2026 Scholarships

John C. Clegg Scholarship – Up to $6,000

For Columbia Clippers swim team participants

For high school seniors who participated on the Columbia Clippers swim team from 9th through 12th grade.

The Amanda Post “AmandaWins” River Hill High School Student-Athlete Scholarship – $5,000

For River Hill High School seniors

This scholarship is offered in loving memory of Amanda Josephine Post, who passed away in 2009 during her freshman year at River Hill High School. Candidates must plan to attend an accredited two- or four-year college/university or trade school.

Learn more about Amanda in this video.

The Amanda Post “AmandaWins” Soccer Association of Columbia/Howard County Student-Athlete Scholarship – $5,000

For high school seniors attending a Howard County public or private school that have played on a SAC/HC travel or recreational team

This scholarship is offered in loving memory of Amanda Josephine Post, who passed away in 2009 during her freshman year at River Hill High School and in her ninth year as a Soccer Association of Columbia/Howard County player. Candidates must plan to attend an accredited two- or four-year college/university or trade school.

Learn more about Amanda in this video.

Nikole Hannah-Jones Scholarship presented by Howard Hughes Corporation – $5,000

Available to Black students currently in their senior year of high school at a Howard County Public School who plan to attend a two- or four-year college or university.

This scholarship is offered by the Howard Hughes Corporation in honor of Nikole Hannah-Jones and her work. Nikole is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist covering racial injustice for The New York Times Magazine and creator of the landmark 1619 Project. Nikole is known for her coverage of civil rights in the United States.

Jon Grove Memorial Scholarship – $4,000

For high school seniors who attend a Howard County public school

This $4,000 scholarship is available to a Howard County Public High School student, currently in their senior year, whose life has been impacted by cancer, either personally or within their immediate family.

Doug Parker Scholarship – $2,500

For high school seniors attending a Howard County public or private school

This scholarship was established to honor and pay tribute to “Big Doug” Parker, a big man with a big heart. Applicants must plan to attend a two- or four-year college/university or trade school.

Allan Homes Outstanding Student Volunteer Scholarship – Up to $2,000

For individuals who volunteered for the Special Olympics Howard County Swim Team

There is up to $2,000 available to individuals, enrolled in a Maryland high school or college undergraduate program, that demonstrate they volunteered their talent and provided exceptional service to the Special Olympics Howard County Swim Team.

C. Merritt Pumphrey Scholarship – $2,000

For high school seniors attending a Howard County Public school or Chapelgate Christian Academy

This scholarship is offered in memory of C. Merritt Pumphrey, who died at the age of 83 on December 7, 2007. Candidates must plan to attend a four-year college or university to pursue an education in pre-law, agriculture, animal husbandry,or a field related to farming. Mr. Pumphrey worked with his father and brother to create Dalton Farms, a dairy farm that is now Thunder Hill of Columbia.

Dorothy Iglehart Pumphrey Memorial Scholarship – $2,000

For high school seniors attending a Howard County Public school or Chapelgate Christian Academy

This scholarship is available to a student currently in their senior year at a Howard County Public School or Chapelgate Christian Academy, which plans to pursue a career in the fine arts or who has been involved in the fine arts in the school or community.

Greg Speelman Scholarship – $2,000

For Marriotts Ridge High School seniors

This $2,000 scholarship is available to a Marriotts Ridge High School student currently in their senior year, who leads by example and responds with care towards the needs of others.

Phyllis Utterback Scholarship – $2,000

For high school seniors who attend a Howard County public school

This scholarship is offered in memory/honor of Phyllis Utterback in recognition of her remarkable commitment to education, youth and family. She epitomized the impact and value of education and the positive role it can play in the lives of young and old.

Schnorf Family Special Olympics Volunteer Scholarship – Up to $2,000

For Special Olympics Howard County volunteers

This scholarship is offered to individuals that demonstrate they volunteered their talent and provided exceptional service to the Special Olympics Howard County.

Freeman K. Hill Teen Scholarship – $1,500

For high school seniors who attend a Howard County public or private school

This scholarship is for a Howard County student who demonstrates his or her religious faith through good citizenship, service to others and the community and academic achievement – values that were exemplified in the life of Freeman K. Hill, an engineer at the Applied Physics Lab. Applicants must plan to attend a two- or four-year college/university or trade school.

Aaron Worley Scholarship – $1,000

For high school seniors who attend a Howard County public or private school

This scholarship is offered in memory/honor of Aaron Worley for high school seniors with a commitment to community involvement, academics and sportsmanship. Applicants must plan to attend a two- or four-year college/university or trade school.

Bob Kittleman Scholarship – Up to $1,000

For high school seniors attending a Howard County public or private school

This scholarship is offered, in honor of Bob Kittleman, for high school seniors who have shown potential in or are accomplished in engineering and the applied sciences. Applicants must plan to attend a two- or four-year college/university or trade school.

Christina and Lawrence Tarbell III Scholarship – $1,000

For Howard High School seniors

This scholarship is offered in appreciation by Christina and Lawrence Tarbell III for the fine education provided to them by the faculty of Howard High School. Applicants must plan to attend a two- or four-year college/university or trade school.

