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Who We Are

Our Mission

Central Scholarship helps determined Maryland students build better lives and fulfilling careers by providing crucial support enabling them to complete an accredited college degree or career-training program.

What We Do

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Fund

the financial gap between high school and post-secondary education

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Educate

students and parents about college-related financial literacy & affordability

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Advocate

for public policy that improves college access, affordability, and completion for low-income students

Our History

In 1924, our founders utilized charitable giving to make education beyond high school easily accessible. Their fresh and innovative approach to building strong, thriving communities was deeply rooted in their Jewish values that have been a guiding force in achieving access to higher education.

Nearly a century later, we provide funding for education after high school including undergraduate, graduate, professional, and career training studies, regardless of gender, religion, race, or ethnicity. 

Image: Top Row, Left  to Right: Inaugural Executive Director, Margie Warres/ Moses Rothschild, Central Scholarship Founder/ Beatrice Kraus Roten

Middle Row, Left to Right: Margie Warres/ Sandy Dalsheimer, Margy Robbins & Margie Warres/ Sandy Dalsheimer 

Bottom Row, Left to Right: Harriet Levin Terrill/ Aaron & Lillie Straus/ Harriet, Beatrice & Margie 

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Tierra A. Dorsey

President

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Peggy Craft

Executive Assistant to the President

Adefikayo Dipe

Adefikayo Dipe

Development Manager

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Aleks Jaunzemis

Program Officer

Nya Justis

Nya Justis

Office Support Specialist

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Marquise O'Neal, Sr.

Senior Program Director

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Rina Rhyne

Database and Gift Processing Manager

Board of Directors

Officers

David Rothschild

Board Chair

Mary (Molly) Shock

Co Chair

David Daneman

Co Chair

Tim Redmond

Treasurer

Kashay Webb

Chief Governance Officer

Board Members

  • James Cole Abrams
  • Liz Block
  • Michael Davenport
  • Leah Davidge
  • David Fishman
  • Barbara Sugarman Grochal
  • David Levy
  • Myra Norton
  • Bruce Rosenberg
  • Susan Silberman
  • Michael Ward

Past Board Leadership

For a full list of past board leadership, please click the dropdown below.

Past Board Leadership

  • Moses Rothschild
    1924-1927
  • Lillie Straus
    1927-1936
  • Laura Guttmacher
    1936-1938
  • Lillie Straus
    1939-1947
  • Julia Strauss
    1947-1948
  • Eleanor Levy
    1948-1951
  • Amalie Katz
    1951-1954
  • Clarence Barnett
    1954-1956
  • Phyllis Schreter
    1956-1958
  • Annette Lieberman
    1958-1960
  • Betty Davidson
    1960-1962
  • Lee Fink
    1962-1964
  • Jessica Friedman
    1964-1966
  • M. Richard Wyman
    1966-1968

  • Catharine Hecht
    1968-1970
  • Willard Hackerman
    1970-1972
  • Sandra Dalsheimer
    1972-1974
  • Margy Robbins
    1974-1976
  • William Kress
    1976-1977
  • Jill Myers
    1977-1979
  • Laurence Katz
    1979-1981
  • Leona Morris
    1981-1983
  • Cyrile Grant
    1983-1985
  • Irving Cohn
    1985-1987
  • Betty Hornstein
    1987-1989
  • Louis Glick
    1989-1991
  • James Rothschild
    1991-1993
  • Ann Libov
    1993-1995

  • Steven Himmelrich
    1995-1997
  • Manuele Wasserman, PhD
    1997-1999
  • Betty Waghelstein
    1999-2001
  • Henry Abrams
    2001-2003
  • Charles Klein
    2003-2005
  • Howard Sugarman
    2005-2007
  • Larry Kamanitz
    2007-2009
  • Molly Shock
    2009-2011
  • Michael Ward
    2011-2014
  • Ira Wagner
    2015-2017
  • Jerry Focas
    2018-2020
  • Russ Causey
    2020-2021
  • Jane Abraham
    Lifetime Board Member
  • Margie Warres
    Executive Director Emeritus

 

What We Believe

Education is a Right, Not a Privilege.

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How We Advocate

Central Scholarship led the passage of the first State Law to restrict Scholarship Award Displacement.

House Bill 266 protects Maryland students from state colleges and universities reducing their institutional scholarships when a student receives a private scholarship.

Learn more about Maryland House Bill 266 and How Scholarship Award Displacement Works.