MCPS Educational Foundation Awarded $2.3 Million in Scholarships During Evening of Excellence

The prestigious Rales-O’Neill Scholarships are provided to high-achieving MCPS graduating seniors with financial need who have demonstrated leadership and a commitment to community service while in high school. The 2026 awardees represent 25 high schools in (MCPS). The recipients will each receive $10,000 to support their postsecondary education plan.

“Each of these scholarships represents far more than financial support, it is a powerful affirmation of the belief we place in our students and their futures,” said Grace Rivera-Oven. “We are profoundly grateful to the Ruth and Norman Rales–Patricia Baier O’Neill Scholarship Program and to every donor who continues to invest in the promise, potential, and success of our students.”

“Every single one of these students has shown resilience, dedication and leadership during their time in MCPS,” said Superintendent Thomas W. Taylor. “This celebration isn’t just about financial support; it’s about validating their hard work and fueling their highest aspirations. By honoring them today, our community is sending a clear message to these graduates: we believe in your potential and we cannot wait to see how you change the world in your next chapter.”
“We are proud to recognize the hard work and achievements of these exceptional young people, carrying forward my parents’ values in the community where we grew up,” said Joshua Rales, President and Trustee of the Norman and Ruth Rales Foundation. “It is a further privilege to honor the legacy of Pat O’Neill, a tireless champion of educational opportunity in Montgomery County, with the 2026 Rales-O’Neill class. We hope this scholarship will play a small role in inspiring and supporting these students as they pursue their goals and aspirations in the next chapter of their academic journey.” James O’Neill, Pat’s husband, adds, “The O’Neill and Baier families wish to express their thanks for this wonderful scholarship opportunity provided by the Rales Foundation and the invaluable work of the MCPS Educational Foundation and to congratulate all of our student recipients. Pat would be so humbled at being included with the Rales family in the naming of this scholarship and so proud of our MCPS student recipients whose commitment to education, community and public service reflects the very values Pat stood for.” 

MCPSEF also recognized the following Class of 2026 scholarships and awards:

Begelman Scholarship: Honors Arlene and Robert Begelman.
Business Management and Finance Scholarship: Given to exemplary students in the Business Management and Finance Program.
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.
Dr. Frieda K. Lacey 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.
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.
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.
James Cafritz Scholarship: Honors James Cafritz, a longtime MCPSEF supporter. 
Janet Carroll Merit Scholarship: Honors Janet Carroll, a dedicated MCPS teacher and proud alumna of Villanova University.
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.
Joy Odom Mathematics Scholarship: In memory of Joy Odom, former head of mathematics at John F. Kennedy High 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.
Paul Vance Scholarship: In memory of Dr. Paul Vance, former MCPS Superintendent, who worked to eliminate barriers to student success and was also the first African American to lead the district.
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.

Class of 2026 MCPS Educational Foundation Scholars:
   
Albert Einstein High School
Jayden Hernandez, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Amy Hernandez Diaz, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Etian Huang, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Mia Melton, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Noa Mergi, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Hannah Meshesha, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Diego Ochoa Diaz, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Jasmine Reyes, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Clare Scanlon, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Isabella Solorzano-Moncada, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Andrew St. Clair, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Rebekah Wright, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Bethesda Chevy-Chase High School
Nathan Asmellash, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Madeline Cortez, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
George Grigolia, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Raquel Lovinger, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Eleham Salo, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Nathaniel Tessema, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Sarah Tollison, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Husna Zakaria, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Clarksburg High School
Dana Atassi, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Amy Meksi, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Shyam Modi, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Neluki Sarathchandra, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Selina Zheng, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Colonel Zadok Magruder High School
Theodore Park, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

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Damascus High School
Elsie Ansah, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Caleb Fennel, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Rodrigo Fleitas-Dick, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Carlos Flores Gonzalez, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
John Gist, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Shaina Kakar, Cesar Pie Cyber Defender Scholar
Jamal Nai, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Raahil Shah, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Yaoyao Zheng, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Gaithersburg High School
Kevin Alvarenga Perez, Wilma Watkins Ulmer Memorial Scholar
Daphne Carrillo, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Daverette Jimenez Rodriguez, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Sifan Kabeta, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Edita Kentale, Janet Carroll Merit Scholar

James Hubert Blake High School
Suad Abdella, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Ngoc Nguyen, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Sofia Ormol, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Elijah-Jane Tchuinte, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Kimberley Trang, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

John F. Kennedy High School
Kyrill Foustoukos, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Orestes Foustoukos, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Blanca Ramirez, Joy Odom Mathematics Scholar
Blanca Ramirez, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Johana Villarreal Orellana, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Montgomery Blair High School
Safwan Ahmed, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Camila Chi, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Mooti Chimdi, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Hermella Habtom, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Yafet Haile, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Tokyo Hopkins, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Ziyad Hossain, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Ethan Hua, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Santiago Jimenez, Hazel M. Bratt Language Scholar
Santiago Jimenez, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Debbie Kebede, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Hyeyeon Lim, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Aiden Liu, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Susana Menjivar, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Emily Morales Angel, Hazel M. Bratt Language Scholar
Rakshay Narayanan, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Jeremiah Park, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Daniela Renderos, Paul Vance Scholar
Zuri Smith, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Skyler Xue, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
William Zhang, Cesar Pie Cyber Defender Scholar

