‘There are so many hopes and dreams in this room. It’s just magical’
The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) celebrated scholarship donors and recipients at the 2017 CSM Foundation Scholarship Reception on Oct. 27 at the Physical Education Center on the La Plata Campus. For the 2017-18 academic year, the foundation awarded more than $400,000 to nearly 300 students. Additional scholarships will be awarded in January 2018 for the spring semester.
“Your investment is impacting so many tomorrows,” said CSM Foundation Chair Nancy Hempstead in her remarks. Hempstead established the Hempstead Family Scholarship this year, with the first two recipients meeting Hempstead at the event.
First-year student Allison Mattera, 18, of Huntingtown was awarded four scholarships and spoke at the event. Mattera is the older of two children in her family and a first-generation college student. To pay for college as she pursues her dream of becoming a criminal investigator, Mattera juggles her college classes and two part-time jobs, along with running cross country on CSM’s team.
“Standing here on behalf of my fellow scholarship recipients is such an honor to let you know just how deeply grateful we are, for not only your confidence in us but also for your financial support and encouragement,” Mattera said. “I know that for me personally, being honored with support through the Prince Frederick Campus Student Association, Florence B. Trueman, the Hempstead Family and John and Mary Anne Harms scholarships means the difference between me going to college or not, and I can chase my career dreams knowing that there are people beyond my parents, family and friends who have placed their trust and belief in me and my abilities to achieve my goals.”
The reception gave scholarship recipients the opportunity to meet and thank their scholarship’s donors. It was also a chance for both donors and recipients to share stories — sometimes very personal stories.
At the reception, scholarship donors were seated with their recipients, and they had the chance to explain why they established their funds at CSM. In some cases, a family member, friend or colleague was so special that they wanted to create a memorial scholarship in their name. Some talked about how their own struggles to pay for college made them want to help others. Others talked about why they just believed in supporting higher education.
“He was the ultimate in believing in education. He worked his way through school,” said Marianne Harms of Huntingtown about her late husband, businessman John Harms, for whom she established the John and Mary Anne Harms Endowed Scholarship. Five students were awarded this year — the first-ever recipients of this newly established fund.
“It’s fun to just talk to people about their dreams,” Harms said as she looked around her table filled with the recipients of this scholarship. “I love seeing the possibilities. There are so many hopes and dreams in this room. It’s just magical.”
A few tables away, Dr. Kathleen Walsh of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, was telling the story about why her father inspired her to start a scholarship in his memory, the Charles K. Walsh Memorial Scholarship. “I know he [gave his all] working for the family,” Walsh said. “It feels really important to us to pay it forward.” Walsh’s 50-year career in math and chemistry education included years teaching at both private and public schools in the region, more than 20 years with St. Mary’s County Public Schools (including service as supervisor of mathematics) and as an adjunct and then associate professor at CSM.
Charles K. Walsh Memorial Scholarship recipient Ja’nae Savoy, 25, of Waldorf listened as Walsh and her husband talked about the effort they put into selecting the best candidates for their scholarship. “I am excited, especially to know that they read the applications,” Savoy said. “It means more.”
Savoy said that the scholarship helps her pursue her goal of a career in information technology. “This is my dream; just to graduate,” she said. “No one in my family has done it.”
A recipient of the Peter Cangelosi Memorial Scholarship for the second consecutive year, Elena Wilcox, 25, of La Plata sat with Laurie and Raymond Cangelosi who established the scholarship in memory of their son. “They’re great, and I’m so grateful,” Wilcox said of the Cangelosis with a wide smile.
Raymond Cangelosi described how the family, including their three surviving children, decide together on the scholarship recipients. “We spend a couple of weeks as a whole family,” he said, adding that they try to think about how Peter would have answered.
That interest the family invests in the decision impacted Wilcox, who said she hadn’t realized how personal the selection was.
Rianna Neiser, 18, of Mechanicsville received one of the St. Mary’s County Government Annual Scholarships. Neiser said that she has to pay for college herself as she studies dental hygiene at CSM. “It helps hold down the debt,” Neiser said of the financial assistance.
Sashin Baharie, 16, of Waldorf was honored as the recipient of three scholarships at the reception, the Adjunct Faculty Endowed Scholarship, CSM Academic Excellence Scholarship and the Dr. Elvear B. Johnson Scholarship. Baharie graduated early from St. Charles High School in June 2017. He is studying biology at CSM and hopes to continue his education through medical school. Sitting with his mother at the reception, he explained that he is paying for college by himself. A part-time job at a library and the scholarships all help financially, but he also sees them as a vote of confidence.
