Knott Scholarship Funds 40th Year Celebration

The weekend of September 18, and 19, 2021, was clear and sunny, providing marvelous cooperation for the Celebration of 40 Years of Giving by the Knott Scholarship Funds. The weekend kicked off with a service/cleanup at St. Michael-St. Clement School that was attended by over 100 members of the Knott Scholars Community: Scholars, parents, alumni Scholars, and friends were all on hand to help beautify the campus. The event was a resounding success!

Sunday, Mass was held at the University of Notre Dame, Maryland; celebrated by Archbishop Lori.

Knott Scholars played an integral role during Mass. They served as lectors, petitioners, altar servers, and even as the homilist.

Loyola University Interim President Dr. Amanda Thomas, with Archbishop Lori and Marion Burk Knott Scholar Tommy Moyer.

The Presidents of the three Catholic Universities in Maryland, as well as a Knott Scholarship recipients, helped present the gifts and petitions.

Dr. Timothy Trainor, President of Mount Saint Mary’s University, with Archbishop Lori.

Jonathan Presti, from Mount Saint Mary’s University, and Audrey Powers from Resurrection St. Paul School, deliver petitions.

Martin Knott shared reflections about his mother and the many difficulties she overcame while Board members look on.

To help celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Marion Burk Knott Fund, the first ever Knott Scholar class was invited back to campus to be recognized.

The Class of 1985, College of Notre Dame:

Starting at the bottom row, left to right:

Karen Schmidt*. Henry Knott*, Marion Knott*, Anna Maria Benyo (Sangiorgi)
Margaret Scheele (Jacobsen), Mary Corey*, Kathleen Peddicord, Mary Beth Beach (McBride)
Phyllis Glawe (Ciekot), Michelle Ritter, Janelyn Moore*, Gloria-Anne Bartas
Unknown, Kelly Dryden Brown, Debbie Hinkle (Charvat)
*Deceased

Members of the Class of 1985 today:

L to R: Michelle Ritter, Kelley Dryden Brown, Kathleen Peddicord, Anna Marie Benyo (Sangiorgi), Archbishop William Lori, Dr. Marylou Yam, President of NDMU, Phyllis Glawe (Ciekot), Debbie Hinkle (Charvat)

Many women were able to make the journey back to the campus of what is now NDMU and shared stories about what it was like to be women in fields dominated by men, and how the ability to attend college debt free had a tremendous impact on all their lives.  

At the end of Mass, the Knott Scholar Class of 2021 was presented with Knott Scholar Pins by their parents.

Over the life of the Funds, over $80 Million Dollars has been distributed to Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore; as well as scholarships and support for the Catholic Hospitals in Baltimore, and the three Catholic Universities in Maryland.

Approximately 1600 students have been awarded Knott Scholarships, with 100 of those receiving more than one Scholarship. Twenty pairs of siblings have received Knott Scholarships, and only three people have won them in all three categories.

Notre Dame of Maryland University has the most University Scholars, over 40 years, with Notre Dame Preparatory and Calvert Hall College High School taking those honors for secondary schools. St. Mary’s Elementary School has had the largest number of elementary recipients.

The Knott Scholarship Funds are looking forward to another 40 years of positive impact in the Archdiocese of Baltimore!