Scholarship | HEART

Scholarships for Future Educators

Congratulations to Our 2026 Scholarship Recipients

Congratulations to the following 2026 graduates who were the recipients of this year's HEART Scholarships! We were able to award $1500 to each of these well-deserving students as they embark upon their journeys to becoming teachers.

Congratulations to TAYLOR COLES, a senior at Guilford Park High School, for being selected as a recipient of the HEART Scholarship. Inspired by her brother, who has autism, and her mother, who works with students with special needs in HCPSS, Taylor has chosen to pursue her dream of becoming a special education teacher. She has demonstrated outstanding leadership through her involvement in the National Honor Society, the Scholars Leadership Honors Program, and the Student Government Association, while also actively participating in the Black Student Union, Black Student Achievement Program, and the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. Taylor comes highly recommended by her teachers, one of whom shared, “Beyond her remarkable work ethic, Taylor stands out for her empathy and compassion. She is mature, dependable, and deeply respected. Her strong sense of responsibility and teamwork shines through in every group endeavor.” Taylor hopes to attend a Historically Black College or University, with Norfolk State University as her first-choice institution. We congratulate Taylor on this well-deserved achievement and wish her continued success on her college journey and beyond.

Congratulations to AMELIA FENTON, a dedicated student leader at Marriotts Ridge HS whose commitment to service, teamwork, and education has shaped her goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. Throughout high school, Amelia participated in G/T Theatre Company productions, competed in field hockey, cheerleading, and volleyball, and devoted countless hours to serving her community. Through the HC DrugFree Teen Advisory Council and as a Life Skills Class Assistant, she supported younger students and helped promote positive choices. She also volunteered with the Howard County Library Summer Reading Program and Days End Farm Horse Rescue, demonstrating her commitment to literacy, service, and caring for others. Amelia currently works as a childcare assistant, where she is recognized for her reliability, compassion, and willingness to help wherever needed. Reflecting on her future, Amelia shared, “I want to be the kind of teacher who helps every child feel like they belong and know that they matter.” We congratulate Amelia on this well-deserved honor and wish her continued success as she pursues a career in education.

We are proud to recognize JOHN GFELLER VII, a senior from Marriotts Ridge HS, as a HEART scholarship recipient. A future special education teacher planning to study at Towson University, John has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to serving students through hands-on experiences in childcare, special education classrooms, and educational leadership roles. Drawing from his own experiences, he is passionate about creating supportive, inclusive learning environments where every student feels valued and empowered. John currently works with children across multiple age groups and has “a natural ability to connect with children”. He served as vice-president of the Educators Rising club and was also involved with the Best Buddies program. His teachers and supervisors describe him as dedicated, reflective, organized, and creative. Inspired by the lasting impact of his mentor and teacher, Katie Loughrist, John is committed to making a difference in the lives of future generations through a career in special education.

CARISSA HYUN of Atholton High School is awarded the HEART Scholarship! Carissa set out on the path to become an educator from an early age and has maintained her focus on this goal throughout high school. She was a member of Educators Rising all four years at Atholton serving as the president during her junior and senior years. In her recommendations, Carissa is described as enthusiastic and strong-minded who is open to constructive feedback and has a strong work ethic. Additionally, Carissa's extensive involvement in extracurricular activities-including leadership roles in marching band, participation in the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, and membership in multiple honor societies demonstrates her well-roundedness, discipline, and commitment to excellence. These experiences have helped her develop strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills, all of which will serve her well in the classroom. She possesses not only the academic ability but also the compassion, integrity, and "heart" that this scholarship seeks to recognize. Carissa’s goal is to become an interventionist teacher such as a reading specialist or English Language Development teacher.

Congratulations to BEATRICE PETRLIK from Centennial HS on being selected as a recipient of the HEART Scholarship. Inspired by her family’s long legacy in education and named after her great-grandmother, a beloved science teacher, Beatrice has always felt called to become an educator. Throughout high school, she balanced academics, service, and athletics, participating in varsity basketball, lacrosse, soccer, and field hockey while serving as a team captain and role model. Her coach praised her determination, reliability, and strong work ethic, while a teammate described her as “the glue that kept our team together.” Beyond athletics, Beatrice was actively involved in We Belong, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, choir, and peer tutoring for Academic Life Skills students. Her passion for teaching was strengthened through her work as an inclusion companion with Howard County Recreation and Parks, where she learned the importance of adapting instruction to meet students’ individual needs. A particularly meaningful experience helping a young swimmer overcome her fears confirmed her desire to become an educator who empowers students to build confidence and achieve their goals. We congratulate Beatrice on this well-deserved honor and wish her continued success as she pursues a career in education.

HEART Members, You Can Help Raise Scholarship Funds!

Scholarship funding comes from our silent auction/raffles held at membership luncheons throughout the year, individual donations from members, donations in the memory of or in honor of deceased members, etc. All donors for the 2026-2027 scholarship year will be entered into a drawing in Spring 2027 to win a gift card. It is never too late to contribute . . . and no amount is

too small (every little bit helps)!

We need your help to raise these funds!

It's easy to donate:

You can easily submit a donation form online OR you can print and mail a hard copy.
You can send a donation via Zelle using hocoretired@gmail.com OR mail a check.

Additional details can be found on the form.