“It makes me realize I can succeed in college,” Baharie said. “It helped pay for a lot of the tuition as well.”
He added that he appreciated the chance to meet the scholarship donors. “It’s really nice to put a face to the name,” he said. “To be able to personally thank them … It’s really good.”
For information on donating to a scholarship at CSM, visit https://foundation.csmd.edu/. For information on applying for scholarships at CSM, visit https://www.csmd.edu/costs-aid/credit-costs-aid/scholarships-financial-aid/scholarships/scholarship-finder/.
Scholarships awarded for the 2017-2018 academic year include:
Adjunct Faculty Annual Scholarship
Derrick Jackson
Adjunct Faculty Endowed Scholarship
Lenita Balsbough, Sashin Beharie
Advanced Vision Systems, Inc. (AVSI) Scholarship
Catherine Co, Enitan Kalejaiye, Christopher Simmons
Albert L. Elder, Jr. Family Memorial Scholarship
Ashleigh Byers
Anna Mae Ziencik Hess Memorial Scholarship
Michelle Haines
Bernice Gottfried Memorial Art Scholarship
Tessa Pilkerton
Besche Family Scholars and Mentoring Program Annual Scholarship
Megan Bibbins
Brad and Linda Gottfried “Against All Odds” Annual Scholarship
Adrienne Brown
Bradley and Linda Gottfried Endowed Scholarship
Darleen Allen
Brock Nikolas Guerrieri Memorial Scholarship
Jessica Bly
Bryce T. Sanders Memorial Scholarship
Megan Bibbins
- Emmitt Woodey Theatre Scholarship in Memory of Kitty Samson and Mark DeOca
Roger Fahr, Jr.
Calvert Chamber of Commerce Endowed Scholarship
Heather Bowen, Julia Gallodoro
Calvert Resources Scholarship
Tanesha Parran, Chris Van Deventer
Captain Billy Robertson Endowed Scholarship
Kiera Ransome
Carolyn and Susan Holt Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Catherine Smith
Castles and Foundations Scholarship
Cindy Collins, Miranda Reyna
Chaney Endowed Scholarship for Sustainable Land Use
James Adkins, Nicholas Embrey, Matthew Eppley, Racheal Hostetter, Carlton Wicker
Charles “Dick” Bailey Memorial Nursing Endowed Scholarship
Rachel Turner
Charles County Chamber of Commerce Golf Scholarship
Trevor Thorne
Charles County Nursing and Allied Health Programs Scholarship
Amanda Catterton, Jay-Cheree Edwards, Jerry Hollebon, Taylor Namm, Melodie Robles,
Charles County Woman’s Club Scholarship
Angelique Hammond
Charles K. Walsh Memorial Scholarship
Oluwaseyi Kintunde, Ja’nae Savoy
Charles Robert Posten Memorial Scholarship
Gayloy Kennedy-Martin, Shannan Yorkshire
Chiaramonte Hope Scholarship
Aniyah Gabriel, Jerry Hollebon, Victoria Richards, Melinda Smith, Katie Woomer
Christopher Chinault Scholarship
Lenita Balsbough, Jamyra Grymes, Jacquelyn Guadalajara, Miranda Martin, Miranda Reyna
Col. Mary R. Boyd Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Brandi Quick
Community Bank of the Chesapeake Annual Scholarship
Alyssa Dyson, Angelique Hammond, Bryana Nelson, Michelle Reloba
Concerned Black Woman of Calvert County – Women in Transition Scholarship
Nakida Claggett
Connie Kite Memorial CSM Nursing Scholarship
Barbara Sheldon, Brian Whitworth
Cove Point Natural Heritage Trust Ruth Mathes Scholarship
Aimee Beardmore
Cox Family Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Raymond Swenton, Jr.
