Two students from Carroll County were among five students named as winners for college scholarships from the Baltimore Ravens.
Nicolas "Cole" Holocker, a senior at Century High School, and Andrew Shipton, a Westminster High School senior, were each awarded a $5,000 renewable scholarship ($20,000 over four years).
Students from Baltimore's Polytechnic Institute and W.E.B. DuBois High School and Baltimore County's Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts were also chosen from more than 150 applicants to receive the scholarships.
The five were selected based on academic achievement, extra-curricular participation and community service.
They were chosen from among 10 finalists who were interviewed at the Ravens' facility in Owings Mills by Assistant General Manager Eric DeCosta, Assistant Director of Public Relations Patrick Gleason, and members of CollegeBound, an independent, nonprofit program that works with local students.
Shipton, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor while in middle school, plans to major in biology and environmental science. He has excelled in several honors classes. He also recently obtained his black belt in Tae Kwon Do and now mentors younger students in the martial art. He will attend Towson University in the fall.
Holocker has been an active leader in student body government since elementary school and is currently vice president of the Carroll County Student Government Association.
He has been a member of Century's wind ensemble, a technical assistant in the drama club and a referee for youth soccer games. He is also public information officer and fire lieutenant for the Sykesville Freedom District Junior Firefighter program. He manages his own nonprofit that tries to provide service opportunities to young adults, as well as underserved youth in Baltimore. He will attend the University of Maryland in the fall.
The Ravens' scholarship program is funded by the Ravens All Community Team Foundation to support students who display a long history of service to local communities.
Applications were accepted from students who attend public schools in Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Carroll County, areas where the Ravens operate training facilities, maintain offices and hold youth football camps.