Scholarships and Professional Development Awards

6/12/2024

Educational Systems Federal Credit Union is proud to announce the 2024 scholarship and professional development award winners. This year, $125,000 was awarded to 34 students and 19 educators to help continue their education. The scholarships and awards are made possible through the Support Education Foundation, which was started by the Credit Union to provide funding and resources to help the education community.

This year, the Support Education Foundation’s scholarship and award programs continued to grow with the introduction of the Eva Chesley Scholarship, awarded to two students pursuing a career in education, and a scholarship to a student attending a vocational school. 

“We're honored to make a difference in the education community through our Support Education Foundation”, stated Girado Smith, President/CEO of Educational Systems FCU. “These scholarships and awards reflect our deep-rooted commitment to the education community. Congratulations to all the winners!”

Jeanene Allison, recipient of the Maurice Erly Professional Development Award, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to grow in her field. “I am deeply grateful for the Support Education Foundation's generosity in awarding me with a Maurice Erly Professional Development Award,” said Allison. “It is a significant step towards achieving my goals and making a positive impact in the field of assistive technology. Thank you for investing in my education and future.”

Her enthusiasm was echoed by Dhruv Girish, who was awarded the Rosemary Brinkley Business and Finance Scholarship and will be attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. “I am incredibly honored to be selected as a recipient of the Rosemary Brinkley Business and Finance Scholarship and sincerely appreciate your generous support. This scholarship will significantly alleviate the financial burden of my education, allowing me to focus more intently on my studies and extracurricular activities,” said Girish. “I am committed to making the most of this opportunity and giving back to the community in the future.”

The 2024 scholarship and professional development award recipients are as follows:

Eva Chesley Scholarships
A total of $10,000 was awarded to two college sophomores pursuing degrees in education.

  • Zaire Bond, Bowie State University
  • Camryn Slawson, Salisbury University

Vocational School Scholarship
A total of $3,000 was awarded to one graduating high school senior attending a vocational school in Maryland.

  • Jeremy James, Montgomery County

Rosemary Brinkley Business and Finance Scholarships
A total of $36,000 was awarded to 12 graduating high school seniors who completed the business and finance curriculum.

  • Allissa Breeding, Allegany County 
  • Kate Evans, Anne Arundel County 
  • Bryce Clausen, Calvert County 
  • Mia Schreyer, Caroline County 
  • Korrin Lewis, Charles County 
  • Dhruv Girish, Frederick County 
  • Archana Ponnada, Howard County 
  • Neha Sharma, Montgomery County
  • Adunifeoluwa Olawale, Prince George’s County
  • Maura Schmeiser, St. Mary’s County
  • Isabella Jobeck, Talbot County
  • Ashley Wood, Wicomico County

Dorothy Marvil Scholarships
A total of $36,000 was awarded to 12 college-bound high school seniors.

  • Uliana Helm, Anne Arundel County 
  • Anna Berube, Calvert County 
  • Riley Walstrum, Caroline County 
  • Amie Browning, Charles County 
  • Andrew Smith, Frederick County 
  • Grayson Peoples, Howard County 
  • Akiva Rosenzweig, Montgomery County
  • Reina Whittington, Prince George’s County
  • Harsha Manivannan, St. Mary’s County  
  • Aashreya Govindu, Talbot County 
  • Jada Whyte, Wicomico County
  • Hannah Brown, Washington County

Community College Scholarships
A total of $21,000 was awarded to seven college students to help complete their community college degree. 

  • Faith Croson, College of Southern Maryland
  • Bradley Whitehouse, Frederick Community College 
  • Robert Lawson, Garrett College
  • Cecilia Daly, Howard Community College
  • Samiya Farhin, Montgomery College
  • Ikechukwu Ani, Prince George’s Community College 
  • Taylor Shores, Wor-Wic Community College

Maurice Erly Professional Development Awards
A total of $19,000 was awarded to 19 educators to continue their professional development.

K-12 Educators

  • Jenna Yommer, Allegany County 
  • Jeanene Allison, Anne Arundel County 
  • Carrie Akins, Calvert County 
  • Yolanda Holloway, Caroline County 
  • James Harris, Charles County 
  • Mary Silva, Dorchester County
  • Sophia Dorner, Frederick County 
  • Gretchen Halsey, Howard County 
  • Georgia Anderson, Montgomery County 
  • Quon Wilson, Prince George’s County 
  • Debora Settle, St. Mary’s County 
  • Deborah Gardner, Talbot County 

Community College Educators

  • Andrew Wodzianski, College of Southern Maryland
  • Sara Toliver, Frederick Community College
  • Alyssa Tichinel, Garrett College
  • Amy Crawford, Howard Community College 
  • Tracy Singleton, Montgomery College 
  • Dena Wilson, Prince George’s Community College 
  • Tracy Knobloch, Wor-Wic Community College

For detailed information on each scholarship and professional development award, visit SupportEducation.org.

Educational Systems FCU is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative, founded in 1955 to serve the education community. With $1.3 billion in assets, 13 branches and 85,000 members, the Credit Union strives to make financial wellness and stability accessible for all the communities they serve. The Support Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) established by Educational Systems FCU in 2017, supports students and school employees through charitable giving programs.