Pikesville junior wins $30,000 scholarship

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Rhonda Samples is still reeling with excitement after taking a long shot in the dark.

For her efforts, she won a $30,000 scholarship to the college of her choice.

The Milford Mill Academy junior is the only Marylander among just 10 students nationwide to win the award from

Discover Financial Services.

Samples and her nine peers beat out 20,000 high school juniors in an essay competition detailing their community service as well as  personal setbacks and challenges, according to Discover spokeswoman Jennifer Grisamore.

Samples, 17, along with a younger sister, has lived with her aunt Shirley Cooke since she

was 5.

Samples remembers her parents leaving them, but said she has since come to revere them. Her essay focused on their relationship as well as her volunteer work at Johns Hopkins and Kernan hospitals.

“I love my parents,” she said, adding that her aunt told her about the scholarship.

“I never expected to win ... so this is amazing,” said the teen, who wants to become a physical therapist. 

The 17-year-old program has awarded nearly $16 million to more than 6,000 students nationwide, Grisamore said.

“We wanted to give juniors the opportunity to start early thinking about attending the college, trade or technical school of their choice.”

Cooke said she was jolted by her niece’s win.

“I’m stunned — and delighted.” 

drowley@baltimoreexaminer.com