Community Foundation Trustee Martin Lapera joins Thurmont Mayor Martin Burns, Black family members Dennis Black and Mrs. LaRue Black, scholarship recipient Sara Lawson, and Commissioner Bill Blakeslee at the Thurmont Town offices.

First Mayor James F. Black Scholarship
Awarded to Thurmont’s Sara Lawson

August 13, 2007: The Community Foundation of Frederick County is pleased to announce that Thurmont resident Sara Lawson, a student at Frederick Community College, has been named the first recipient of the Mayor James F. Black Scholarship.

Ms. Lawson is studying Business Management at Frederick Community College and hopes to own her own retail business in the future. She says that as a Thurmont resident she is incredibly thankful and honored to receive the first Mayor James F. Black Scholarship. “This award will significantly aid me in my academic pursuits,” says Ms. Lawson.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Mayor Black served as mayor of Thurmont for 16 years and prior to that as a Commissioner from 1967-1969. In addition to his commitment to the Town of Thurmont, Mayor Black was a member of the Frederick County Council of Governments for many years, including serving as its president for three years. He also served on the boards of the Frederick Citizens Nursing Home and the Catoctin Medical Center and received numerous awards in recognition of his community service.

After Mayor Black passed away in December 2003, his son, Dennis Black, founded The Mayor James F. Black Scholarship Fund to honor his father’s memory and longstanding commitment to the Town of Thurmont. The Fund provides educational assistance for employees of the Town of Thurmont and their legal dependents, with preference given to full-time employees who have been accepted to attend an accredited college or technical courses directly related to their job responsibilities. Ms. Lawson’s father, Harold Lawson, is a Town of Thurmont employee.

Dennis Black says that he and his family are pleased that the first-time scholarship has been awarded to Ms. Lawson. “We are delighted that the scholarship fund established in my father’s memory was available to assist Sara with her education expenses.”

The Community Foundation is among the leading local resources for scholarships, working with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to establish charitable funds to help deserving students reach their educational goals. To donate to The Mayor James F. Black Scholarship Fund, click here, or call 301.695.7660.