James T. Alvey Visionary Scorpion Scholarship – $1,000

For a senior at Oakland Mills High School, who plans to attend a two- or four-year college or university and seeks to create a brighter future for all.

This scholarship is offered in memory of J.T. Alvey, OMHS Class of 2006. The award seeks to empower innovative thinkers and passionate creators by providing financial support to a student who has demonstrated exceptional creativity in their chosen field, whether it be art, design, writing, technology, or beyond. This scholarship is designed to support students who push the boundaries of creativity in their academic pursuits, artistic endeavors, and/or innovative projects.

Karen and Howard Carolan Scholarship – $1,000

For high school seniors who have participated in the Howard County Youth Program

This scholarship is offered in loving memory of Howard T. Carolan, Jr., and Karen R. Carolan, longtime residents of Howard County. Applicants must have participated in the Howard County Youth Program and must plan to attend a two- or four-year college/university or trade school.

Karen S. Wray Nursing with Compassion and Dignity Scholarship – $1,000

For high school seniors at a Howard County public school who plan to pursue an education in nursing.

This scholarship is offered in memory of Karen S. Wray, who resided in Howard County from 1971-2019, and who exemplified compassion, kindness, dignity, and respect for all whom she served during her nursing career. Applicants must plan to attend a two- or four-year college/university with the intention to study nursing.

Kit Sfekas Memorial Scholarship – $1,000

For Mt. Hebron High School female athletes who are currently in their senior year

This scholarship is offered to a Mt. Hebron female athlete in memory of Judge Kit Sfekas, who was known to many as “Coach Kit.” Applicants must plan to attend a two- or four-year college/university or trade school.

Lance Christopher Mercy Scholar-Athlete Scholarship – $1,000

For River Hill seniors who have participated in either varsity football or varsity lacrosse.

This scholarship is offered in loving memory of Lance Christopher Mercy, who tragically passed away in a car accident in May 2020. A 2018 graduate of River Hill High School, Lance had just completed his sophomore year at Florida State University where he majored in a both Accounting and Professional Sales. Lance was passionate about sports and was a leader on and off the field. Applicants must plan to attend or take a class at a two- or four-year college/university or trade school to further their educational interests.

Mark Hollingsworth Scholarship – $1,000

For Marriotts Ridge High School seniors

This scholarship is offered in memory of Mark Hollingsworth, a devoted family man and hard-working entrepreneur whose compassionate spirit and positive attitude left a strong impression on those who knew and loved him. Applicants must plan to attend a two- or four-year college/university or trade school.

Mary Ann Levant Memorial Scholarship – $1,000

For high school seniors attending a Howard County public school

This scholarship is offered in loving memory of Mary Ann Levant, a dedicated educator who gave in abundance throughout her career to the Howard County Public School System. Applicants must plan to attend Howard Community College and enroll in the trade apprentice programs.

For more information, review the guidelines.

Mary-Kathryn Abernathy Memorial Scholarship – $1,000

For Long Reach High School seniors

This scholarship is offered in memory of Mary-Kathryn Abernathy for Long Reach High School students. Applicants must plan to attend a two- or four-year college/university or trade school and either pursue a career in education or have been involved in fine arts in the school or community.

Michael Joseph Deets Scholarship – $1,000

For Wilde Lake High School seniors

This scholarship is offered in memory/honor of Michael Joseph Deets for a Wilde Lake High School senior. Applicants must plan to attend a two- or four-year college/university. First preference will be given to students planning to attend The College of William and Mary.

Robert J. Gaw Memorial Scholarship – $1,000

For high school seniors who attend a Howard County public school

This scholarship is offered in memory of Robert J. Gaw, co-founder of the Ryland Group, Inc. It provides toward the cost of tuition to a two- or four-year college/university or trade school for a Howard County public high school student.

Tropf Family Scholarships – $1,000

For Atholton, Long Reach, Oakland Mills and Wilde Lake High School seniors

The Tropf family wishes to promote the study of science by awarding scholarships to Howard County public school seniors who intend to study mathematics, the physical sciences or engineering at a four-year college or university. These scholarships honor Cheryl Griffiths Tropf, a great believer in learning and academic achievement.

Wilbon H. and Mary J. Pulliam Scholarship – $1,000

For high school seniors attending a Howard County public or private school

This scholarship is offered in memory of Wilbon H. and Mary J. Pulliam for Howard County high school seniors planning to attend a two- or four-year college/university or trade school in Maryland.

Mike Chang Sunshine Scholarship – $500

For Hammond High School seniors

This scholarship is offered in memory of Mike Chang, a 1995 graduate of Hammond High School. Candidates must plan to attend a two- or four-year college/university or trade school and must respond with care and concern towards the needs of others and have the ability to bring humor to the serious business of life.

Carlessia Hussein Minority Scholarship – Up to $25,000

For males attending a public middle school in Howard County, Maryland

There is up to $25,000 available, approximately $350 per week of camp per applicant, to African American, Latino or Native American males who are enrolled in a Howard County public middle school for the costs of tuition and related expenses associated with participating in “qualified programs” that provide opportunities to gain knowledge, skills and unique experiences to enable them to successfully complete school and become life-long leaders in their community.

Students that have previously received this scholarship, and continue to meet eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply again.

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