In collaboration with the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, Hagerstown Community College, Washington County Public Schools, F&M Trust, First United Bank, and Washington County Public Schools, Bester Community of Hope proudly hosted a cohort of 13 students from South Hagerstown High School for the third year of the Cash N’ Dreams financial empowerment program. Over the course of six months, students participated in interactive financial literacy sessions and developed personalized plans to support their college, career, and entrepreneurship goals. Each session featured inspiring presentations from diverse local leaders representing both the business and community sectors, who shared their personal and professional journeys toward success. The program culminated with a celebration ceremony in May at South Hagerstown High School, honoring the 2024–2025 Cash N’ Dreams graduates. Equipped with practical knowledge, mentorship, and tangible resources, these students are now empowered to take meaningful steps toward turning their dreams into reality.
A graduating senior, Felix has a clear vision for his future: becoming a physician serving under-resourced communities. After being accepted into the Biology Pre-Med program at Frostburg State University, Felix received a scholarship from Cash N’ Dreams to help cover a portion of his first-semester tuition and related college expenses.
Markell aspires to one day own his own business and create multiple streams of income. From the beginning, he shared his desire not to be confined to a single field but to explore a range of career paths. Through Cash N’ Dreams, Markell connected with professionals in business, law enforcement, law, and cybersecurity; all areas of interest he plans to pursue. He also received financial assistance to secure safe, reliable transportation to his various jobs, supporting his efforts to save for future college expenses.
A senior this year, Nadia is actively pursuing her dream of becoming a real estate broker. While attending Cash N’ Dreams sessions, she worked toward earning her real estate license and expressed interest in building her business knowledge base. She was accepted into Penn State University York’s Business School, where a Cash N’ Dreams scholarship will help offset the cost of her first semester.
Rachel demonstrated a strong passion for speech-language pathology while also managing her own graphic design business. To support her dual goals, she received a laptop and design accessories, giving her access to professional software and a dedicated workspace. Additionally, Cash N’ Dreams partnered with the Pediatric Movement Center to create an apprenticeship, where Rachel shadowed their speech-language pathologists and gained valuable hands-on experience.
“Thank you so much for the opportunity to shadow a speech-language pathologist. It was an amazing experience and I loved every minute of it. I think this has solidified my plan to move forward in speech therapy!”
From the start, Jermella shared her dream of becoming an architect. To help her build a portfolio and develop her design skills, Cash N’ Dreams provided her with a laptop and architecture software, equipping her with the tools needed to begin preparing for college-level architecture programs.
Malia expressed interest in exploring careers in the healthcare field. With support from Cash N’ Dreams, she received a scholarship and placement in Hagerstown Community College’s Discover Medicine summer program; an immersive, hands-on experience that introduced her to real-world medical environments.
Eveohn is exploring several potential career paths, including anesthesiology. Currently enrolled in the Early College Program at Hagerstown Community College, she is on track to earn both her high school diploma and associate degree. Cash N’ Dreams awarded her scholarships to cover transportation and driver’s education at Allegany Driving School, helping her gain greater independence as she balances school and career goals.
With dreams of entering the modeling industry, Manuella is taking her first steps toward a professional career. Cash N’ Dreams covered the cost of working with a local modeling consultant who provided one-on-one coaching, portfolio development, and professional photo sessions — helping Manuella begin to build a competitive portfolio.
Jaidyn’s passion for landscape and nature photography continues to grow. Recognizing that his previous camera equipment limited his creative work, Cash N’ Dreams provided him with a new digital camera and accessories to support both his photography coursework at South High and personal projects.
An accomplished athlete, Naomi plans to continue her basketball career at Hagerstown Community College while pursuing her academic studies. Cash N’ Dreams supported her with one-on-one personal training sessions to strengthen her athletic performance and provided a laptop and accessories essential for her coursework success.
Another senior in this year’s cohort, Briyana plans to study Business and Digital Marketing at Hagerstown Community College. To support her academic journey and help her develop a professional portfolio, Cash N’ Dreams provided her with a personal laptop.
As two of the youngest members of this year’s group, Dorian and William are already entrepreneurs, managing a business that resells trending retail products. Cash N’ Dreams awarded them scholarships for driver’s education classes through Allegany Driving School, expanding their ability to manage deliveries and grow their business. As their career goals continue to evolve, they’ll also be connected to local professionals for mentorship and guidance.
Looking Ahead: The 2025–2026 Cash N’ Dreams Cohort
An orientation session for the 2025–2026 Cash N’ Dreams Financial Empowerment Program was held on October 15, 2025, at South Hagerstown High School. During the session, program facilitators provided students with an overview of the program’s goals, structure, and opportunities, while applications were distributed to all attendees. Students interested in joining this year’s cohort should submit completed applications to their grade-level guidance counselor by November 14, 2025. For more information about the Cash N’ Dreams program, please contact Alicia Taluskie, Neighborhood Partnership Coordinator, at [email protected] or 240-513-6370.
Bester Community of Hope is a prevention-first, community-driven initiative of San Mar Family & Community Services, focused on holistically supporting and strengthening children & families in the South End of Hagerstown. This project is funded by the Governor’s Office for Children under award number 2025-ENGH-008. All points of view expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of any State or Federal agency.