CSM Academic Excellence Scholarship
Caitlin Addison, Sashin Beharie, Danielle Boling, Kevin Fersch, Carolyn Gillespie, Tara Jagen, Justin Jett, Elizabeth Kennedy, Brianna Puffenbarger, Liam Rama, Troy Robinson, Angela Santos, Colleen Runowich, Julia Webster
CSM Alumni Association Scholarship
Marjorie Hill
CSM Leonardtown Student Association New Student Welcome Endowed Scholarship
Joshua Riggs
CSM Presidential Scholars Program
Alexys Adams, Patrick Brogan, Amanda Colee, Erin Colee, Alisa Elsner, Alyssa Gray, Haley Harford, Derrick Jackson, Walter Joy, Oluwaseyi Kintunde, Cassady Koch, Alexis Lauer, Jessica Loveless, Emily Marshall, Rachael Mehls, Mary Moore, David Nehf, Jamie Ourland, Lilia Petropool, Michaela Smith, Janelle Stack, Cassidy Turner, Michael Waby, Kaitlyn Welsh
CSM Prince Frederick Campus Student Association Scholarship
Allison Mattera
CSM Student Government Association “Students Helping Students” Scholarship
Six anonymous students
David Michael Krankowski Memorial Scholarship
Walter Joy
Dennis Lake Smith Memorial Art Scholarship
Ryan Kellner, Cheyenne Roach, Michael Waby
Diane Kaufman Fredette Memorial Scholarship
Angelica Paula Romero
Dr. Elvear B. Johnson Scholarship
Shashin Beharie
Dr. Nallan Ramakrishna Scholarship
Kathryn Humphreys, Zachary Kearns, Martin Smith
Ed Matthews, Jr. Scholarship
Asia Rodgers
Educational Systems Federal Credit Union Scholarship
Erin Brown, Dominique Collins-Johnson, Victoria Richards
Ethelmae M. Lilly Nursing Memorial Scholarship
Harmony Carter
Fanny Louise Sullivan Sine Henderson Scholarship
Kelley Ingram
Florence B. Trueman Scholarship
Lauren Belskie, Jessica Bly, Shannon Cherrico, Alyssa Clendenen, Amanda Colee, Erin Colee, Charles Commodore, Shannon Gray, Ariel Kilbourne, Oluwaseyi Kintunde, Rachel Lewis, Alondra Lopez-Perez, Allison Mattera, Mary Moore, Tanesha Parren, Tristan Serrao, Sarah Shurtleff, Michaela Smith, Madison Thorne, Chris Van Deventer
Grainger Family Endowed Scholarship
Eric Mendoza
Grimm and Parker Student Success Endowed Scholarship
Carolyn Sherwood
Helen and Henry Lawlor Scholarship
Amanda Catterton, Natalie Guess
Helen and Mickey Todd Scholarship
Shelby Bean, Brandy Hicklin, Jessica Jackson, Dominique Jenkins, Anna Kendall, Tyler Morris, Kiera Ransome, Tristan Sarabia, Kathryn Vezzosi
Hempstead Family Scholarship
Allison Mattera, Ashley Stinnett
International Systems Safety Society, Washington D.C. Chapter (ISSSWDC) Scholarship
Christopher Simmons
- Ivey Cline Scholarship
Crystal Fox
Jack Love Sprague Scholarship
Lauren Barrett
James C. Mitchell Nursing Scholarship
Emily Ditoto, Brandi Quick, Lindsay Thompson, Elena Wilcox
Jane Hale Sypher Scholarship
Jacqueline Davis, Shekera Grayson
Jaye S. Ives Freedom Scholarship
Jeffery Knipe, Scott Teed
Jerome A. Zanelotti, Sr. Memorial Scholarship
Jaia Parker
Joanne Zwick Nursing Scholarship
Shayla Hemingway
John and Mary Anne Harms Endowed Scholarship
Karin Gray, Morgan Kline, Allison Mattera, Stephen Ngalim, Alexis Sullivan,
Joseph F. Rice and Mae Irene Fauth Memorial Scholarship
Alexander Depiazza, Whitney Greenfield, Gabrielle Halpern, Alexis Sullivan
L.K. Farrall III Memorial Scholarship
Kalia Rogers
La Plata Rotary Club Trades and Energy Scholarship
Mohamed Sesay
La Plata Student Association Kickoff Scholarship
Dawson Jewell
LaVerda Francis and Richard Blair Scholarship
Alesha Barreca, Kiana Bopp, Taylor Hagen, Remy Jones, Alexis Lauer, Lindsay McKenzie, Luciana Naegele, Katy Rhodes, Barbara Sheldon, Margaret Williams
Louis P. Jenkins, Sr. Endowed Scholarship
Jessica Blair, Anthony Cole, Doris Sullivan
Lucy Detig Student Success Endowed Scholarship
Tatianna Grantham
Marrick Homes CSM Foundation Golf Classic Scholarship
Maxim Bode, Kiana Bopp, Savanna Pavkov, Derek Taitano
Marrick Properties, Inc. Endowed Scholarship
Karin Bunting, Joseph Gaetano, Micah Hill, and, Joseph Webb,
