6-23-2026 4:37am

Education Champions

Celebrating our 2026 Champions of Education

On June 10, The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., held its end of year awards and recognition celebration at First Financial Federal Credit Union’s Hansen Hall in Sparks. The annual event is an opportunity for the foundation to thank educators, partners, and Board members for their dedication to our mission-driven work.

Congratulations to our 2026 winners! Thank you for your support!

Recipients of the Outstanding Contributor Award

Outstanding Contributor Award

Carin Lazarus, Media Star Promotions
Matt Musgrove, Padonia Park Club

Volunteer of the Year Award

Christie Compeau , Horace Mann
Jim Farmer, Horace Mann

Community Partner of the Year Award

First Financial Federal Credit Union

Board Member of the Year Award

Ryan Cagle, Whiting-Turner
Scott Moir, GWWO Architects

Lifetime Achievement Award

Cindy Whitcomb, The Education Foundation of BCPS

The Deborah S. Phelps Award

Joan Pugh, First Financial Federal Credit Union

Community Impact Award

LeeAnne Barnett, Milbrook Elementary School

Game Changer Award

Lowes of Cockeysville

Community Support Award

Christina Pumphrey

Unsung Hero Award

David Colom, BCPS Logistics
Jennifer Drury, BCPS Copy & Print

More award recipients

Board member recognition

The foundation also recognized five Board Members whose terms of service will end on June 30. Thank you for your service!

Dr. Sam Negahban, Brawner Builders

Kate Perry-Jones, Black & Decker

Bea Pfander, Cigna

Sister Sharon Slear, The Sisters of Notre Dame

Andrew Will, Jackson Lewis Law Firm

More photos from the event can be found on Flickr.

The Foundation | Highlights

The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc. was founded on October 26, 1992, as the official 501 (c) (3) nonprofit for Baltimore County Public Schools. The foundation is on a mission to contribute to a brighter future as a champion of the system and community through advocacy, fundraising, and programming. We believe that together, with our community partners, we can ensure that every student, educator, and school community has the resources necessary to reach their full potential.

BCPS is the 22nd largest school system in the nation with 108,000 students and 8,000 educators in 174 schools, centers, and programs. Our students and their families come from 138 countries and speak more than 150 languages. The racial breakdown of our students follows: 40% are African American; 29% are white; 18% are Hispanic/Latino; 7% are Asian; 5% are more than one race; <1% are American Indian; <1% are Pacific Islander. More than 50% of our students come from lower socioeconomic families, and 15% require special education services.

Since 2010, the foundation has provided 786 scholarships for graduating seniors for a total of $746,595. Since 2012, the foundation has awarded 735 school and office-based grants and special projects to enhance the regular curricula for a total of $1,434,748. Since 2018, the foundation has operated two educator resource centers (the Exchangerees) where teachers shop for school supplies, books, winter accessories and more, at no cost to them. Since 2018, the Exchangerees have served 20,129 educators and 525,334 students, distributed 99,760 books, and distributed $4,629,456 worth of resources and materials into our school communities.

Visit our website for more information.

Congratulations to our 2026 winners! Thank you for your support!

Recipients of the Outstanding Contributor Award

Outstanding Contributor Award