Northwest High School
Muhammad Benjelloun, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Eileen Dai, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Leo Divitt, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Ayden Kim, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Titus Lee, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Aditya Paravangat, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Vidhi Patel, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Siddharth Prakash, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Northwood High School
Rediet Denbu, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Daniel Gray, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Melany Portillo Ventura, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Samuel Tyler-Hall, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Paint Branch High School
Hanny Eskender, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Teresa Hoang, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Jessica Nguyen, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Macoura Niambele, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Michael Opare, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Hilina Solomon, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Samantha Tewodros, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Justin Tran, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Kebron Yeshitlla, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Poolesville High School
Belinda Adu, Joseph D. Byrd Scholar
Belinda Adu, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Clara Becker, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Nicholas Cabrera, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Niyanth Chandrasekaran, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Chloe Chang, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Melody Chen, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Emmanuel Getahun, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Scarlett Hunter, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Yiren Jing, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Lydia Kim, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Bethel Muzu, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Lynn Njakou-Kuindja, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Kyro Owusu, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Andrew Park, Joseph D. Byrd Scholar
Maren Petersen, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Maia Petrov, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Brandon Purba, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Azimullah Rifai, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Aubrey Savino, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Caleb Su, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Nina Sun, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Ella Wei, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

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Quince Orchard High School
Malcolm Alexander, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Andrew Chee, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Xinyuan Chen, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Ashley Kim, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Adam Magerkurth, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Atalia Stephens, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Jassayda Teran, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Yuzhe Wang, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Caleb Yang, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Richard Montgomery High School
Shreel Belbase, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Grace Cao, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Miriam D’albora, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
William Hunt, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
BinHui Jiang, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Gavin Lewis, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Matthew Li, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Ashley Lin, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Emily Liu, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Jing Yi Yang, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Nushrat Zaima, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Rockville High School
Allison Araoz, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Nathalie Arias, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Bryan Briones, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Amelia Chiasson, Elise M. Lavidor Book Awardee
Helen Eseme, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Liya Getachew, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Norzin Lama, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Jayda Racedo, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Zia Sanchez-Elosh, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Maya Shamloo, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Hanna Sims, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Seneca Valley High School
Gwen Alamsjah, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Ethan Arnez, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Zelda Ejindu, Cesar Pie Cyber Defender Scholar
Zyad Phoenix Hybl, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Immama Khan, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Marguele Kuitchoua, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Chloe Luu, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Ricardo Palacios-Hernandez, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Sofia Sanchez-Bonilla, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Alejandra Sanchez-Flores, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Laya Vennapusa, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Wenna Zheng, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Sherwood High School
James Andrews, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Isiah Bent, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Shenal Ediriweera, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Basil Foundas, Ledyard Marsh Scholar
Mieraf Haile, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Christine Magin, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Maria Salazar, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Springbrook High School
Sara Berhane, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Brayan Diaz Vasquez, Gilles Driesman Construction Legacy Scholar
Kertina Fekadu, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Joseph John, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Sameeha Kassie, Dr. Frieda K. Lacey Scholar
Sameeha Kassie, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Patrick Kepseu, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Luc Kepseu Sumo, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Sarah Mariona, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Jonah Mays, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Kristine Onwuvuariri, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Amie Singhateh, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Johnathan Tchamdja, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Heyawit Yemeru, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Thomas S. Wootton High School
Brandon Chen, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Issac Chen, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Nicholas Chung, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Gimoon Kang, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Chloe Kim, League of Educators for Asian American Progress Scholar
Kwanhee Lee, Cesar Pie Cyber Defender Scholar
Satoshi Toya, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Xinting Wang, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Albert Xing, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Jack Yan, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Stephanie Yang, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Gaeun Yeo, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Walt Whitman High School
Endric Lotsch, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Rayhan Roswendi, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Angela Wang, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Walter Johnson High School
Dylan Cain, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Jhonatan Diaz, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Samuel Faucette, James Brawley Award for Excellence in Chemistry Scholar
Yibela Gebretsadik, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Ryan Kebritsaz Tavakoli, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Anna Kim, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Janice Kim, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Jasmine Riad, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Tyler Skibo, James Brawley Award for Excellence in Chemistry Scholar
Jonathan Tam, League of Educators for Asian American Progress Scholar
Haoran Wang, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Watkins Mill High School
Tracy Espinoza, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Hillary Juarez, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Junee Kim, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Heaven Mehari, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Fatin Miah, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Miriam Mojica Alvarenga, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Aayush Nepal, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Vivian Urbina, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Wheaton High School
Bolutife Adefisan, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Albray Alesso, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Sahil Araf, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Allison Argueta, Begelman Scholar
Mikias Befekaduu, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Setyana Bika, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Marc Raphael Boco, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Lewi Bonger, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Jose Castro Guevara, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Maraki Fekade, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Kidus Fisseha, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Allisson Jimenez Tobar, James Cafritz Scholar
Adrian Le, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Zhuoheng Li, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Julia Melo Cavalcante, Cesar Pie Cyber Defender Scholar
Raven Miralles, League of Educators for Asian American Progress Scholar
Rediet Moges, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Tomás Ostroff, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Jamie Palacios Mendez, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Vivi Phan, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Benjamin Ploeger, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Gili Reeves, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Naomi Tewelde, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Nimansa Uduwana, Rales-O’Neill Scholar

Winston Churchill High School
Yuchen Cai, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Julio Cupe, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Emily Han, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Colette Kendrick, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Grant Kim, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Yingchen Liu, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Lyk Hang Lui, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Cynthia Nasser, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Jasmine Noone, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Selena Ritschel, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Joyce Tian, Rales-O’Neill Scholar
Noah Zhang, Rales-O’Neill Scholar