Five Awarded Laurel Historical Society McCeney Fund Scholarship

Laurel, MD. A covid hiatus and exceptional applications meant that four Laurel area seniors have been awarded $1,000 Laurel Historical Society McCeney Education Fund Scholarships and one freshman received $500 for 2022. Students who applied had to show they are developing skills that demonstrated both an inquisitive nature and a specific interest in how the past impacts our present and our community. The scholarship program is open to both public and private school seniors who are either Laurel residents or attend a Laurel school. The four $1000 scholarship winners and the school they graduated from were:

• Eamon Coyle, Atholton High School
• Samantha Joy Lilienthal, Sandy Spring Friends School
• Keenashae Pennicooke, Laurel High School
• Emma Grace Newkirk, Elizabeth Seton High School

High School freshman Brie Kamrynn Young, who attends Chesapeake Math & IT Academy High School North (CMIT) also applied. Although she didn’t qualify as a graduating senior, she will earn an associate degree at Prince George’s Community College through a CMIT dual enrollment program. In recognition of her exceptional academic efforts that met the other criteria, the McCeney Education Fund Committee decided to award her a special $500 scholarship, and to permit her to apply in her senior year for a full $1000 scholarship.

According to Jhanna Levin, past president of the LHS and Fund Chair, “We had so many exceptional students applying for the McCeney Fund Scholarship this year. The pandemic caused us to miss awarding some of our scholarships, so we decided to award funds to all the qualified applicants this year. These are all amazing young people, and we are proud to have an opportunity to support them as they work towards their future endeavors.”

In addition to scholarships, the McCeney Education Fund provided monies and purchase power for local schools for desperately needed items during the height of the closures due to the pandemic. Some purchases included fans, exercise equipment, jackets, and masks. Future plans for the Fund include a revamping of LHS field trip programs for teachers and students, in addition to the scholarship program.

The McCeney Education Fund Scholarship is named in honor of long-time Laurel resident, and former LHS Board Chair and President James McCeney, who passed away in 2016. Since 2016, the Laurel Historical Society has sponsored the McCeney March each September (Jim’s birthday month) to raise funds to underwrite the McCeney Education Fund. The seventh McCeney March is scheduled for Saturday, September 24, 2022. For information on participating in the March as a walker or to sponsor visit: https://www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org/the-mcceney-march.html

The Laurel Historical Society is located at 817 Main Street, Laurel Maryland. The LHS operates the Laurel Museum, whose current exhibit is “What’s Cookin’ Laurel? Restaurants, Recipes and Community.” The exhibit runs through December 18, 2022. The Laurel Museum is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 12-4pm. Admission is free. Research and special tours by request. To learn more visit www.Laurelhistoricalsociety.org or contact info@laurelhistoricalsociety.org. ##