MCPS Educational Foundation Awarded $2 Million in Scholarships During Evening of Excellence

The Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation (MCPSEF) recognized nearly 200 recipients and $2 million in scholarships and awards from 14 programs, including 170 recipients of the 2025 Ruth and Norman Rales-Patricia Baier O’Neill Scholarship Recognizing Academic Excellence at the Evening of Excellence celebration on May 19.  

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 2025 awardees represent 24 high schools in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). The recipients will each receive $10,000 to support their postsecondary education plan.  

"The Evening of Excellence is more than a celebration—it’s a powerful reminder of what public education makes possible,” says Board of Education President Julie Yang. “These incredible scholarship recipients embody the opportunity, resilience, and community spirit that define our schools. They are the future we believe in: bright, bold, and full of promise. And none of this happens alone. It takes parents, educators, staff, and generous supporters working together to lift up our students and help them soar."

"Congratulations to the MCPS scholars honored this year during the Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation's Evening of Excellence. These awards are a profound recognition of your academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to community service," said Superintendent Thomas W. Taylor. "Our deepest gratitude goes to the Ruth and Norman Rales-Patricia Baier O’Neill Scholarship, the CSIOS Corporation and all our incredible community partners who fund these scholarships. Your support is truly life-changing and deeply inspiring."

 "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 2025 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 2025 scholarships and awards: 

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. 

Business Management & Finance Scholarship: Given to exemplary students in the Business Management and Finance Program. 

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.

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.

Dr. Frieda K. Lacey Distinguished African American 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.

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.  

Laureen O'Neill Robbins Memorial Award: Honors Laureen O'Neill Robbins, an oncology nurse, Walt Whitman High School alum and former parent of students at Col. Zadok Magruder High School. 

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.

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. 

Paul Vance Scholarship: Former MCPS Superintendent, who was also the first African American to lead the district. 

Class of 2025 MCPS Educational Foundation Scholars

View the photos from the event.