8th Annual Melvin C. High Scholarship Winners

Upper Marlboro, MD… The Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff hosted the winners of the Eighth Annual Melvin C. High Scholarship Awards at a ceremony on Tuesday June 12^th. Adding a fourth scholarship this year, the four recipients were county high school graduates Keon Hardy from Suitland High School, Gabriela Mendoza and Yaa Sarkodie from High Point High School, and Jada Williams from Duval High School.

“We received over 145 applications from county high school seniors this year,” said Captain Nancy Ridgely. “Each application is a look at the outstanding academic talent and community engagement of students preparing for the next step in their academic careers.” The winners are chosen by a panel of three judges who make up the “Final Selection Committee”. The Committee has the difficult task of picking the four scholarship winners from twelve finalists, looking at academic achievement as well as student involvement in community and school activities.  

“I’m delighted to have added a fourth scholarship award this year. All our previous winners have demonstrated that we have an incredible wealth of talent and potential in the young people of our county,”said Sheriff High. “Our support of young people bolsters their confidence and encourages them to explore the heights of their academic imagination.”

Each Melvin C. High Scholarship winner was awarded $1,000 payable to the student and the university/college they plan to attend. Mr. Keon Hardy will attend Morehouse College majoring in Kinesiology; Ms. Gabriela Mendoza will attend Montgomery College majoring in Diagnostic Medical Sonography; Ms. Yaa Sarkodie will attend the University of Virginia majoring in Nursing Global Health, and Ms. Jada Williams will attend West Virginia University to major in Aerospace Engineering.

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