Four Maryland high school seniors surprised with Dorsey Scholarships to McDaniel

McDaniel College’s Admissions Office along with the Green Terror surprised four incoming Class of 2029 students by announcing them as the college’s newest Dorsey Scholars. The Dorsey Scholars Program is the highest academic honor at McDaniel and includes full tuition, room, and board for all four years.

Dorsey Scholar Surprise Laura Gels — Broadneck High School senior Laura Gels of Annapolis, Maryland, was among four students surprised with Dorsey Scholarships to McDaniel College.

McDaniel College’s Admissions Office along with the Green Terror surprised four incoming Class of 2029 students by announcing them as the college’s newest Dorsey Scholars.

The highest academic honor at McDaniel, students selected as Dorsey Scholars receive full tuition, room, and board for all four years at the college. Students are chosen from the Honors applicant pool.

Dorsey Scholars are academic leaders and role models on campus. They also have distinctive opportunities, including serving as ambassadors of the college.

The Dorsey Scholars Program is supported by a $6.7 million estate gift from 1891 alumnus Philip Henry Dorsey, the largest bequest for scholarships in McDaniel’s history.

Learn more about our newest Dorsey Scholars

Kaitlyn Bartlett

Kaitlyn Bartlett is a senior at Catoctin High School in Thurmont, Maryland. Growing up in a military family, she has moved frequently. Upon arriving in Maryland, she took the initiative to become a new student liaison to help newcomers feel welcomed and supported. She also has a deep passion for environmental studies and currently serves as the president of the Catoctin Conservation Club, where she leads efforts to promote environmental awareness. Her letters of recommendation highlight her dedication to sustainability and her ability to inspire others to take action for the environment.

In addition, she is an active member of both the theater and band programs and balances her extracurricular involvement with a part-time job.

Andrea Dechosa

Andrea Dechosa of New Market, Maryland, is a senior at Linganore High School in Frederick, Maryland. She has consistently demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and a passion for healthcare. Dechosa has volunteered extensively at Frederick Health Hospital, shadowing a doctor at Mercy Medical and serving as a patient coordinator at Frederick Primary Care. She has also taken on several leadership roles within various honor societies at her school and has been instrumental in organizing events for the Asian Culture Club.

Dechosa has pursued her musical talents as a violinist and leader in the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra. Driven by her love for music, she co-founded Melodies for Memories, a program aimed at making music education more accessible to the community, with friends from the All-State Orchestra.

Laura Gels

Laura Gels is a senior at Broadneck High School in Annapolis, Maryland. She has not only excelled academically but has earned accolades, including being named an AP Scholar for exceptional achievement on Advanced Placement exams and receiving a Certificate of Artistic Excellence. She serves as the historian of the National Art Honor Society at her school and is an active member of the Spanish Honor Society and a member of the Gardening Club.

Gels also dedicates her time as a volunteer at a global language summer camp and works at the Maryland Renaissance Festival each fall. Additionally, she has created her own nail salon business, showcasing both her creativity and business acumen.

Seeley Ortiz

Seeley Ortiz of Aberdeen, Maryland, is a senior at Havre de Grace High School. She has not only excelled academically, but she is a two-sport athlete, playing soccer and lacrosse, and started the Always a Warrior Project, a grant-funded initiative, creating care packages for injured athletes. She also coaches a recreational soccer team, while working part-time as an assistant manager.

Ortiz had the opportunity to serve as an information technology apprentice for the City of Havre de Grace and completed a clinical internship through the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation. She was awarded funding as a Purpose Project Fellow to create an application to support, connect and educate teenagers with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects the body’s connective tissue.