, Harsh Patel, Jeremmy Salazar, Rebecca Stone, Erica Swann, Megan Tzafaroglou, Jamie Welch, Amanda Wright
McNelis Family Scholarship: Elizabeth Kennedy
McWilliams Family Endowed Scholarship: Bernice Ngere
Neale Chaney Slater Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Erin Brown
NRL Federal Credit Union - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Strikeout Scholarship: Ryan Hardy
Nu Zeta Omega Scholarship of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.: Jordan Alvey, Jeanette Jacobs, Jeana Osborne
Nyce Annual Scholarship: Diane Payne
Old Line Bank Business Program Annual Scholarship: Candice Cook, James Day, Melissa Fenwick, Emily Garcia, Crystal Kirven, Daniel Ledbetter, Yaa Opoku, Corrinne Penny, Holly Settle, Megan Tzafaroglou
Oreta Stinson Memorial Engineering Scholarship: Mary Mills
Our Earth Scholarship: Mary Mills
Patty Schwier and Norma LaFleur Scholarship: Jennifer Colosi
Paul V. Fachhina Jr. Scholarship: Cody Graham
Professor Debra L. Wyvill Teacher Education Scholarship: Amanda Shrawder
Rebekah Compton Boone and Vivian Bounds Edelen Scholarship: J'Trenee Bryant
Renee Munday Math Endowed Scholarship: Lindsey Bowersox
St. Mary's County Government Health and Medical Scholarship: Hannah Arnold, Denise Collins, Juana Davidson, Dawn Drury, Sandra Fischer, Tyler Hayden, Carlos Jelinek, Alexandra Knott, Ray Ann Lindsey, Kara Merritt, Aimee Pellegrino, Olivia Redding, Yhamira Santiago, Molly Stine, Ernestina Stone, Natasha Terry, Lindsay Truong, Margaret Williams, Tiffany Wilson, Ashley Yonek
St. Mary’s Government Endowed Scholarship: Sierra Barnes, Crystal Berry, Tiyona Gupton, Robyn Harding, Tyler Wahl, Katie Wathen
Shani-Jinaki Whipple Memorial Scholarship: Ronald Hesse
Sidney John Francis Waugh Sr. Memorial Scholarship: Richard Samrow, Antwan Vandroff
Solomons Business Association Scholarship: Jordyn Callahan
Southern Maryland Women's League Scholarship: Lisa Scales, Dina Spence-Foreman, Lauren Young
Susan N. Behmke Legacy Scholarship: Lauralea Davis
T. N. Bowes HVAC Scholarship: Malcolm Davis
Tau Lambda Lambda Chapter Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Scholarship: Christopher Graham, Eric Graham
The Arc of Southern Maryland Communications/Media Studies Scholarship: Tracy Johnson
The Arc of Southern Maryland Nursing Scholarship: Carlos Jelinek
Thomas F. Goldsmith III Scholarship: Rheya Brown, Jennifer Street
Thomas J. Murray Memorial Scholarship: Crystal Leon
Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Scholarship: Danielle Moyers, Kortnie Moyers
Tri-County 40 et 8 Nursing Scholarship: Jennifer Street
Virginia B. Darrow Memorial CSM Nursing Scholarship: Dayna Whitehouse
Walter B. Grove II Memorial Art Scholarship: Abbie Fahnestock, Katharina Fleming, Alan Frampton
WFA Cancer Survivors and Friends Cancer Scholarship: Kimberly Dubinsky
Wigberto Martinez Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Robert Gomez
Zonta RAVE Walk Scholarship in Memory of Gayle Cooke: Six recipients
For information on creating or donating to a scholarship, visit http://www.csmd.edu/Foundation/. To view a gallery of photos from the Sept. 17 Scholarship Reception, visit http://csmphoto.zenfolio.com/14schlarrecpt. The Sept. 17 reception was one of several ceremonies to join scholarship donors with their scholarship recipients.