MVF awards scholarships to eight Village high school graduates

by Saba Berhe, MVF 2026 Intern

Every year, Montgomery Village Foundation partners with the Parent-Teacher-Student Associations (PTSAs) of Watkins Mill High School and Gaithersburg High School to promote and preserve the Montgomery Village Foundation Scholarship Fund. Founded in 1991, this scholarship program has awarded $66,600 to high school seniors in the Village since its inception.

This initiative enables Village residents to show their support by celebrating academic achievement and student leadership, while helping graduating seniors further their education. The scholarship funds available for each school are determined by the amount donated by Village residents. It is a testament to the strength of the community support students here in Montgomery Village receive, as they strive to reach their goals after high school.

MVF Board-approved guidelines for the awards require that the applicants be Montgomery Village residents who have actively participated in and been leaders of community or civic activities, clubs or organizations, and who have demonstrated high scholastic achievement.

This year, MVF awarded scholarships to eight Village seniors: Mia Butler, Camila R. Benicio, Hope Wikner, Mabel Pricilla Vasquez Pagan, Tynia Collins, Roselle Dagdag, Nahrya Oliver, and Seline Smith.

Camila R. Benicio

When Camila was young, she knew she wanted to care for others. As a child, she often pretended to be a doctor while playing with her stuffed animals, and growing up around younger children only amplified her desire to work in healthcare.

This fall, Camila will attend Montgomery College, where she plans to complete a General Studies STEM program before pursuing nursing school at the University of Maryland. Her goal is to become a pediatric nurse, inspired in part by her own childhood experiences undergoing multiple surgeries for hearing issues. "I really just want to give care and help other people," she said.

Throughout high school, Camila explored her passion for medicine through the Project Lead the Way biomedical sciences program, which she completed all four years. She also participated in a Mexican folk dance group, ACES, played soccer and swam, created arts and crafts for children in hospitals, and completed a Certified Nursing Assistant internship through Montgomery College.

The MVF Scholarship will help Camila pay for classes, books, and transportation as she works toward her dream of becoming a nurse and giving back to her community.

Hope Wikner

A homeschooled student for many years, Hope will be embarking on a new journey at the University of Maryland, where she will be majoring in Finance. She hopes to one day help manage and grow businesses. She credits her discipline, dedication and commitment to long-term goals to her years as a ballet student.

At her dance studio, she gained first-hand practical experience as an intern, sparking her interest in learning what it takes to run a successful business. She learned a lot about herself during the internship, like how much she enjoys being a leader, connecting with people and the behind the scenes work that goes into event planning.

Hope is deeply dedicated to her education and a self-starter, demonstrated by the fact that she took the initiative to apply for this scholarship in order to make it possible for her to pursue her goals at the University of Maryland. 

Mabel Pricilla Vasquez Pagan

As Mabel pursues a career in STEM, she turns to the many life lessons she’s learned from her hardworking family. Growing up, she learned the importance of perseverance, responsibility and making the most of every opportunity from her family, who came to the United States to create better opportunities for her.

Her interest in science grew while taking science classes in high school. It was there where she developed a strong curiosity about how the human body works and how technology can be used to support it. Looking ahead to her undergraduate studies, Mabel is heavily interested in biomedical engineering, hoping to use science and technology to improve people’s lives. Her goal is to help develop medical devices or solutions that can make healthcare more accessible to all. 

Her personal experiences and the challenges she and her family have faced have inspired her and guided her in pursuing higher education and a career where she can make a positive impact.

Nahrya Oliver

Nahrya will be attending Salisbury University this fall, where she will major in Pre-medical Biology. Her interest in medicine started at a young age, when she dreamed of becoming a neurosurgeon. Over time, that passion grew into a desire to help others through a career in the medical field. She credits her mother, grandmother, and the people around her for inspiring her to pursue this path. Her grandmother, who worked as a labor and delivery nurse, showed her the impact a healthcare career can have.

During high school, Nahrya explored her interests through creative activities, including choir, piano club, and the Musical Honor Society. She also participated in a medical club at her school.

As the first person in her family to attend college, Nahrya has worked hard to reach this milestone, balancing school with working since she was 14. The scholarship will help ease the financial challenges of college and allow her to continue working toward her goal of becoming a dermatologist and giving back to her community in the future.

