Bright Minds Foundation congratulates our 2026 scholarship recipients!

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Bright Minds awarded over $49,000 in scholarships to 35 HCPSS graduates this year. We are thrilled to play a part in making college more accessible for students and assist these graduates as they pursue their academic goals. Bright Minds administers scholarship funds that are tailored to the specific goals of each scholarship sponsor. Learn more here.

2026 scholarships and recipients include:

HCPSS Academy of Finance
Victory Anyanwu, Mount Hebron High School Class of 2026, Loyola University Maryland
Satwik Kanaparthi, Marriotts Ridge High School Class of 2026, Indiana University
Meredith Keumeni, Atholton High School Class of 2026, Pace University
Sreeya Krishnakumar, Marriotts Ridge High School Class of 2026, University of Maryland College Park
Anuj Nadkarni, Marriotts Ridge High School Class of 2026, University of Maryland College Park
Juliana Rower, Centennial High School Class of 2026, University of South Carolina
Adhvitha Thallapureddy, Marriotts Ridge High School Class of 2026, University of Maryland College Park

Amy Armstrong Memorial Scholarship
Ava Patel, Reservoir High School Class of 2026, University of Maryland – College Park
Sophia West, Reservoir High School Class of 2026, Howard University

Anna Marie DeWitt Viking Courage Award
Filipp Turbinin, Mount Hebron High School Class of 2026, Howard Community College

Braden Zanski Memorial Scholarship! 
Alexander Dockins, Mt. Hebron High School Class of 2026, CCBC/Catonsville

Chaberton Energy Scholarship
Michael Whitener, Reservoir High School Class of 2026, Rochester Institute of Technology
Joshua Yasay, Reservoir High School Class of 2026, University of Maryland Baltimore County

Charlotte Spitalnic Memorial Scholarship
Beatrice Petrlik, Centennial High School Class of 2026, Howard Community College
Hannah Elpus, Centennial High School Class of 2026, University of Maryland College Park

Clara Heiliger Memorial Scholarship
Jaelyn Awuku, Oakland Mills High School Class of 2026, University of Maryland College Park

David Nesbitt Memorial Scholarship
Tiffany Picado, Wilde Lake High School Class of 2026, Howard Community College

Emily Scott Memorial Scholarship
Kaitlyn McManus, Centennial High School Class of 2026, Rochester Institute of Technology
Beatrice Petrlik, Centennial High School Class of 2026, Howard Community College
Eva Lynch, Long Reach High School Class of 2026, Catholic University of America
Claire Lim, Centennial High School Class of 2026, Boston College
Hannah Kim, Howard High School Class of 2026

Golden Bears Scholarship
Kayo Ebbaa, Hammond High School Class of 2026, Boston College

Haley Zanski-Quinn Memorial Scholarship
Jack Urian, Glenelg High School Class of 2026, Loyola University of Maryland

Jim Riss Pride of Oakland Mills Community Award
Sheree’s Benka-Coker, Oakland Mills High School Class of 2026, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Touro Costley, Oakland Mills High School Class of 2026, Howard Community College

Laura Wallen Memorial Scholarship
Noah Guerin, Wilde Lake High School Class of 2026, University of Maryland College Park

Matthew Murphy Memorial Scholarship
Saphira Klein, Glenelg High School Class of 2026, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Paris R. Buckman Memorial Scholarship
Sarina Plooksawasdi, Mount Hebron High School Class of 2026, University of South Carolina – Columbia Campus

PASSIT Forward Leadership Scholarship
Hadley Coleman, Howard High School Class of 2026, Robert Morris University
Darius Moore, Howard High School Class of 2026

Robert McKay White Jr. Music Scholarship
Keira Sanner, River Hill High Schoole Class of 2026, University of California, Los Angeles
Hayden Zhang, Guilford Park High School Class of 2026, University of Maryland College Park

Vision Wealth Partners Scholarship
Brian Toth, Centennial High School Class of 2026, UMBC (University of Maryland Baltimore County)
Lyla Warner, Mt. Hebron High School Class of 2026, University of Florida