2016 Melvin C. High Scholarship Awards Presentation (Guest Speaker: 2013 Winner/UMD Junior Dariya Brown)

Upper Marlboro, MD… The Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff held the Sixth Annual Melvin C. High Scholarship awards ceremony last Thursday to announce the 2016 scholarship winners. The 2016 Melvin C. High Scholarship winners, who were joined by family and friends at the ceremony, are Helen Cordero, a graduate of High Point High School, Omar Green, a Potomac High School graduate, and Jenelle Collier, a Surrattsville High School graduate.

Helen Cordero of High Point HS    Omar Green of Potomac HS       Jenelle Collier of Surrattsville HS

The Melvin C. High Scholarship was founded by Sheriff High in 2011 – his first year in office - and is funded by the Sheriff. Award recipients are selected from a list of ten finalists who were selected from nearly 70 applicants this year. The “Final Selection Committee” of three judges and an alternate reviews the finalists’ applications making a decision based not only on academic excellence but also on their involvement in other activities such as school, neighborhood and church communities, as well as athletics, the arts and community outreach.

Applauding the 2016 winners and scholars from previous years Sheriff High said, “I’m asking each of you to redouble your academic efforts to become the smartest people ever. Now is your time to be a part of humanities greatest generation.”

The special guest speaker for the ceremony was Ms. Dariya Brown, a University of Maryland rising senior with a double major in Sociology and Government and Politics, and a 2013 Melvin C. High Scholar. Ms. Brown shared insights about college life and advised the scholarship winners to enjoy the college experience, and encouraged them to ask for help and take advantage of campus resources.
Ms. Brown said she is looking forward to her senior year and plans to pursue a graduate degree in Public Policy.


Each Melvin C. High Scholarship winner is awarded $1,000 payable to the student and the college of his choice. Ms. Cordero plans to attend Howard Community College majoring in the Social Sciences; Omar Green will attend Prince George’s Community College with a major in Environmental Studies; Ms. Collier will attend Ohio Wesleyen University where she will major in Neuroscience & Genetics.

For more information contact the Communications and Public Affairs Division at 301-780-7354.

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