Name: Rae Blanco Age: 17 School: Richard Montgomery High School, Class of 2011. Accomplishment: Received a $1,500 college grant from the Rockville Scholarship Foundation, Inc. for her academic achievements and volunteer work. Key to success: “Definitely the end result," Blanco said. "Like when I’m studying for a test for [Advanced Placement] finals, [by] just thinking about finishing and feeling good at the end about finishing and completing it, I feel confident that I did a good job on a test. I always keep the end in mind, that’s pretty much what motivates me."  Blanco graduated from …

Name: Marianne Mullan Age: 22 School: Franciscan University of Steubenville Accomplishment: Awarded a $1,500 college grant from the Rockville Scholarship Foundation, Inc. for her academic achievements and volunteer work. Key to success: “I’m a very active person, I suppose, easily bored, so I like to keep busy," Mullan said. She is a Maryland 4-H All Star and an eating disorder awareness advocate. She graduated as valedictorian from Montgomery College in 2010 and is currently completing her undergrauate degree in clinical psychology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, in Ohio. Mullan …

Name: Angela Lee Age: 33 School:  Montgomery College Accomplishment: Awarded a $1,000 college grant by the Rockville Scholarship Foundation, Inc. for her academic achievements. Key to success: "Organization—just the will to want to do it," Lee said. "I just have to be extremely organized with my time and my efforts and just have the drive to get the degree. That's my ultimate goal. It's something I didn't get to accomplish when I'm younger and it's my focus, it's what I'm putting all my energies into right now." Lee majors in accounting at Montgomery College and upon completing her studies, …

Name: Desmond Ellis Age: 53 School: Montgomery College Achievement: Awarded a $1,000 scholarship grant from the Rockville Scholarship Foundation, Inc. for his academic achievements. Key to success: “I am somebody who wants to succeed," said Ellis, who studies construction management at Montgomery College, where he is on the dean's list. "I love construction and I want to excel in it." In addition to his studies, Ellis also is a member of the United Methodist Men organization at his church, and served as its president for six years. Previously, Ellis worked at a construction company in Sierra …

Name: Ndatta Fall Age: 18 School: Richard Montgomery High School, Class of 2011 Accomplishment: Awarded a $1,000 college grant by the Rockville Scholarship Foundation, Inc. for her academic achievements. Key to success: "I’m in special circumstances and think that I’m a victim, so just knowing that I can make it,” said Fall, who arrived from Senegal in 2005 without knowing any English. “And I just know that my parents had me come here for a reason and they have high hopes for me and I don’t want to disappoint them.” Fall will attend Montgomery College in the fall, where she will pursue a …

Name: Julio Cruz Age: 20 School: Montgomery College Accomplishment: Received a $1,000 scholarship from the Rockville Scholarship Foundation, Inc. for his academic achievements.  Key to success: “I think that the most important factor is that since I’m in this country, this country has so many opportunities and I want to take advantage of them and I want to give back to the people and the students,” said Cruz, who hails from El Salvador. “Also, I want to help my mother, because she’s the one who raised me and my sister and I was only raised by her, so I want to do her proud.” Cruz, who came to…

Name: Briana Liu Age: 17 School: Richard Montgomery High School, Class of 2011. Accomplishment: Awarded a $1,500 college grant from the Rockville Scholarship Foundation, Inc. for her academic and environmental achievements, as well as other endeavors. Key to success: “What motivates me is the feeling that I’m making a difference in the world and helping the people I care about and the community,” Liu said. “I care about making some kind of impact in the world around me so I’m helping and giving back to the people who gave me so much.” Liu graduated this month from the International …