Mary I. Shasho Memorial Annual Scholarship
Hazel Ptack, Julie Yerdon
Maurice J. McDonough Endowed Scholarship
Latashia Baker, Lesbia Calderon-Moroy, Bre-Enna Davis, Taylor Deese, Ahmad Njoya, Kimberly Pilkerton, Diana Proctor, Kelsey Sweeney, Yesenia Telleria, Emonni Tibbs
Maurice J. McDonough Foundation Annual Scholarship
Deanna Charron, Ciara Dekle, Everard Jegels, Jr., Liam Kerth, Vernicia Morgan, Seth Morrison, Amber Nelson, Sillon Paton, William Slagle, Amanda Wright
McWilliams Family Endowed Scholarship
Anna Kendall, Savannah Sloop-Stone
Michael and Sara Middleton CSM-UMSON Nursing Scholarship
Lisa Dzialoski, Alsasha Halt, Kaitlyn Hilgenberg, Lindsay McKenzie, Betty Porter
National Society of the Colonial Dames of America
Chloe Dickson
Neale Chaney Slater Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Dawson Jewell, Julie Yerdon
Nu Zeta Omega Scholarship of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Kathleen Burch, Ashley Stinnett
Nyce Annual Scholarship
Jay-Cheree Edwards, Patrick Fitzwater, Remy Jones
Old Line Bank Business Program Annual Scholarship
Tiffany Dent, Ashley Hall, Karleigh Hall, Jacob Lillard, Melanie Norris, Cloressa Orr, Austin Plitt, Bailey Scott, Amanda Wright
Oreta Stinson Memorial Engineering Scholarship
Nicholas Talbott
Our Earth Endowed Scholarship
Krista Ayers
Patty Schwier and Norma LeFleur Scholarship
Megan Bibbins, Keri Lane
Paul V. Facchina, Jr. Scholarship
Racheal Hostetter
Peter Cangelosi Memorial Scholarship
Amanda Colee, Elena Wilcox
Professor Debra L. Wyvill Teacher Education Scholarship
Ashley Linney
Renee Munday Math Endowed Scholarship
Donovan Jones-Taylor
Roberta Kieliger Sisters at Heart Scholarship
Brooke Graham, Jessica Hernandez
Russell Gordon Croft Endowed Scholarship
Nicole Huber, Jada Proctor, Brianna Puffenbarger, Kiera Ransome, Kelsey Sweeney, Trevor Thorne, O’Tionne Willis
Salome A. Howard Bar Association, Inc. Scholarship
Branden Herscher, Dawson Jewell
Shani-Jinaki Whipple Endowed Scholarship for the Physically Challenged
Amber Nelson
Sidney John Francis Waugh, Sr. Memorial Scholarship
Kylie Muldoon
SMECO Future Engineers Endowed Scholarship
Matthew Eppley
SMECO Pre-Apprenticeship Program Scholarship
Allen Salley
Solomons Business Association Scholarship
Tanesha Parran
Southern Maryland Nursing and Health Alliance Scholarship
Jade Boyer, Emily Ditoto, Jamyra Grymes, Kimberly Pilkerton, Rachel Turner, Elena Wilcox
Southern Maryland Women’s League Scholarship
Raymond Swenton, Jr., Tyara Thomas, Carletta Washington
St. Mary’s County Government Annual Scholarship
Stacy Beach, Rebecca Burr, Harmony Carter, Sydney Davis, Annie Dexter, Brooke Graham, Jamyra Grymes, Jacquelyn Guadalajara, Jessica Hernandez, Simran Kaur, Vivian Lee, Laura Llana, Tammy Miguel, Rianna Neiser, Sara Norris, Jacob Parsons, Betty Porter, Savannah Sloop-Stone, Brittany Vallandingham, Gina Zanelotti
St. Mary’s County Government Endowed Scholarship
Nyla Cole, Dillon Mandley, Catherine Smith, Daneisha Thomas
Susan N. Behmke Legacy Scholarship
Ian Tyler
Thomas F. Goldsmith, III Scholarship
Lindsey Bowersox, Ashleigh Byers, Alea De Belen, Amber Fiorilla, Tyler Lee, Kimberly Pilketon
Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Scholarship
Taylor Deese, Alexander Depiazza, Gabrielle Halpern, Jaia Parker
Tri-County 40 et 8 Nursing Scholarship
Rebecca Burr
Veterans Educational Endowed Scholarship
Gina Pomrenke, Moisette Sweat, Scott Teed, Stephen Vallandingham
Virginia B. Darrow Memorial CSM Nursing Scholarship
Remy Jones
Walter B. Grove II Memorial Scholarship
Aria Alston, Krista Ayers, Charles Furby, Lucas Snyder
WFA Cancer Survivors and Friends Scholarship
Gloria Campbell, Victoria Gray
Wigberto “Willie” Martinez, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Kevin Fersch
William D. “Bill” Lyon Memorial Scholarship
Colleen Morrill
William D. Bauer Memorial Scholarship
Kevin Fersch