Seline Smith

Seline will be attending St. Mary’s College of Maryland this fall, where she plans to major in Computer Science. Her passion for technology sparked at a young age through her love of video games, drawing, and exploring how things work. She aspires to combine her interests in technology and creativity to one day contribute to the gaming industry.

Growing up, Seline looked up to her mother most, who supported her through every challenge and encouraged her to keep moving forward. During high school, she participated in marching band and drumline beginning in her sophomore year, as well as Young People for Progress, where she served as the historian.

Seline believes she has made an impact through the relationships she built with teachers and the positive connections she made throughout high school. Although her freshman year brought challenges as she adjusted to a new environment, she found motivation through new experiences and hobbies. The scholarship will help reduce the cost of tuition, allowing her to focus more on her studies as she works toward her goal of becoming part of a major gaming company.

Tynia Collins
Tynia will be attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University this fall, where she plans to major in Aeronautical Science. Her passion for aviation began at a young age through her curiosity about airplanes and watching them fly overhead. Along with her love for flying, Tynia has always enjoyed dancing, reading, and expressing her creativity through makeup.

Throughout high school, Tynia stayed involved in several leadership and academic organizations, including NJROTC, the National Honor Society, the African Student Association, and the African Dance Team, which she founded to create a space for students to celebrate African culture. As a platoon commander in NJROTC, she learned the importance of patience, communication, and adapting to support others.

Inspired by her mother’s perseverance, Tynia hopes to become both a military pilot and a professional commercial pilot. The scholarship will help reduce the financial burden of college and flight training as she works toward her goals. Through her career, she hopes to inspire others, especially young students from underrepresented backgrounds, to pursue opportunities in aviation.

Mia Butler

Mia will be attending the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) this fall, where she plans to major in Mechanical Engineering. Her passion for creativity bloomed at a young age through art, including drawing, sculpting, and painting. She has always found pleasure in using different materials to bring ideas to life, which eventually led to her interest in engineering and creating solutions that improve everyday products and systems.

Throughout high school, Mia was involved in marching band all four years and served as an officer in the fashion club. She is proud of the impact she made in both organizations, from mentoring younger musicians as a section leader and captain to designing a shirt celebrating Gaithersburg’s diversity that is still worn by GHS faculty today.

Inspired by her mother’s strength and determination, Mia hopes to become an engineer who makes a positive impact on society. The scholarship will allow her to explore additional classes and research opportunities while continuing her education

Roselle Dagdag

Roselle will be attending the University of Maryland this fall, where she plans to major in Psychology. Her interest in the field comes from her goal of becoming an occupational therapist and helping others improve their daily lives. Growing up with siblings with autism has inspired her to learn more about psychology and find ways to support people who may need a helping hand.

Throughout high school, Roselle stayed involved in a variety of activities, including cheerleading, lacrosse, Summer RISE internships, and the cosmetology program at Gaithersburg High School. Through cosmetology, she was able to give back by participating in events that provided free haircuts for people in need and helping special needs students prepare for prom.

Roselle credits her mother as her greatest role model, admiring her strength and determination. In the future, she hopes to combine her passions for occupational therapy and cosmetology to help children and adults in her community. The scholarship will help ease the financial burden of college, allowing her to focus on her studies and begin her journey toward making a difference in the lives of others.

Here at MVF, we are immensely proud of these eight exceptional Watkins Mill and Gaithersburg High School seniors. We take pride in being able to support them and wish them all the best in their future aspirations. 

On behalf of our award-winning students, we thank all those who donated funds towards this year’s scholarship awards. Although the scholarships granted don’t fully cover college tuition, every bit of help is greatly appreciated and it demonstrates the generosity of residents in this community! 

We also want to recognize those whose memories continue to positively impact Montgomery Village. Danielle Kristen Perley, a Watkins Mill High School graduate, grew up in Montgomery Village and remained deeply connected to the community. Maryann Glass Bullion called Montgomery Village home for over 50 years and dedicated her career to helping students pursue higher education as a college and career counselor. We also remember Kay Drescher, a Whetstone Elementary School paraeducator who cared deeply for her students and the Village community. Their legacies live on through the generosity of those who donated in their memory to support local students.

We also thank the volunteer MVF Scholarship Committee members who once again dedicated their time and effort to select this year’s recipients from the large pool of applicants: Clare Conlon, Sharon Levine, and David Cline. Thank you for supporting our youth here in Montgomery Village!