CUMBERLAND — The Fort Hill Scholarship Fund recently announced the named Board of Directors scholarships that will be awarded to four graduating seniors at the 18th Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet to be held in May.
In addition to honoring Fort Hill’s first principal, Victor Heisey, who has a permanent scholarship in his memory, the Board of Directors will honor Bernie Nichols, the Robert Thompson family and school alumni who served in the military.
Nichols served as the school’s head wrestling coach for 33 years, making him one of the longest-tenured coaches in the area. He began his coaching career as an assistant under Robert Dawson and was later appointed head coach. What followed was more than three decades of dedication to the program and the young people he mentored. It is estimated that Nichols recorded over 500 dual meet wins during his career, along with numerous top-three tournament finishes.
Nichols is manager of Timbrook Honda and part owner of Mezzos in downtown Cumberland.
The Thompson family is an integral part of the Sentinel community spanning decades. The patriarch of the family, Bob Thompson, taught 32 of his 42 years of teaching in Allegany County at Fort Hill. His career included teaching choral music, orchestra, drama, speech and as Sentinelette adviser. He directed 38 drama/musical theater productions during his Fort Hill tenure.
His wife, Andee, was his biggest supporter, and a staple at the box office. Her voice could also sometimes be heard announcing the marching band as it took the field during halftime shows.
Staci Calder (Thompson), Bob’s Thompson’s youngest child, performed in many musicals throughout her time at the school. She was an avid dancer and vocalist in the Fort Hill choral and drama program, played flute and saxophone in the band and was a drum major during her junior and senior years. She continued to work with the Fort Hill programs for years after graduation as choreographer of the show choir and musicals, as well as playing flute for several musicals. Staci also continued working with the marching band as a woodwind teacher and clinician. She is currently in the final stages of earning her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and is an assistant principal with Washington County Public Schools.
Joe Thompson began working on drama productions at Fort Hill in junior high. He was first recruited to run the lights in his father’s first production, “Oklahoma,” and subsequently designed the lights for every show since. In high school, he was involved in productions, choir, show choir and band, and was a drum major his senior year. During his tenure with ACPS, Joe Thompson spent 19 years as the Fort Hill band director and one year as the assistant band director.
Continuing in his father’s footsteps, he has worked on 42 of the school’s drama productions. He has taken Fort Hill students to perform and compete in Canada; Orlando, Florida; Williamsburg, Virginia; New York City; and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, giving students the opportunity to travel and experience places for the first time. In 2024, he was selected as Allegany County Teacher of the Year and currently serves as an assistant principal.
As the nation celebrates its 250th birthday, the Board of Directors is showing its appreciation for every Fort Hill student who joined the military.
“Without them, our country may have looked much different,” the scholarship fund said in a release. “These men and women were willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for our country’s freedom. Many did lay down their lives during war. It is an honorable career, and as we support these graduating seniors, we honor and support those who choose to enter into the military.”
Since its inception in 2008, FHSF has provided scholarships to graduating seniors totaling over $580,000 for college, technical and trade education. All awards are made possible solely through personal contributions and those of corporate and community sponsors. FHSF strives to increase the number of scholarships and award amounts given each year to graduating seniors.
The FHSF partners with the Community Trust Foundation, a public foundation created with gifts from donors committed to causes in Allegany, Garrett and Mineral counties. CTF administers funds by providing accredited independent oversight of each fund, professional investment of the contributions and tax benefits to all donors who support Fort Hill’s graduates.
To donate, make checks payable to the FHSF/CTF, 208 N. Centre St., Cumberland, MD 21502 or through a secure online donation by visiting either forthillscholarshipfund.org or ctfinc.org. To create a new memorial or named scholarship, contact Jennifer Hare, chair, at 301-697-7618 or jenhare21502@yahoo.com.