Three Stories of Investment, Purpose, and Giving Back
Celebrating 40 years of investing in Frederick County’s future, we caught up with three scholarship recipients at different points in their journeys: a recent graduate, a mid-career professional carrying values forward through public service, and a leader giving back to the farming community that raised her. Their stories share a common thread: when a community believes in a young person, that belief comes full circle.
Just Getting Started: Meray Ghobrial
Education has always been a top priority for Meray Ghobrial; she says it’s the key that opens doors. She attended Hood College to study marketing and communications and, thanks to generous donors, received scholarships totaling more than $38,000 to make that possible.
“Receiving these scholarships took a tremendous weight off my shoulders,” Meray said. “My college experience would not have been what it was without the support of The Community Foundation of Frederick County.”
Meray’s family moved to Frederick when she was in sixth grade, and she’s called it home ever since. Today, she’s giving back to that same community: she serves on the Frederick Youth Council’s policy and advocacy subcommittee, helping ensure “Frederick youth have a voice and a seat at the table.” She’s also building on the Community Foundation’s investment in her, completing her MBA at Hood while interning at the U.S. Government Accountability Office in Washington, D.C.
“I think it’s important for young people to have someone other than themselves invested in their future,” Meray said, “and I’m so grateful that The Community Foundation of Frederick County has invested in mine.”
Scholarships received from the following funds: The William Hurwitz Memorial Endowment Fund, The Kathryn “Kitty” M. Reed and Robert “Bob” J. Reed Scholarship Fund, The W. Meredith S. Young and Helen B. Young Scholarship Fund
Carrying a Legacy Forward, One Opportunity at a Time: Gayon Sampson
Rev. Dr. Rodney B. Pulliam was a lawyer, pastor, and devoted father who had just been appointed the City of Frederick’s Chief Operating Officer when a car accident in March 2002 took his life and the lives of his three sons — Rodney II, Jordan, and Matthew — boys who dreamed of becoming a judge, a doctor, and a preacher. In their memory, his wife, Tammy Armstead Pulliam, established The Rev. Dr. Rodney B. Pulliam and Rodney II, Jordan, and Matthew Pulliam Memorial Fund.
Gayon received the Rodney Pulliam Scholarship while pursuing his degree in Political Science at
Towson University, and later his Master of Public Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park. “Looking back now, I realize the scholarship represented something far greater than financial support,” Gayon said. “It connected me to the values that defined Rev. Dr. Rodney Pulliam’s life — faith, service, leadership, and a commitment to making your community better than you found it.”
Dr. Pulliam had served as the City of Frederick’s Chief Operating Officer, and years later, Gayon served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Frederick. “While our paths were separated by time, we were both entrusted with serving the same community that invested in us,” Gayon said. “That connection has never been lost on me. When I received the scholarship, I saw it as an investment in my education. Today, I see it as an investment in my purpose and a reminder that when a community believes in a young person, that investment can come full circle in ways you could never imagine.”
Today, Gayon remains actively involved in the Frederick community and serves as Chief of Staff to the Comptroller of Maryland. He was also an honoree of the African Americans of Excellence in 2025.
“When I reflect on my career so far, I am most proud not of the titles I have held, but of the opportunity to help create pathways for others,” Gayon said. “Every role has reinforced my belief that strong communities are built when we invest in people and create opportunities for them to succeed.”
Rooted in Frederick County: Katie Stevens
As a first-generation college student, Katie Stevens was determined to attend college as she would be the first in her family to do so. Her parents were dairy farmers, so she grew up experiencing the volatility and financial uncertainty of the dairy market.
She received scholarships from The Dudrow Scholarship Fund and The Robert and Ann Miller Family Fund, which allowed her to transfer from Frederick Community College to Virginia Tech, where she pursued her passion for dairy science. “It had a lasting impact on my future and the opportunities available to me,” Katie said.
That experience has shaped a career built within the community that raised her. Katie has worked for Frederick County government for 11 years, starting as a Business Development Specialist and now serving as the Director of the Office of Agriculture.
She said her proudest accomplishment is creating the Ag Innovation Grant program, which has awarded more than $2 million to local farmers.
“Having witnessed firsthand the challenges farmers face, and the uncertainty many young people feel about a future on the family farm, I have dedicated my career to connecting farmers with resources so that agriculture remains a viable opportunity for future generations,” she said.
Katie and her husband recently purchased her grandmother’s farm, land that has been in her family for more than a century, and where they’re committed to raising their three daughters. “Frederick County is home,” Katie said. “I am proud to contribute to a community that has given so much to me.”
An Investment That Keeps Paying Forward
Three scholars, three distinct paths: a recent graduate, a public servant, and an agricultural leader, all building meaningful lives in Frederick County. As Gayon put it, “A scholarship, a grant, or a contribution to a charitable fund can change the trajectory of someone’s life.”
For 40 years, The Community Foundation of Frederick County has connected the generosity of donors with the promise and potential of local students. Meray, Gayon, and Katie are proof that an investment in education does more than change one life; it strengthens the community for generations to come.
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