LEAP Forward Awards Scholarships to 57 Students
Nine scholarship winners are Prince George’s County students
By PRESS OFFICER
Launching Educational Assistance Programs Forward, Inc.
On June 29, a full house celebrated alongside LEAP Forward Inc., as it held another successful scholarship award ‘chat and chew’ reception that honored high school graduates and college students for their outstanding academic, leadership, and community service achievements. This year’s event marked the 24th anniversary of the organization. The scholarship program started in 1998, when LEAP Forward awarded three book scholarships totaling $1,000. With the help of the community, volunteers, sponsors, family, corporations, friends and board members, the organization has seen consistent growth in its service to local youth. In 2025, 57 scholarships were presented at a minimum award of $1,500, totaling $94,000. To date, LEAP Forward has awarded over 507 scholarships totaling more than $524,000.
“LEAP” Forward is named in memory of Wallace Lorenzo Leeper, a Calvert High Vocational Guidance Counselor, who was a strong advocate for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math career options. He is featured in Calvert High School’s Hall of Fame for his distinguished service to his job and his students.
This year’s theme was “Getting to Know You”. The ceremony was held in Calvert High School’s cafeteria in Prince Frederick, to present students from Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s counties as well as Baltimore and Washington, D.C. with financial scholarships to pursue their college dreams.
In line with the theme, LEAP Forward provided the opportunity of bringing back the art of good old-fashioned conversation. Scholarship recipients engaged in a “chat and chew” session with their respective scholarship sponsor family or organization. It was a time of learning from each other and particularly appreciating who scholarships were in honor of. Thirty-seven donor families and organizations participated. Scholars were able to share their experiences with those who are already in college and share their plans for their upcoming journeys for those who are incoming college freshmen. Stories and experiences were shared as generations networked. Communications, guidance, and advice will continue to be shared as the scholars continue to further their education and experience life journeys.
The students showed their appreciation by sharing thank-you cards and letters to the sponsors. The following Prince George’s County scholarship recipients will be college freshmen or returning students in a wide variety of programs from various colleges and universities:
The Wallace Leeper $2,000 Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Duke Boateng (Charles Flowers High School - Information Science –University of Maryland, College Park)
The Clifton Morsell-Randolph Adams $1,500 Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Muhammad Bilal (Charles Flowers High School: Computer Science –University of Maryland, College Park)
The George H. and Geneva Green Harrod $2,000 Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Destiny Lewis (Chemistry – Bowie State University).
Receiving the Bill and Blanche Finch $1,500 Memorial Scholarship was Aneesa Azar (Business Administration – Bowie State University).
The Elizabeth Simms $1,500 Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Amari Edmonds (Cyber Security Engineering – Bowie State University).
The Dorothy Mae Smith $1,500 Memorial Scholarship went to Messiah Smith (Suitland High School: Music Performance – George Mason University).
The MasterMind Group $1,500 Scholarship was awarded to Boyan-Jise Tiwang (Charles Flowers High School: Data Science – University of Michigan-Ann Arbor).
The recipient of the Geraldine Delores Whittington $1,500 Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Sanaa Gray (Business Management- Bowie State University). Geraldine Whittington was the first African American presidential secretary in United States history serving President Lyndon B. Johnson.
The recipient of the Carrie Bertha Kent and Clyde Jones $1,500 Memorial Scholarship was Madison Harris (Business Administration – Bowie State University).
Special thank you to the scholarship program committee, board members, and other volunteers.
Sponsors for the scholarship program included Walmart sparkgood (Dunkirk), Shore United Bank, Space Metrics, and Sam’s Club (Waldorf) and State Farm Agent Michael Paxson. Special donations were received from Giant Food (Prince Frederick and Dunkirk), Safeway (Dunkirk) and Weis Markets (Prince Frederick).
More information about LEAP Forward Inc. can be found at www.leapforwardinc.org and scholar and sponsor highlights can be viewed on the organization’s YouTube channel (LEAP Forward inc). The organization celebrates their 25th anniversary in July 2026.
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Experienced Research Administrator Will Advance BSU’s Goal of Becoming a Carnegie R2 Research Institution
By PRESS OFFICER
Bowie State University
BOWIE, Md. (July 9, 2025)—Bowie State University (BSU) welcome[d] Dr. Yvonne Harris to its leadership team as the Vice President for Research & Innovation on July 9, 2025. In this new role, Dr. Harris will oversee BSU’s research projects and opportunities, working collaboratively to set priorities for institutional growth and investment in research and scholarship.
“Dr. Yvonne Harris brings a wealth of experience in academia and research administration at both R1 and R2 institutions, and we are excited to welcome her to Bowie State University,” said Dr. Aminta H. Breaux, president of Bowie State University. “Her deep expertise and leadership will be instrumental in advancing research excellence at Bowie State as we continue our path toward becoming a Carnegie R2 research intensive school.”
Dr. Harris is a highly accomplished academic and research leader with more than two decades of experience. As head of the newly established Division of Research & Innovation, she will provide strategic leadership for the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs, Grants Accounting, and the Office of Economic Development & Strategic Engagement.
“I am proud to join Bowie State University and contribute to its growing legacy of excellence as an HBCU,” said Dr. Harris. “I look forward to collaborating with faculty, staff and students to advance the university’s mission and drive transformational impact through research. Academic research has the power to shape lives and communities, and Bowie State plays a vital role in generating knowledge that informs and improves our local, regional and national communities and economies.”
Dr. Harris comes to BSU from Northern Illinois University, where she most recently served as vice president of research and innovative partnerships. She has held leadership roles at Truman College, Harper College, Chicago State University, James Madison University and California State University–Sacramento. Across her career, she has held a variety of leadership roles, including tenured professor, chair, dean at two-year colleges and vice provost, associate vice president and vice president at four-year universities. Her work has consistently focused on expanding research capacity, supporting faculty and student scholarship, and fostering partnerships with federal, state and industry entities to promote innovation and economic development through higher education.
Dr. Harris earned three degrees from Northern Illinois University, including a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in molecular and cellular radiation biology. She also completed two Postdoctoral Fellows in the Department of Radiation and Oncology at the University of Chicago and the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
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