Landmark $1.32 Million Civic Innovation Scholarships Announced for Maryland Service Corps Members

Up to 10 service Members will be awarded $33,000 each year for 4 years. The announcement was made at the 3rd Annual All Corps Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Program event with Maryland’s Department of Service and Civic Innovation.

Washington College VP of Enrollment Management Johnnie Johnson announces the scholarships to the DSCI service Members. 

 

Washington College leaders announced this morning the establishment of the Washington College Civic Innovation Scholarship, a landmark initiative that will enable up to 10 state service Members to attend the prestigious liberal arts college whose commitment to civic leadership dates back to 1782.  

Standing before hundreds of Members of Class 3 of the Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Program at Maryland’s Department of Service and Civic Innovation’s third annual All Corps event, Washington College’s Vice President of Enrollment Management Johnnie Johnson and Maryland’s Department of Service and Civic Innovation (DSCI) Acting Secretary Jonny Dorsey shared that participants in the program could now apply for this unique scholarship. Designed to recognize and reward exceptional service Members from DSCI’s programs who demonstrate leadership and a commitment to community impact, the initiative is a new effort to strengthen and encourage life-long public service and civic engagement in Marylanders.  

"Since our founding, Washington College has been dedicated to the ideal that a liberal arts education is the essential foundation for effective citizenship in a free society," said Washington College Interim President Bryan Matthews. "By establishing the Civic Innovation Scholarship, we are not only lowering the financial barriers to a premier education but also reaffirming our commitment to those who have already proven their dedication to the public good. We are honored to welcome these service Members into our community, where we will continue to challenge and inspire them to lead lives of purpose as the next generation of great American citizen leaders."  

The scholarship represents a significant financial commitment, providing $33,000 per year for four years, totaling a value of $132,000 for each recipient. Beyond tuition support to attend the Chestertown college, awardees are guaranteed at least one paid internship with a local non-profit, government agency, or civic engagement project, ensuring their academic growth is paired with professional experience and public service. Recipients will also receive special invitations to workshops, dinners, and service opportunities each semester, fostering a dedicated community of civic innovators on campus.

Washington College has a long-standing tradition of encouraging and securing experiential learning opportunities for its students, offering internships, fellowships, study abroad options, and more. The Explore America Internship program, offered through the Washington College Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, places nearly 30 students in real-world working experiences at institutions like the Library of Congress, U.S. House of Representatives, Smithsonian American Art Museum, andBrookings Institution, among others.  

“The Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation is proud to partner with Washington College to announce the creation of the new Washington College Civic Innovation Scholarship,”said Jonny Dorsey, Maryland’s Department of Service and Civic Innovation’s Acting Secretary. “This scholarship is a first-of-its-kind partnership that will create pathways to education and opportunity for Marylanders who have served our state.” 

“The Department of Service and Civic Innovation instills in our Members the importance of civic engagement and understanding our history,” said Deputy Secretary Sarah Flammang, of Maryland’s Department of Service and Civic Innovation. “Washington College shares that commitment to shaping young leaders and this scholarship will benefit people everywhere from the Eastern Shore to the Western Mountains of Maryland.” 

The announcement served as the centerpiece of an event focused on networking and professional development, with the goal of equipping Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Members with the tools and training to become change-agents within their local, state, national and global communities. All Corps brings together Members from all 24 Maryland jurisdictions to celebrate a truly statewide impact. This event puts a spotlight on the Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Program’s extensive presence, reinforcing DSCI’s dedication to the Eastern Shore and the entire state. 

Members participated in a diverse array of workshops including a simulation activity hosted by The Ohio State University’s Divided Community Project on community resilience, Narcan training led by Kent County’s Department of Health, and other activities led by Washington College faculty and staff, with topics ranging from social entrepreneurship and public speaking to ethical leadership and college affordability. 

Jocelyn Ball ‘29, a Service Year Option Alumnus who went on to enroll as a student at Washington College lauded the partnership between the College and DSCI.  

"Support, challenge, trust, and acknowledgement. These are themes that stand out to me, not only at my host service site last year, but also in my trainings and workshops with DSCI and now at Washington College,” said Ball. “I not only take classes here at Washington, I have been made to feel part of a family and offered opportunities to truly make an impact in the world outside of campus." 

“This was an incredible day of service, learning and growth for all involved,” said Patrick Nugent, Washington College’s Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. Director of Civic Engagement. “The College is overjoyed to support this growing service initiative of the state, and we couldn’t be more impressed with the leadership and civic spirit of Maryland. We hope all of them will consider extending their education, professional development and civic energies here at Washington College.” 

"We’re grateful for Washington College’s partnership and their belief in the hundreds of Marylanders in our service programs. This scholarship helps the next generation of leaders take meaningful steps toward launching their careers," said Maryland Corps and Service Year Option Director Erin Dahlin. 

To be eligible for the Civic Innovation Scholarship, applicants must be high school graduates or GED holders with at least a 2.75 GPA who have demonstrated success in a DSCI program—such as Maryland Corps or the Service Year Option—or a Maryland-based AmeriCorps program. Candidates must be recommended by a supervisor and provide documentation of their service completion to receive the final award. This initiative strengthens a three-year partnership between Washington College and DSCI, further cementing the college’s 1782 mission to challenge and inspire emerging citizen leaders. 

The Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Program through Maryland’s Department of Service and Civic Innovation offers Maryland residents 18+ years old a unique opportunity to spend a year immersed in professional growth and career exploration by giving participants the chance to work with businesses and organizations throughout the state. Members earn a living wage, gain new skills, and identify where their talents and purpose intersect, all while serving their local community with fellow Marylanders. Job training, an on-site mentor, and personal money management training are also part of the program. Upon successful completion, Members earn $6,000 to use toward continuing education tuition costs or as a cash stipend.   

AmeriCorps Maryland Members serve with local non-profits in full- or part-time capacities for anywhere from a few weeks to 12 months. Members build skills and gain leadership experience while helping communities confront social challenges and build lasting change. Plus, AmeriCorps Members join a national network of over one million alumni working toward positive change in their communities. Other benefits include a living allowance, a Segal education award, loan forbearance and childcare support. 

The successful collaboration between Washington College and the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation stands as a testament to the power of academic partnerships in fostering civic engagement and inspiring the next generation of leaders. 

"We are very excited about the prospect of welcoming a cohort of service Members from DSCI,” said Christine Wade, Washington College’s Louis L. Goldstein Chair in Public Affairs. “We believe that our commitment to experiential learning and civic engagement in a liberal arts setting offers incredible opportunities for the next generation of citizen leaders, whether that’s in political science or one of our other exciting majors." 

AmeriCorps Maryland and Maryland Corps/Service Year Option service Members and recent alumni from the last five years are encouraged to apply for the Civic Innovation Scholarship.

For more information regarding the Washington College Civic Innovation Scholarship and application requirements and other financial aid opportunities, please visit https://www.washcoll.edu/admissions/admitted/available-scholarships.php.  

 

- Dominique Ellis Falcon