Maryland Higher Education Commission

July 2006 Press Release

 

 

MEDIA ADVISORY

 

WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER TO PRESIDE AT RECOGNITION CEREMONY

$150,000 Awarded through William Donald Schaefer Scholarship Program 

 

Annapolis, MD (July 24, 2006) – Secretary Calvin W. Burnett of the Maryland Higher Education Commission and Comptroller William Donald Schaefer will host an awards ceremony on Thursday, July 27 at 3:30 pm in the Louis Goldstein Building 80 Calvert St., Annapolis. The ceremony will honor the 11 new recipients of the William Donald Schaefer Scholarship Program for academic year 2006-2007. Named in honor of Maryland’s Comptroller, these awards provides funding to full-time students who are preparing for careers in public service.

Increasing need-based aid for higher education has been a priority for Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. since taking office in 2003. Governor Ehrlich included $60,000 in his FY 2006 budget and more than doubled his support for the program by including $150,000 for the awards in FY 2007. The increase of support for these awards is part of Governor Ehrlich’s overall support for higher education funding. Governor Ehrlich increased need-based aid by $16.5 million to $86 million in FY 2007. There are 20 recipients total, including 9 renewals from last year and the 11 new awardees for this year. A total of $150,000 will be awarded to the 20 students. The name of each recipient, his or her field of study, the college or university the individual is planning to attend, and place of residence follows:

Jalpurnia L. Blalock
Elementary Education – Bachelor’s Degree
Towson University
Forestville, Maryland

Stacy Ritter
Social Work – Master’s Degree
University of Maryland Baltimore
Brooklyn Park, Maryland

Jayni A. Shah
Law – First Professional
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, Maryland

Matthew K. Folstein
Medicine – First Professional
University of Maryland Baltimore
Middle River, Maryland

Ingrid M. Löfgren 
Social Work / Law – First Professional
University of Maryland Baltimore
Beltsville, Maryland

Teresa A. Schell
Law – First Professional
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, Maryland

Felicia M. Ollom
Early Childhood Education – Bachelor’s Degree
College of Southern Maryland 
Leonardtown, Maryland

Daniel M. Baker
Criminal Justice – Associate Degree
Hagerstown Business College
Hagerstown, Maryland

Lacey E. Egerton 
School Counseling – Master’s Degree
Loyola College
Elkridge, Maryland

Monica N. Strong
Social Work – Bachelor’s Degree
Coppin University
Baltimore, Maryland 

Recipients must be a Maryland resident, demonstrate need, attend or plan to attend an eligible Maryland postsecondary institution, and be enrolled full-time in a course of study, training, or other educational activities designed to prepare the student for a career in public service. The total amount of a William Donald Schaefer Scholarship award may be equal to tuition and fees at the institution attended, however the total dollar amount may not exceed $8,550.

 
Each recipient of a William Donald Schaefer Scholarship is required to sign a promissory note with the Maryland Higher Education Commission that states he/she will meet graduation requirements, and will then be employed in Maryland full-time in public service, one year for each year or portion thereof, that a payment of assistance under the program is made. If the conditions of the promissory note are not met, the award must be repaid with a fixed interest rate that matches the federal Stafford Loan rate established in July of each year.

 
The Maryland Higher Education Commission is Maryland's higher education coordinating board responsible for establishing statewide policies for Maryland public and independent colleges and universities and for private career schools.