Student Honors  

Every day the students of Baltimore County Public Schools bring honor to themselves, and their families, communities, schools, and school system. This page highlights some of the countless ways Baltimore County students earn recognition. The latest news tops the page; please scroll down for even more.

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July 2008 – present

National and International

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) has selected Jordan Spivey, a senior at Eastern Technical High School, for the 2008 Scholar All-American Team for boys’ and girls’ high school soccer. Jordan was the only student from Maryland recognized as an NSCAA/Adidas High School Scholar for the Southern Region. Jordan was nominated by his coach, Peter Glaudemans, who recognized Jordan for his high level of athletic performance while maintaining a minimum 3.75 GPA and a strong involvement in community service. Jordan will be honored at the All American Luncheon in Saint Louis, Missouri, during the NSCAA national convention in mid-January as well as at the annual All-State banquet held by the Maryland Association of Coaches of Soccer on January 26. In addition, Jordan was recently achieved Eagle Scout status and an appointment to the Naval Academy for the class of 2013.

As national finalists of the American High School Theatre Festival, a group of students from Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts – Gregory Acree, Rakael Boozer, Paul Davis, Sarah May, James Morton, Grace Schaefer, and Emily Wendler –traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland in August to perform “The Laramie Project” for international audiences at the American High School Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Meghan Rose, a 2008 graduate of Towson High School, has entered the freshman class at Vanderbilt University as the 2008 recipient of the Fred Russell-Grantland Rice Thoroughbred Racing Association Scholarship for sports writing. The four-year scholarship is co-sponsored by Vanderbilt University and the Thoroughbred Racing Association and is awarded to an outstanding high school senior with special interest and potential in the field of sports writing. Rose is the 50th winner of the scholarship instituted by the TRA in 1956 and only the second woman to receive the honor, covering full tuition at Vanderbilt for four years. During high school, Rose covered sports for a chain of Baltimore County newspapers, was managing editor of the school newspaper, and was a reporter and host for a countywide television program called “High School Sports Scene” on The Education Channel.

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs selected Madeline Lutwyche, a fifth-grader at Franklin Elementary School in Reisterstown, as the national winner of its short story contest. The announcement came in June at the organization’s national convention. At its September meeting, The Woman’s Club of Glyndon honored Madeline for her achievement and presented her with the award and a bookstore gift card. To be eligible for consideration for the national prize, Madeline first won at the local and regional levels. Her award-winning story, “Three Eggs,” describes a pig that cares for three abandoned eggs until they hatch.
Photo courtesy The Community Times

Raza Hasan, a 2008 graduate of Perry Hall High School, received a $10,000 Coca-Cola scholarship. Hasan was one of only 250 students nationwide who were chosen to receive this prestigious scholarship through the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. The scholarship competition began this year with more than 80,000 applicants. Fifty national scholarships of $20,000 each were awarded along with 200 regional scholarships of $10,000 each. Students are honored for both academic excellence and commitment to their communities. During high school, Hasan served as the president of Perry Hall’s chapter of the National Honor Society and on the Executive Board of the Baltimore County Student Councils. Now studying at the University of Missouri Kansas City, Hasan plans to attend medical school. As a Coca-Cola scholar, Hasan could choose a past teacher as the “Educator of Distinction” who has most influenced him. Hasan chose Perry Hall High School Advanced Placement chemistry teacher Andrei Yelovich.

Brett Shinsky, a student at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts, won the 2008 Congressional Art Contest for his artwork “Confusion.” The piece is a digitally hand-drawn self-portrait comprised of 2,000 to 3,000 individual shapes. This was the 27th year of the national contest. Shinsky’s artwork is now on display in the Cannon Tunnel at the U.S. Capitol. 

July 2008 – present

Local, state, and regional

Three middle school students in BCPS received a perfect score of 650 on the 2008 Algebra and Data Analysis High School Assessment:

• Brandon Dixon, Arbutus Middle School
• Sydney Feldman, Franklin Middle School
• Niccolo Dosto, Pikesville Middle School

The Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Communications is always eager to hear about and promote good news about the system, schools, students, teachers, and staff. Please share achievements and good news by e-mailing communications@bcps.org. Every year, we celebrate BCPS achievements through Board of Education Recognition ceremonies (November, February, and April), Maryland State Department of Education School Achievement Celebration (January/February), Teacher of the Year (May), and the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce Awards for Excellence in Education (May). Information about nominating individuals for 2005-2006 school year awards will soon be available online.