Newark, MD, November 6, 2026– Nineteen aspiring educators received the surprise of a lifetime as Worcester County Public Schools (WCPS) and Salisbury University (SU) announced a combined $815,915 in scholarships during a special celebration at the university.
The scholarships were made possible through WCPS's successful application to Governor Wes Moore's Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program, which awarded the school system $829,234 to expand pathways into the teaching profession. The grant opportunity was identified and pursued by WCPS's Dr. Brian Cook, whose initiative and successful application helped bring this significant investment to Worcester County. The funding supports a partnership between WCPS and Salisbury University aimed at developing the next generation of educators while creating opportunities for Worcester County graduates to return to teach in their home communities.
What began as a gathering to celebrate the partnership quickly turned into an unforgettable evening as scholarship recipients were surprised one by one. With each announcement, audience members cheered each student as they received ceremonial scholarship checks from WCPS Superintendent Dr. Annette E. Wallace, SU Seidel School of Education Dean Dr. Laurie Henry, and SU mascot Sammy Sea Gull.
As the surprises continued, the celebration grew, culminating in the announcement that 19 students would collectively receive $815,915 in scholarship support.
"This is one of those moments that reminds us why we do this work," said Superintendent Wallace. "These young people have chosen a profession that has the power to change lives, and tonight, we're showing them that we believe in their futures just as much as they believe in the futures of the children they will someday teach. I am incredibly grateful to Governor Moore and the Maryland State Department of Education for recognizing the importance of investing in our future educators and providing the resources to make opportunities like this possible. We're not simply helping students pursue a college degree. We're investing in the people who will shape our classrooms, strengthen our communities, and inspire generations of children to come."
The Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program is part of Maryland's broader effort to address teacher shortages by reducing financial barriers to entering the profession and developing sustainable pipelines of highly qualified educators. In its second round of awards, the Moore administration allocated $14.7 million to 13 local school systems, with an emphasis on expanding access to teacher preparation programs and addressing high-need areas such as special education and early childhood education.
Through its partnership with Salisbury University, WCPS is leveraging this investment to support students pursuing careers in education, particularly those with connections to Worcester County. The initiative reflects a shared commitment to cultivating local talent and encouraging future educators to consider returning to serve the communities that helped shape them.
For Wallace, a graduate of both Snow Hill High School and Salisbury University who began her teaching career at Stephen Decatur High School, the initiative carries special meaning.
"I know firsthand what it means to grow up in Worcester County, prepare for a career at Salisbury University, and have the opportunity to come home and make a difference," Wallace added. "There is something incredibly powerful about students who were once inspired by their own teachers choosing to become that inspiration for someone else. That's the promise of Grow Your Own, and it's a promise we're committed to fulfilling."
“The Seidel School of Education at Salisbury University and Worcester County Public Schools have always had an incredible partnership, and we are honored to partner with WCPS for this program,” said Dr. Laurie Henry, dean of the Seidel School. “Our mission is not only to help future educators prepare for successful careers in their own classrooms, but to ensure quality teachers in our communities. We are thrilled to be able to help create this pipeline that will benefit our graduates and, most importantly, the students of Worcester County.”
Scholarship Recipients
The following students were awarded scholarships through the WCPS–SU Grow Your Own partnership:
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT | SCHOLARSHIP AWARD |
Michiya Anderson | $42,905.00 |
Riyan Anderson | $42,905.00 |
Madelyn Bell | $42,905.00 |
Savannah Bishop | $42,905.00 |
Natalie Boutin | $42,905.00 |
Zoey Caldwell | $42,905.00 |
Koree Cooper | $42,905.00 |
Macario Francisco-Epitacio | $42,905.00 |
Lily Fogle | $42,905.00 |
Faith Haddad | $42,905.00 |
Jillian Hicks | $42,905.00 |
Julia Knerr | $42,905.00 |
Jocelyn Roytas | $42,905.00 |
Brett Schulz | $42,905.00 |
Dashaia Smith | $42,905.00 |
Dakotah Trader | $42,905.00 |
Kensi Turner | $42,905.00 |
Madison Vongraevenitz | $42,905.00 |
Caroline Webster | $42,905.00 |
The scholarship awards underscore the shared commitment of WCPS and Salisbury University to supporting future educators and building a sustainable pipeline of highly qualified teachers for Worcester County and the surrounding region.
"At Worcester County Public Schools, we believe every child deserves to be known by name, strength, and need," Wallace said. "That commitment begins with the people we place in our classrooms. When we invest in future educators, we're investing in every child they will someday teach. And I can't think of a more meaningful investment than that."
