Scholarship Money

Leaping horses, socializing supporters and a family-friendly atmosphere have drawn spectators to Howard Community College's Grand Prix for 20 years. But the true appeal for organizers has always been the scholarship money it raises for students. The equestrians and the entertainment will return to the Columbia campus Saturday, and college officials say the need is greater than ever. Applications for financial aid have risen 19 percent from fall 2007 to this year, said Nancy Santos Gainer, an HCC spokeswoman.

After Hunter Machin bowled his first 300 in late January, he celebrated in a pretty nontraditional way: He went home and took a nap. But Machin's perfect game was anything but traditional - after all, he was only 12 years old. While most of his fellow seventh graders at Dundalk Middle School are focusing on homework and playing with friends, Machin is busy at the bowling alley, winning tournaments against kids more than six years his senior and...

The worst moment of the pageant came soon after the teenager walked on stage: She flubbed the aerobic fitness routine. Ronke Olaleye was concentrating so much on smiling, on convincing the audience that she was "high energy," she says, that she forgot the steps she had rehearsed all week. Always resourceful, though, the 16-year- old improvised a few moves and rejoined the other contestants. She prayed her smile hid her disappointment - and shifted her remaining hopes into positive thoughts about her vocal performance.

It was exciting to hear that Ryan Ripken received a full scholarship to attend the University of South Carolina ("O's draft one more Ripken - Cal's son," June 7). How proud parents Cal Ripken Jr. and Kelly Ripken must be. But, wouldn't it have been much nicer if we also heard was Cal has decided to forgo the scholarship money so another child could attend the college? They certainly can afford to pay for their child and should donate the money back to the school. Janet Silverman, Pikesville

A group of students from an inner-city Chicago neighborhood listened recently as renowned neurosurgeon Ben Carson talked about nerds in the 'hood. He spoke about having lived as many of the students themselves live - the product of an impoverished, single-parent home, battling low self-esteem, poor grades and a white-hot temper. But when he got his act together and his grades improved, Carson found himself the brunt of derision and ridicule from fellow students who thought rebelling against book learning was cool.

It was exciting to hear that Ryan Ripken received a full scholarship to attend the University of South Carolina ("O's draft one more Ripken - Cal's son," June 7). How proud parents Cal Ripken Jr. and Kelly Ripken must be. But, wouldn't it have been much nicer if we also heard was Cal has decided to forgo the scholarship money so another child could attend the college? They certainly can afford to pay for their child and should donate the money back to the school. Janet Silverman, Pikesville

Saying he no longer has hope that the Maryland General Assembly will give up the power to distribute millions of dollars in state scholarships, Del. Gerry Brewster has decided to relinquish his own power to distribute the funds.The Baltimore County Democrat has asked the State Scholarship Administration to award his share of the scholarship money to students in his district on the basis of need. Each state delegate is given $41,712 in scholarship money to disburse over a four-year period.

Ooops. Last week, when we talked about ASPIRE Inc. (Association for Severna Park Improvement, Renewal and Enhancement) we failed to mention that the new organization's secretary/treasurer is Linda Zahn, executive director of the Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce.& Information: 647-8402.For more than a month in auditoriums throughout the county, lTC caps and gowns have been de rigueur. Eager seniors have lined up to receive their diplomas, then shed their commencement covers like butterflies celebrating freedom.

After years of political stalemate in Annapolis, the most powerful supporter of the state legislature's one-of-a-kind scholarship program says he will back a bill next year to eventually eliminate it.While details remain hazy, Sen. President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. said he expects legislation that would eliminate the program within four years or phase it out over the same time period. The pool of scholarship funds -- $7.9 million this year -- might then be allocated by the apolitical state scholarship administration or at the community level, he said.

A senior official in the state comptroller's office has recommended that legislative auditors look into "unusual" accounting practices at the Maryland Higher Education Commission. John D. Kenney, director of the General Accounting Division, also said yesterday that he will ask the commission's chief of accounting to stop spending money out of a "nonbudgeted" state account - where spending authority controls are less stringent. The account has included millions in federal grant money. Generally, nonbudgeted funds in the state treasury are used as temporary holding accounts for money that is not appropriated by the General Assembly.

