RISING SUN, MD — The Cecil College Foundation gathered more than 250 donors, students, and community leaders earlier this month at the Rising Sun Banquet Hall for its annual Scholarship Breakfast, highlighting the impact of scholarships on education and the region.
For the 2025–2026 academic year, the Foundation awarded $520,633 in scholarships to 338 students, supported by contributions from local government, businesses, and private donors.
“We are gathered here today not only to recognize the academic achievements of these exceptional students, but also to celebrate the deep impact scholarships have on our broader communities,” said Dr. Jonathan Seidenberg, Chairman of the Cecil College Foundation.
Among the recipients was Avery Brown, a North East High School graduate who entered Cecil College this fall with 30 credits and a 3.75 GPA. Brown, recipient of the Cecil County Council Scholarship, credited the support with expanding his plans from a single associate degree to pursuing both management and accounting.
The event featured keynote speaker D.J. Wootson, a Cecil College alumnus who overcame adversity to become the school’s all-time leading basketball scorer before continuing to Georgia State University and Vanderbilt. Now a business owner and pilot, Wootson encouraged students to seize opportunities, noting, “Opportunities don’t always present themselves twice. They are fleeting, and what you do with them now can shape your future.”
The Mary A. Maloney Distinguished Service Award was presented to Sarah W. Colenda for her contributions to community service, while incoming nursing students received Health Education Lift Program (HELP) Fund Awards, including stethoscopes and other instruments to support their training.
The Foundation’s next scholarship application period opens October 1 at www.cecil.edu/scholarships.
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