- A student everyone slated for failure who is maintaining an "A" average at Montgomery County
- A former physician, a new immigrant left with an infant, no green card, no English. She's now working in a doctor's office, going to school to earn her RN degree and becoming proficient in English.
- A teen whose teachers saw her ability when she saw herself a loser, now in her second year of college.
- The eldest of nine children in a troubled family, graduated from college class of ‘03
"The Bernie Scholarship awarded me more than money. It awarded me a sense of accomplishment and pride within myself. Your acknowledgment of my success though high school lifted my spirits higher to create in me more determination to reach all of my goals. The encouragement that your program gave me will always be with me and the money that was granted to me is greatly appreciated. I hope recipients who come after me will be touched as much as I was from the experience. Thank you very much for your support behind my growth to be a strong, independent woman." Devon
"Early this year I was blessed to know about a scholarship that was awarding money to individuals who wanted to further their education. I was very reluctant in the beginning to apply to the Bernie Scholarship but with a little inspiration from my surrounding, I applied. To this day, I must say that I am very pleased with the outcome. Not only was I pleased with winning the scholarship money but also it was The Bernie Scholarship Panel that made me feel at ease. The panel made me feel so comfortable during the interview session that it made it that much easier for me to talk about my passions for my future to them. I do not think there could have been a better committee panel to conduct the interview. The compassion that each showed is hard to put in words. The application of the scholarship was very detailed and direct. I believe the application was a good reference tool. I not only looked at is as a scholarship application but I looked at it as an outline for my future. The questions that were asked really help me to put thought into what I really want to do for the future." Sherry
By 2005 the Bernie Scholarship helped 104 people move toward achieving their educational goals. One of these may become your Senator...or your doctor...an economist or the best garage mechanic you've ever had. All are determined to make meaningful, positive contributions to our community and our country.
" The Bernie Scholarship changed my life. It made me realize that people do care and that I can make it. Receiving the award was a great honor and it gave me an extra push to help motivate me to continue my education." Gloria
Scholarship Winners
- 2009 Special thanks to: Mariion and James Brodsky, The Pettit Family Foundation (in memory of John H. Pettit), The Trawick Foundation and HOC Alumni for sponsoring scholarships in 2009. Photo of winners
Eyueal Alemu, Starr Baker, Jamica Blue, Ashley Brown, Etny Candelano, Mekdes Damenu, Yvette Hammond, Margaret Jervier, Jazmine Jones, Armelle Leukeu, Jason Lin, Elsie Chimi-Lowe, Tatiana Maden, Melaku Misikir, Yanet Molla, Emeraude Mongbo, Sakeemah Muwwakkil, Micahel Oreuba, Wanda Plummer, Arminta Thomas, Nirva Thomas, Betelehem Tulu, Caitlin Witters, Damian Worthy, Kimberly Zander - 2008
Ruthann Aitkins; Thagine Bloomfield, Jamica Blue, Elsie Chimi, Mackenlov Dorival, Chanel Downing, Bernadine Frazer, Jonathan Gebretatios, Yvette Hammond, Jeanine Hernandez, Jazmine Jones, Ngonda Kinyoki, Melaku Misikir, Yanet Molla, Gemena Murchison, Tan Nguyen, Chelsea Smedley, Tamea Stover, LaTonya Thompson, RaShawnda Thompson, Joseph Wheeler. - 2007
Joi Barnes, Shamika Bruce, Francess Conteh, Ebony Davis, Veronica Diaz, Kossi Djoboki, Mackenlov Dorival, Richard DuLaney, Oluchi Eluma, Lateefah Everett, Nakiya Floyd, Sahr Gbolie, Yvette Graham, LaTonya Harris, Rosemarie Jenkins, Janelle Jervier, Jazmine Jones, Ju-Ae Kim, Patrician Lamothe, LaNika Llucas, Tan Nguyen, Emma Selassie, Nirva Thomas, LaTonya Thompson, Rashawnda Thompson
- 2006 Photo of winners
Joi Barnes, Eyatunde Bowen-Wright, Chanel Downing, Ieisha Dunston, Margaret Gahelrasoul, Sahr Gbolie, Lemlem Ghebremarian, Sharon Holquin, Shufen Huang, Rosemarie Jenkins, Ju-Hee Kim, Jie Liu, LaNika Lucas, Gemena Murchison, Odessa Murray, Marsha Oliver, LaTonya Thompson - 2005 Photo of winners
Hamrawit Abebe, Aneeta Amaoko, Shamika Bruce, Kokou Dsimeyor, Armel Ename, Cherinoor Fofana, La Tanya Harris, Sharon Holquin, Eisheena Jones, Sevan Karabedian, Charlie Karim, Fafa Kumassah, Eunice Macharia, Shannon Matthews, Emma Selassie, Esrael Seyum. Nia Smith, Natasha Spriggs, La Tonya Thompson, Kayleeta Whitfield, - 2004
Eyuel Abebe, Fatmata Daramy, Armel Ename, Shana Gaskins, LaTonya Harris, Eun Ju Kim, Yana Kolyabina, Gloria Lopez, Eunice Macharia, Isatta Mansaray, India McKnight, Lyna Prum, Titilope Sawe, Nia Smith, Jo Ann Tyson, Lily Ye - 2002
Ayesha Ali, Jedeofor Aluguo, Elaine Amankwah, Tamika Archer, Felicia Baker, Nyome Bright, Tam Dinh, Julius Ferguson, Kevin Fortas, Keli Johnson, Eisheena Jones, Sevan Karabedian, Eun Ju Kim, Sheena Dee Mart, Janet Popoola, Joelle Rodriguez, Monica Wiley - 2001
Diana Doyle, Anita Gaines, Joshua Hutton, Chevonne Mansfield, Mary Susan Powers, Cheryl Price, Tinisha Taylor, Kayleeta Whitfield, Lynniice Croom, Akilah Brewer, Ignico Frazier - 2000
James Edward Carter, Jr, Luna Graham, Chevonne Mansfield, Jonathan Nazarian, Ahn Lac Pham, Devon Richardson, Kathleen Smith - 1999
Michelle Aseidua Abu, Ebony Nia-Kenyatta Dashiell, Hoai Duyen Dinh , Cathy Eastman, Donna Greene, Tiffandy Lynn Willis - 1998
Thuy Duyen Dinh, Svetlana Ermak, Amy Sue Kwok, Trin Mong Nguyen - 1997
Afua Asare, Pat Ivy , Keona Lee
Excerpts from a Bernie Scholarship Award winner essay:--
"My greatest achievement is I have survived! I am seventeen years of age….I have seen my mother’s health rise and crash, my relationship with my father deteriorate, and forced to realize I had only myself to depend upon…I am stronger, motivated and more determined that I can be a success….Life is about HOW you react to the situations that you are faced with and not what kind of problems fall in your lap….I had not only to learn how to take care of myself but my mother as well…I got a job when I was fifteen. I did this out of necessity so I could provide for myself….at sixteen I had three part-time jobs to save up money for a car and college….maintaining good grades has always been a priority…..when I look at my situation I see I have climbed a very rocky mountain and have made it to the top alive. I know I will encounter bigger and tougher mountains in the future, but I know since I have survived this one I can survive another. .."
