Conni Morris Hope Award for Academic Excellence and Community Service

This award honors the memory of longtime ChesMRC Board Member, Constance (“Conni”) Morris Hope. Conni lived a life dedicated to multicultural understanding, justice, service, and the pursuit of knowledge. At ChesMRC, Conni played many important roles such as chairing the Development & Communications Committee, co-facilitating the 2025 Strategic Planning Retreat, and serving on the Scholarship Selection Committee. On the Scholarship Committee Conni coached many students pursuing their college degrees. Coaching students was something Conni loved and did oh so well! This annual award honors Conni’s memory and her exceptional service coaching first-generation immigrant students pursing higher education and meaningful careers.

Award Eligibility and Procedures:

The award is given annually to a student who has received prior support from the ChesMRC Scholarship Program and who is graduating with a bachelor’s or associate degree.
Candidates are nominated by their scholarship coaches for consideration by the Scholarship Selection Committee.
Candidates are evaluated in terms of their past academic achievement and their record of service to the eastern shore community and/or their college/university community.
The Award is memorialized by a citation given to the student and a check in an amount between $500 and $1000 depending on the amount of money raised and available for the award.
The intent of the monetary award is to assist the graduating student with expenses associated with moving on to the next stage in their education or career, for example, moving and transportation expenses, housing, interviewing attire, job-search expenses, educational loan repayment, etc.
The first award would be given in May of 2026, thus coinciding with the academic year’s traditional graduation date.

TO DONATE TO THE CONNI MORRIS HOPE AWARD FUND:

Online Donations: please click on this link to donate online

Mail a check designating donation be restricted to this fund to:

Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center

PO Box 1990

Easton, MD 21601