Elizabeth McKenrick Winstead, an award-winning knitter and Bryn Mawr School graduate who established a scholarship fund there, died Tuesday of cancer at Gilchrist Hospice Care in Towson. She was 73. Mrs. Winstead, who went by the nickname Libby, was born in Baltimore in 1939. She was the eldest of three girls. Her father, a lawyer, served in the armed forces during World War II. During his absence, the girls and their mother moved to Pennsylvania to live with relatives. In early 1946, Mrs. Winstead's family returned to Baltimore, settling on North Charles Street near the city-county border.

Keisha Hogan, 28, of Columbia said that without a scholarship to Howard Community College, she would have to work more hours, which would be difficult to balance with classes, studying and caring for two children. "Every little bit [of scholarship money] works towards something, because college costs," said Hogan, who has a 9-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter. "Scholarships allow us to free up the time to go to school." Last week, Hogan and more than 80 other students had an opportunity to express their appreciation in person to the sources of their financial support at HCC's student/donor reception on the Columbia campus.

Leaping horses, socializing supporters and a family-friendly atmosphere have drawn spectators to Howard Community College's Grand Prix for 20 years. But the true appeal for organizers has always been the scholarship money it raises for students. The equestrians and the entertainment will return to the Columbia campus Saturday, and college officials say the need is greater than ever. Applications for financial aid have risen 19 percent from fall 2007 to this year, said Nancy Santos Gainer, an HCC spokeswoman.

A senior official in the state comptroller's office has recommended that legislative auditors look into "unusual" accounting practices at the Maryland Higher Education Commission. John D. Kenney, director of the General Accounting Division, also said yesterday that he will ask the commission's chief of accounting to stop spending money out of a "nonbudgeted" state account - where spending authority controls are less stringent. The account has included millions in federal grant money. Generally, nonbudgeted funds in the state treasury are used as temporary holding accounts for money that is not appropriated by the General Assembly.

When Michelle Bedke was in 10th grade, her father was forced to retire. Suddenly, the family had no money for her college education, she said. Bedke applied for as many college scholarships as she could find and received four, she said. "All I had to pay to go to school was $150" a semester, said Bedke, now in her first year at Howard Community College. Last week, the 18-year-old got to thank at least one of her benefactors in person, at a college-sponsored lunch specifically for scholarship donors and the students who benefit from the money they give.

Bill would restrict scholarship program Prohibiting state legislators from giving scholarships to their relatives or to the families of their colleagues would help restore public trust in the General Assembly, an Anne Arundel County senator told a House of Delegates committee yesterday. Sen. Bryan W. Simonaire, a Republican who sponsored a bill restricting the $11-million-a-year legislative scholarship program, said lawmakers should be held to the same ethical standards when doling out scholarships that they are when hiring staff.

In support of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s proposal to increase need-based student financial aid, two lawmakers urged a Senate committee yesterday to back bills that would transfer most or all of the money in Maryland's legislative scholarship program to a need-based fund. Sen. Sandra B. Schrader, a Howard County Republican, and Sen. James Brochin, a Baltimore County Democrat, are pushing two different bills, but both told the Senate Education, Health and Environment Committee that they believe it is time to change how the $11 million in legislative scholarship money is distributed.

The Anne Arundel Young Farmers will hold its 18th annual auction tomorrow to raise scholarship money for students interested in agriculture. While the auction always draws a large crowd, interest in the scholarship money has dwindled.Young Farmers has not awarded a scholarship since 1996 -- not because applicants are not qualified, but because no one has applied, said Greg Wayson, a Young Farmers member.While Young Farmers members attribute the lack of interest to a declining number of students pursuing agricultural studies, educators say interest in agriculture-related fields is growing and the real problem may be the eligibility rules for the scholarship.

A group of students from an inner-city Chicago neighborhood listened recently as renowned neurosurgeon Ben Carson talked about nerds in the 'hood. He spoke about having lived as many of the students themselves live - the product of an impoverished, single-parent home, battling low self-esteem, poor grades and a white-hot temper. But when he got his act together and his grades improved, Carson found himself the brunt of derision and ridicule from fellow students who thought rebelling against book learning was cool.

The worst moment of the pageant came soon after the teenager walked on stage: She flubbed the aerobic fitness routine. Ronke Olaleye was concentrating so much on smiling, on convincing the audience that she was "high energy," she says, that she forgot the steps she had rehearsed all week. Always resourceful, though, the 16-year- old improvised a few moves and rejoined the other contestants. She prayed her smile hid her disappointment - and shifted her remaining hopes into positive thoughts about her vocal performance.