Thirthy-Nine High School Students from Montgomery and Prince George's Counties to Receive a Combined Total of $215,555 Raised by Retirees at April 27 Ceremony at Riderwood in Silver Spring, MD

SILVER SPRING, MD (April 20, 2011) --- Thirty-nine high school students from Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties will receive scholarships to help them attend college at a Wednesday, April 27, ceremony at Riderwood retirement community, where they have worked part-time. They will receive a combined total of $215,555 raised by Riderwood residents during the past two months to show their appreciation of the students’ work and to help assist them financially in their post-secondary education.

“Many of our scholarship recipients have worked hard for the past two years to maintain their grades while working at Riderwood for 12 hours a week,” said Fiona Divecha, the community’s Philanthropy Manager. “Most students are the first generation in their family to attend college. We, as a community, want to make an impact on the future of these young adults and feel we can do that by encouraging them to further their education.” She said 73% of Riderwood’s residents participated in this year’s scholarship fundraising drive.

This year’s scholarship recipients (with their respective high schools and county locales noted) are:

Bryce Akonnor James Hubert Blake Montgomery
Grace Mlingi James Hubert Blake Montgomery
Maria Nassanga James Hubert Blake Montgomery
Helen Merino James Hubert Blake Montgomery
Susana Posada James Hubert Blake Montgomery
Emily Watt James Hubert Blake Montgomery
Bemnet Yazew James Hubert Blake Montgomery
Erika Fuentes John F Kennedy Montgomery
Isatu Kamara Montgomery Blair Montgomery
Kendra Sargeant Montgomery Blair Montgomery
Baindu Koroma Montgomery Blair Montgomery
Paige Rennie Montgomery Blair Montgomery
Ayukosso Ojong Paint Branch Montgomery
Susana Yeboah Paint Branch Montgomery
Tambe Ayuk-Arrey Paint Branch Montgomery
Wajiha Khan Paint Branch Montgomery
David Corcoran Paint Branch Montgomery
Zemenfes Semaie Sherwood Montgomery
Semir Kelifa Springbrook Montgomery
Sandy Rozario Springbrook Montgomery
Benedict Mandjila Springbrook Montgomery
Dicky Purification Springbrook Montgomery
Pearl Asigbetse Springbrook Montgomery
Francis Mazzi High Point Prince George’s
Demetria Taylor High Point Prince George's
Samuel Louissaint High Point Prince George's
Melisa Salgado High Point Prince George's
Koutime Soumah High Point Prince George's
Ashlynn Dallas High Point Prince George's
Felicia Elliott High Point Prince George's
Iliana Garcia High Point Prince George's
Hilina Tefera High Point Prince George's
Madeleine Bangweni High Point Prince George's
Jeremy Butler High Point Prince George's
Sandra Karangwa High Point Prince George's
Maria Mazzi High Point Prince George's
Samuel Schlossenberg High Point Prince George's
Queen Walker High Point Prince George's
Brittney Allotey-Akuche St Vincent Pallotti Prince George's

“Not only do students receive scholarships at the end of their tenor at Riderwood, but our residents build relationships with them, ask them about school, and encourage them to keep working hard,” said Divecha. “Our residents are good role models for the young adults and serve as examples for what a good education can do for one’s life.”

More than $1.5 million in scholarship monies since 2002 have been awarded to students who work part-time at Riderwood.

About Riderwood:
Riderwood, which has nearly 3,000 residents, is the nation's largest continuing care retirement community. It sits on 120 acres that stretch across Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. It is managed by Erickson Living.

Mel Tansill
Public Affairs Manager
Riderwood
3140 Gracefield Road
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Cell: 410-241-7614
Email: Mel.Tansill@Erickson.com

This release was published on openPR.