Charlestown Residents Honor Their 41 Student Scholars

CATONSVILLE, MD (May 18, 2016) -- Forty-one student employees tonight were honored by Charlestown retirement community residents who raised $173,029 for this year’s Scholarship Program to assist them attend college.

To be eligible for a scholarship, the students employed in the Dining Services Department must work a minimum of 1,000 hours between their junior and senior years of high school, build positive relationships with residents and maintain a strong work record while employed at Charlestown.

Since its inception the Charlestown Scholars Program has raised more than $2.5 Million, assisting over 1,200 students to advance their collegiate careers.

The students who received scholarships were:

Alayla Abernathy, Catonsville High School

Robert Adams, Maritime Industries Academy

Israel Asfaw, Catonsville High School

Odani Bowen, Pikesville High School

Deonchae Briscoe, Institute of Notre Dame

James Brown, Vivian T. Thomas

Imani Collins ,Milford Mill Academy

Khari Cooper ,Lansdowne High School

Joseph Dagirmanjian, Mount Saint Joseph High School

Tyler Emanuel ,Mount Saint Joseph High School

Teirra Evans ,Western School of Technology

Seirra Evans, Western School of Technology

Malcolm Facey, Western School of Technology

Jasmine Garrett , Milford Mill Academy

Natnael Gebrehawariat, Catonsville High School

Joshua Gist, Catonsville High School

Gerard Gross, III, Western School of Technology

Morgan Haddaway, Vivian T. Thomas

Shannon Harris, Catonsville High School

Shamar Harry, Western School of Technology

Brianna Hayes, Woodlawn High School

Alicia Homans, Home Schooled

Shinaya Jones, Vivian T. Thomas

Alwin Joy, Western School of Technology

Cyntiya Kanjirakadan, Western School of Technology

Sabin Kuruthukulam, Catonsville High School

Jamal Maolud, Catonsville High School

Chamia McMorris, Francis M. Wood

Keyounta Murray, Paul L. Dunbar High School

Chisom Obiechefu, Randallstown High School

Da'Twaun Raikes, Catonsville High School

Morgan Roberts, Western School of Technology

Danait Selamawi, Western School of Technology

Dominic Solomon, Carver

Sasha Taylor, Catonsville High School

Albin Thekkiniath, Catonsville High School

Shaunda Thompson, CCBC

Savanna Wells, Mount de Sales

Derika White, Milford Mill Academy

Lanae Wilks, Baltimore City College High School

Eric Winn, Pikesville High School

The Charlestown Scholars Program also awarded special scholarships as noted below:

The Dr. L Carroll Yingling, Jr. Scholarship initiated in 2015 was a tribute to the husband of Phyllis Yingling. Dr. Yingling was a retired United Methodist Church minister and former superintendent of the Baltimore Northwest District. He served on the Charlestown Board of Directors for 23 years. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Duke University and the Wesley Theological Seminary, Dr. Yingling knew the importance of education. To continue his legacy, this scholarship awards a student an additional $1,000 to assist with college tuition.This year’s recipient is Odani Bowen.

The Ruth Harden Inglis Scholarship Award originated with a designated contribution to the campaign for the specific purpose of encouraging applicants to pursue a degree in teaching. The student awarded this scholarship will receive an additional $750. This year’s recipient is Julie Homans.

The Virginia Niccolai Scholarship was established in honor of a 13-year resident of Charlestown, who enjoyed a 40-year career in education. As an artist and educator, Virginia assisted many young folks in pursuing their passion for the arts. To honor her memory, her family established a scholarship, which will award an additional $1,000 to a student pursuing a degree in teaching. This year’s recipient is Julie Homans.

The Andrew Murray Myers Scholarship was established to honor the late brother of Martha Yeager, a resident at Charlestown. To honor his memory, a scholarship was established, which will award an additional $1,500 to a student. This year’s recipient is Shannon Harris.

The Committee Recognition Award was established in 2015 to honor a student who the committee felt persevered and remained committed to continuing their education despite particular hardships. This year’s recipient is Alwin Joy.

The UMBC – David Lewis Scholarship was established in 1994 as a partnership scholarship between Charlestown and UMBC. This year’s recipient is Alayla Abernathy.

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Caption for photo: Charlestown's 2016 student scholars get ready for their close-up (photo by Mel Tansill).

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