The Waterfowl Festival is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 William A. Perry Scholarship Fund awards.

Each year, students from across the region who have volunteered their time in support of the Festival and its mission are encouraged to apply for academic assistance through the William A. Perry Scholarship Fund. The scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated dedication, enthusiasm, and commitment to the Waterfowl Festival throughout the year and/or during the annual Festival weekend.

Established in honor of Festival co-founder William A. Perry and his wife Betty Perry, the scholarship reflects the Festival’s longstanding commitment to education, community involvement, and the preservation of Eastern Shore heritage and conservation values.

The scholarship program is intended to support students pursuing post-secondary education, trade school programs, or graduate studies. To be eligible, applicants must be a graduating high school senior or currently enrolled in a college, trade school, or graduate program and must have contributed a minimum of 10 volunteer hours to the Waterfowl Festival.

This year, the Festival is proud to award scholarships to 21 students, distributing a total of $30,259 in scholarship funds.

The 2026 scholarship recipients are:

• Amanda Coleman – Chesapeake College
• Brock Grow – Widener University
• Brynn Reibly – The Temple: A Paul Mitchell Partner School
• Catherine Cronan – East Carolina University
• Charles Kaminskas – Coastal Carolina University
• Ethan Royer – Cairn University
• Graham Willis – Chesapeake College
• Isabella Jobeck – James Madison University
• Jack Chapple – University of Mississippi
• Jack Townsend – Salisbury University
• James McDaniel – University of Maryland, College Park
• Juliana Stepp – Salisbury University
• Lavinia Tindall – University of Maryland, College Park
• Lucas Watkins – University of Maryland
• Lydia Walter – Boston University
• Madeleine Cronan – Undecided
• Olivia Patrick – Salisbury University
• Robert Norbury – Wor-Wic Community College
• Samantha Townsend – Salisbury University
• Tristian Tull-Waters – Salisbury University
• William Sherwood – Chesapeake College

“We are incredibly proud of our young volunteers and all they have accomplished,” said Annie Miller (volunteer coordinator)l. “Their dedication to service, conservation, and community involvement embodies the spirit of the Festival, and we are honored to support them in their academic journeys and future achievements.”

For more information about volunteer or scholarship opportunities, please contact Annie Miller at amiller@waterfowlfestival.org or call us at 410-822-4567

Image: Lucas Watkins, Olivia Patrick, Waterfowl Festival Board President Julie Susman, Samantha Townsend, Jack Townsend, Executive Director Deena Kilmon, Brody McDaniel, Graham Willis

About the Waterfowl Festival

Since 1971, the Waterfowl Festival has raised nearly six million dollars for conservation and education efforts. Proceeds from the festival support various environmental, art, student scholarships,  and cultural initiatives, ensuring that future generations can understand and enjoy the beauty and diversity of waterfowl and their environments. The festival also plays a vital role in supporting the local community, drawing visitors from around the country and boosting the regional economy.

The Waterfowl Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of the Maryland State Arts Council, the Maryland Historic Trust, the Town of Easton, Talbot County Government, and all of our incredible community partners including the hundreds of volunteers that make all the magic happen.