MCPS recently shared that the Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation (MCPSEF) honored nearly 200 recipients with $2 million in scholarships and awards from 14 programs at the Evening of Excellence celebration on May 19. Notably, 170 students received the 2025 Ruth and Norman Rales-Patricia Baier O’Neill Scholarship Recognizing Academic Excellence.
The prestigious Rales-O’Neill scholarships are awarded to high-achieving MCPS seniors who demonstrate leadership, community service, and financial need. This year’s awardees represent 24 MCPS high schools and will each receive $10,000 to support their postsecondary education.
MCPSEF also recognized the following Class of 2025 scholarships and awards:
Hazel M. Bratt Language Scholarship: Honors Hazel M. Bratt, a former Latin teacher at Montgomery Blair High School.
James Brawley Memorial Award for Excellence in Chemistry: Honors the late James Brawley, a Walter Johnson High School teacher, who provided awards to high-achieving students.
Business Management & Finance Scholarship: Given to exemplary students in the Business Management and Finance Program.
Joseph D. Byrd Scholarship: Given in memory of Joseph D. Byrd, who lived in Poolesville and was committed to helping students with financial need access higher education.
Gilles Driesman Scholarship: Given in partnership with Thomas Edison High School of Technology and honors Gilles Driesman, whose formal education ended in elementary school when he went to work on the family farm. He became a builder and ran businesses, including selling and servicing farm equipment.
Dr. Frieda K. Lacey Distinguished African American Scholarship: Given in partnership with the Montgomery County Alliance of Black School Educators and in honor of Dr. Frieda K. Lacey, former deputy superintendent for MCPS, who retired in 2011 after 41 years.
Elise M. Lavidor Book Award: Given in partnership with Rockville High School and named for Elise M. Lavidor, a Boston University graduate and lifelong educator who taught for public schools around the country before coming to Maryland and volunteering her time at Meadow Hall Elementary School.
League of Educators for Asian American Progress (LEAAP) Scholarship: LEAAP works to sustain the advancement of MCPS’ Asian American community through service, support, recognition and leadership development.
Ledyard Marsh Scholarship: Honors Ledyard Marsh, a Sherwood High School graduate and electrical engineer.
Laureen O’Neill Robbins Memorial Award: Honors Laureen O’Neill Robbins, an oncology nurse, Walt Whitman High School alum and former parent of students at Col. Zadok Magruder High School.
Cesar Pie Cyber Defender Scholarship: For students interested in cybersecurity and in honor of CSIOS Corporation’s Chairman Cesar Pie, a veteran, renowned cyber strategist and influential Hispanic leader in cybersecurity.
Wilma Watkins Ulmer Memorial Scholarship: This scholarship is held in partnership with Gaithersburg High School and honors Wilma Watkins Ulmer, a graduate of Gaithersburg High School. Mrs. Ulmer returned to Gaithersburg High School for more than a decade as a teacher and for an additional 20 years as Vice Principal.
Paul Vance Scholarship: Former MCPS Superintendent, who was also the first African American to lead the district.
See class of 2025 MCPS Educational Foundation Scholars at this link. View the photos from the event at this link.
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