Comcast Foundation awards $106,000 in scholarships to Md. HS seniors

The Comcast Foundation founded in 1999 to provide charitable support to its local communities and to empower and enrich lives, is awarding 97 Maryland high school seniors scholarships through its annual Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program. The program, one of the Comcast Foundation's signature community investment programs, recognizes students' leadership skills, academic achievement and commitment to community service.

Comcast, joined by Governor Martin O'Malley, Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy Grasmick and state legislators, recognized the students at a special event held at the Miller Senate Office Building in Annapolisyesterday.

Ninety-six of the 2011 Maryland Leaders and Achievers recipients received $1,000 scholarships; and Abida Kazmiof Parkville High School in Baltimore Countywas awarded a $10,000Comcast Founders Scholarship -- instituted in honor of Ralph J. Roberts, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Comcast Corporation -- for a total of $106,000 awarded this year. After a prize drawing, seven students were also given an iPad to use at college.

"Education is a top priority in the state of Maryland, and we work hard to provide our students with opportunities to succeed at every level," said Governor O'Malley. "I applaud Comcast's commitment to developing our future leaders and helping them achieve their dreams of higher education."

"I am pleased to join Comcast in honoring these students for both their academic accomplishments and civic involvement," said Dr. Grasmick. "Comcast has been a partner dedicated to Marylandpublic education and we are grateful to them for helping our students continue their educational careers."

"Comcast supports a number of programs that help motivate young people to reach their full potential and make a positive difference in their communities," said Tom Coughlin, regional senior vice president for Comcast. "We are proud to honor this group of outstanding students for their commitment to their futures."

The Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program provides one-time $1000scholarships to students who strive to achieve their potential, who are catalysts for positive change in their communities, who are involved in their schools, and who serve as models for their fellow students. The philosophy behind the program is to give young people every opportunity to be prepared for the future, to engage youth in their communities, and to demonstrate the importance of civic involvement, and the value placed on civic involvement by the business community.

Since the program's inception there have been over 15,000 scholarship winners totaling more than $15.4 million.

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS (by County):

Anne Arundel

Samantha Foggan of Old Mill High School in Millersville
Melissa Leaf of Northeast High School in Pasadena
Leah Levendusky of South River High School in Edgewater
Brooke Mackall of Glen Burnie High School
Panayiotis Papaleonti of Annapolis High School
Devin Price of Annapolis Area Christian School in Severn
Nancy Puckett of Puckett Home Education Tutorial Program in Odenton
Hemi Thaker of Broadneck High School in Annapolis

Baltimore City

Tavon Betts of Academy for College and Career Exploration
Marybeth Bindel of Mercy High School
Christian Conaway of Frederick Douglass High School
Rachel Craig of Forest Park Senior High School
Jenah Everage of W.E.B. DuBois High School
Ciera Gaskins of Patterson High School
Taylor Gordon of Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy
Christopher Lane of Baltimore School for the Arts
Paige Lauenstein of Catholic High School of Baltimore
Kai-li Liang of Mount St. Joseph High School
Morgan Paige of Saint Frances Academy
Davina Pratt of the Institute of Notre Dame
Chavette Shaw of Western High School
E'Mynie Smith of Reginald F. Lewis High School
Shakiera Walker of Maritime Industries Academy High School

Baltimore County

Felicia Baney of Lansdowne High Schoolin Baltimore
Tykeia Blue of Overlea High School in Baltimore
Daeyjunaey Evans of Chesapeake High Schoolin Baltimore
Shontel Gaskin of New Town High School in Owings Mills
Ashley Gast of Maryvale Preparatory School in Brooklandville
Jann Grovogui of Towson High School
Abida Kazmi of Parkville High School in Baltimore
Jahannah Kincheloe of Randallstown High School
Hager Koraym of Eastern Tech High School in Baltimore
Seongwoo Lee of Carver Center for Arts & Technology in Towson
Chasity Robinson of Woodlawn High School in Baltimore
Jacob Shapiro of Jemicy School in Owings Mills
Dobian Smith of Milford Mill Academy in Baltimore
David Song of Dulaney High Schoolin Timonium
Salam Syed of Western School of Technology in Baltimore

Caroline County

Typhannie Hall of North Caroline High School in Ridgely

Carroll County

Chelsea Calambro of Liberty High Schoolin Eldersburg
Suprit Singh of Westminster Senior High School
Sahel Uddin of North Carroll High School in Hampstead

Cecil County

Devon Freudenberger of Elkton High School
Kayce Strickland of North East High School
Katelyn Wray of Rising Sun High School

Charles County

Emmanuel Bakare of Thomas Stone High Schoolin Waldorf
Jessica Davis of Henry E. Lackey High Schoolin Indian Head
Shaun Gardiner of Maurice J. Mcdonough High Schoolin Pomfret
Christopher Lawrence of North Point High School for Science, Technology & Industry in Waldorf
Kayla Marshall of Westlake High Schoolin Waldorf

Frederick County