SCHOLARSHIPS
Community Foundation of Carroll County Scholarships & Applications
The 2025-2026 Scholarship Season: Open November 15, 2025 to April 15, 2026.
The Community Foundation of Carroll County supports nearly 70 academic, sports, special circumstances, and 4-H scholarships. Search scholarships by name, or sort by application type. These scholarships fall into three application types (noted in the far right column):
Universal Portal Application: This application is closed for 2026 scholarships.
4-H Portal Application (Jan 15 – July 1, 2026)
Other Scholarships using individual applications
The Universal Portal application is an easy way for students to APPLY ONCE and see all the scholarship opportunities they are eligible for (application opens in January and closes mid-April each year). 4-H Club Participants – Use the 4-H/FFA Scholarship Portal application for scholarship opportunities just for you (opens in January and closes July 1 each year). You only apply once and complete the applications for the opportunities you want to pursue.
There are additional scholarship opportunities found in the “Other” category. These are scholarships hosted by the Community Foundation, but the application, review and award process is managed entirely by the scholarship holder. These have individual deadlines, criteria and applications. All scholarships are listed below with criteria, donation information, and access to the application.
| Scholarship Name | Scholarship Description | Learn More / Apply | Make a Donation | Scholarship Type | Field of Interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John & Elsie Bankert Academic Scholarship |
The purpose of the John & Elsie Bankert Academic Scholarship is to award a $2,000.00 academic scholarship each year to a current graduate of Westminster High School, who is in the top five percent of the class and who demonstrates high promise in the area of liberal arts. |
Learn More / Apply | Donate | Portal | Westminster HS |
| Stephen A. Toop Memorial Scholarship |
The purpose of the Stephen E Toop Memorial Scholarship is to provide a scholarship for a Francis Scott Key or Westminster High School graduating senior who has been accepted at an accredited college, university, or technical school. |
Learn More / Apply | Donate | Portal | Westminster HS, FSK High School, Francis Scott Key HS |
| WHS Student Senate James Barnes Memorial Scholarship Fund |
The purpose of the WHS Student Senate James Barnes Memorial Scholarship is to provide a yearly scholarship(s) for a college- bound WHS senior(s) who will attend an accredited college or university. Applicants must demonstrate community involvement through volunteer work in a club, religious, and/or civic organization. School involvement would be demonstrated through work in school-sanctioned clubs, sport teams, or other recognized school extra-curricular activities. Leadership must be demonstrated by holding a position of authority within the school and/or community. (i.e., Student Senate, school-sanctioned club or community/civic organization, etc.) Although academics are an important component of this scholarship, the primary emphasis for recipient determination deals with how active a student’s participation is in his or her school and community. |
Learn More / Apply | Donate | Portal | Westminster HS, Leadership, Volunteer |
| WHS Marching Band Scholarship |
The Westminster High School Marching Band Scholarship was established in May 2007 by Lynn A. and Paul M. Campbell as an incentive to students of Westminster High School to join and remain in the Marching Band, and to encourage and reward academic excellence. The Scholarship will provide one or two scholarships each year to graduating seniors at Westminster High School. |
Learn More / Apply | Donate | Portal | Westminster HS, Marching Band, Performing Arts, Music |
| Sarah Jayne Orton Memorial Scholarship |
The purpose of the Sarah Jayne Orton Memorial Scholarship is to honor the life of Sarah by providing a scholarship to a graduating female senior in the class of 2026 at Westminster High School. The applicant must meet the criteria and be an active animal lover. This scholarship is funded by the work of Sarah’s Cause, an ongoing mission to raise awareness of sepsis, and to support local animal shelters. Sarah’s Cause Mission statement: To raise awareness of sepsis to the general public and provide support for local animal shelters to honor the memory of Sarah Jayne Orton – a little girl with a big heart. We carry on her legacy by donating to shelters – much like she did at her 5th birthday in 2013, when instead of gifts, she requested donations to the Baltimore Humane Society (BHS). The class of 2026 would be her year of graduation; all applications will be considered to be awarded a scholarship for college. |
Learn More / Apply | Donate | Portal | Westminster HS; Female |
| Coach Sue Hooper Memorial Scholarship |
To provide a college scholarship for a WHS graduating senior women athlete. |
Learn More / Apply | Donate | Other | Westminster HS; Woman Athlete |
| Randy Rager Scholarship |
The purpose of The Randy E. Rager Scholarship Fund is to honor the life of Randy E. Rager by providing an annual scholarship for a graduating senior at Westminster High School and Winters Mill High School in Carroll County, Maryland. The scholarship winners will have shown the capacity to achieve in the face of adversity and challenges, and will have been accepted at an accredited college, university or technical school and who meets the criteria established for the fund. |
Learn More / Apply | Donate | Portal | WHS, WMHS Graduating Seniors |
| Adam N. Pope Courage Scholarship |
Adam Nathaniel Pope inspired family, friends, and all those he touched, and the Fund will recognize other young people who, similar to Adam, have demonstrated courage in overcoming physical, emotional, health or other obstacles or challenges in their life. The scholarship will be based on character, not scholarship, although the award will be paid directly to any form of educational institution at which the recipient matriculates within 24 months after graduation from Winters Mill High School. |
Learn More / Apply | Donate | Portal | Winters Mill HS |
| Gina Maria Barnes Warrior's: Winter's Mill |
The purpose of the GINA MARIA BARNES WARRIORS FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP is to honor her memory and legacy by providing a scholarship for a Winters Mill graduating senior. The GINA MARIA BARNES WARRIORS FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP will be awarded to a graduating Senior pursuing an undergraduate degree at an accredited college, university or technical school who meets the criteria established for the fund. |
Learn More / Apply | Donate | Other | Winters Mill HS |
| Scholarship Name | Scholarship Description | Learn More / Apply | Make a Donation | Scholarship Type | Field of Interest |