Cecil College Foundation celebrates donors, Scholarship recipients at annual breakfast

RISING SUN, Md: The Cecil College Foundation hosted its annual Scholarship Breakfast earlier this month at the Rising Sun Banquet Hall, an event that introduces generous contributors to the students benefiting from the scholarships they support.

More than 250 donors, scholarship recipients, Cecil County officials, and representatives from the College and Foundation attended the event. This event provides an opportunity for scholarship donors to meet the students they have supported through their generosity.

“Every contribution, large or small, helps create opportunities for students, strengthens Cecil College and our community, and empowers our graduates to build a brighter future for themselves and for Cecil County,” said Susan O’Neill, Vice Chair for the Cecil College Foundation.

The Cecil College Foundation Board of Directors comprises 25 community leaders who work to develop financial and other resources to support Cecil College students. For the 2026-2027 academic year, the Foundation awarded scholarships to approximately 345 students, amounting to nearly $487,633.

One of those students benefiting was Kayla Plank, a Bohemia Manor High School graduate who entered this fall’s semester as a second-year Psychology major. The scholarships she has received have made a meaningful difference in her college journey, allowing her to focus more fully on her studies and worry less about the cost of tuition, course expenses, and class materials. She is deeply grateful to the donors whose generosity has helped make her education possible and hopes that one day she will be able to provide the same opportunity to another student.

“I’m not sure how I would be here without the support of these scholarships,” said Plank. “They have had such a positive impact on my life, allowing me to focus on my education and work toward my dreams. I hope that one day I can give another student the same opportunity that I have been given.”

She chose Cecil College because of the opportunities it provides for academic and personal success while allowing her to remain close to home and receive the support she needs as she works toward her future goals. Her long-term dream is to become a forensic psychologist and pursue a career working with the FBI.

During the breakfast, the Mary A. Maloney Distinguished Service Award was presented to Ed Durham, Cecil College Athletic Director, in recognition of his outstanding contributions and unwavering commitment to community service. He has devoted more than three decades to Cecil College, making a lasting impact both on and off the athletic field. A former two-sport student-athlete, coach, and longtime athletic director, he has led Cecil College programs to multiple post-season titles and accomplishments.

Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Durham has spent decades mentoring students, holding them accountable academically, supporting their personal growth, maintaining relationships long after graduation, and creating opportunities such as the annual Green and Gold Tournament. His commitment to developing young people and strengthening the Cecil County community earned him the 2026 Mary A. Maloney Distinguished Service Award.

“I am truly humbled and honored that others saw fit to give me the opportunity to follow in Mary Maloney’s footsteps. That recognition is incredibly meaningful to me. Winston Churchill once said, ‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’ To the students here today, my hope is that one day, after you have moved on from Cecil College, you will find ways to give back and help those who come after you. And to everyone who continues to support this College, I encourage you to keep doing so and continue to make a difference in the lives of those around us.”

The breakfast concluded with the presentation of the Health Education Lift Program (HELP) Fund Awards to incoming nursing students. These awards included the students’ stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, and other instruments for their program. The Cecil College Foundation is seeking additional donors to enhance the HELP Fund and expand the support it provides. To donate to this fund, or any other fund, please visit cecil.edu/donate or call 410-287-1146.

The Cecil College Foundation scholarship application for the next academic year opens on October 1 at cecil.edu/scholarships.

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