Stay up to date with the latest news, stories, and impact from the Support Education Foundation. From scholarships and community initiatives to partner highlights, this page shares how we’re supporting education and making a difference together.
April 5, 2026 (Greenbelt, MD) – Spring is a season of excitement and important decisions for high school seniors across Maryland. As they finalize their plans after graduation, some students are preparing for college while others are pursuing vocational pathways and skilled trades careers that lead directly to meaningful, in-demand professions.
Both paths create opportunity—and both deserve support.
Across Maryland, skilled trades professionals play a vital role in our communities. Automotive technicians keep vehicles moving, healthcare workers care for our families and skilled tradespeople help build and maintain the infrastructure that surrounds us every day.
For many students pursuing vocational careers, the final step between education and employment is access to the tools, certifications or training required to begin. For one vocational scholarship applicant, that step represents more than financial support – it represents possibility. As a first-generation college student, they explained:
“This award would be a meaningful step forward in my professional journey. My goal is to build a stable and successful career that allows me to support myself and create opportunities for others. Financial support like this reduces the pressure to prioritize income over growth, allowing me to focus on gaining relevant experience through internships, developing practical skills and preparing for long-term career success.”
Through the Support Education Foundation, vocational scholarships help students take the next step with confidence.
A $1,500 Vocational Scholarship can help cover essential tools, equipment, certifications or training expenses—allowing students to begin building their careers immediately.
The Support Education Foundation works alongside employers, training programs and community partners to expand career pathways for students. Partnerships with organizations like the Automotive Trades Foundation (ATF) provide hands-on training that connects classroom learning to real-world careers.
Together with vocational scholarships, these partnerships help talented students launch meaningful careers while strengthening the industries that keep our communities moving forward.
Through scholarships, partnerships and community support, the Support Education Foundation helps expand opportunities for students pursuing both college and vocational career pathways.
Explore our scholarships, programs and ways to Support Education.
Together, we can continue opening doors for students and building brighter futures through education.
February 3, 2026 (Greenbelt, MD) – The Support Education Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2026 scholarship awards, investing $120,000 to help students pursue higher education and career training.
Designed to turn ambition into opportunity, the Foundation’s annual scholarship program provides financial support to students across a wide range of academic pathways, including community colleges, vocational programs and four-year institutions. These awards help reduce financial barriers and empower students to focus on their education and future success.
“Education is a lifelong journey, and access to financial support can make a meaningful difference at every stage,” said Kristy Mathey, Board Chair of the Support Education Foundation. “Through our scholarships, we’re proud to invest in students as they work toward their goals and strengthen our communities.”
Applications for the 2026 award cycle open February 2 and must be submitted by March 15. Eligibility requirements and application details are available online.
The Support Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) established by Educational Systems FCU in 2017, supports students and school employees through charitable giving programs.
January 20, 2026 (Gaithersburg, MD) –– The Support Education Foundation, a nonprofit established by Educational Systems Federal Credit Union, is proud to announce a meaningful collaboration with the Adventist HealthCare Community Partnership Fund. Adventist HealthCare has committed $2,500 to sponsor the Foundation’s Warming Hearts and Hands initiative to help students in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.
The Warming Hearts and Hands initiative distributes thousands of kits each winter, filled with new hats, gloves, mittens, scarves and socks to K-12 and community college students in need. These items are more than just winter wear; they are essential tools that help students stay warm, healthy and focused on their education during the coldest months of the year. This effort directly addresses the social and resource insecurity that often leads to health outcome disparities.
“We are incredibly grateful to Adventist HealthCare for joining us in this mission of care and compassion,” said Kristy Mathey, Board Chair of the Support Education Foundation. “For many students, a warm pair of gloves or a cozy scarf can be the difference between arriving ready to learn or needing a moment to recover from the cold before fully engaging.”
The winter clothing kits are distributed in close collaboration with Title I school staff, ensuring that the most vulnerable students are prioritized. These moments of giving are filled with smiles, hugs and heartfelt thanks — a testament to the difference a community can make when it comes together.
“The initiative is a natural fit for our commitment to addressing the crucial social determinants of health, particularly poverty and resource insecurity, that lead to health disparities in our service area,” stated Gina Maxham, the Director of Community Benefit and Engagement at Adventist HealthCare. “Ensuring children are warm and healthy is a fundamental step toward removing barriers to their education and long-term well-being.”
Through partnerships like this, the Support Education Foundation and Adventist HealthCare are proving that warmth, care and community can truly change lives — one pair of mittens at a time.
Adventist HealthCare supports programs that improve health and wellness for residents in the communities served by the organization. Through its Community Partnership Fund, Adventist HealthCare is committed to supporting local organizations that address health disparities and the social determinants of health, with a focus on specific counties.
The Support Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) established by Educational Systems FCU in 2017, supports students and school employees through charitable giving programs.
Educational Systems FCU is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative, founded in 1955 to serve the education community. With $1.3 billion in assets, 13 branches and 90,000 members, the Credit Union strives to make financial wellness and stability accessible for all the communities they serve.
Adventist HealthCare, based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is one of the longest-serving health systems in the Washington, D.C., region. It includes Shady Grove Medical Center, White Oak Medical Center, Fort Washington Medical Center, Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation, Home Care Services, Adventist Medical Group, Imaging and Cardiac Associates. Our mission is to extend God’s care through the ministry of physical, mental, and spiritual healing. For more information, visit AdventistHealthCare.com.