Rotary Club of Howard West Announces 2025 Beacon of Hope Honorees

Baltimore, Maryland Oct 17, 2025  –  The Rotary Club of Howard West (MD) is pleased to unveil its 2025 Beacon of Hope award recipients, individuals being celebrated for their servant leadership, marked by innovation, compassion, and significant, enduring contributions to our communities. 

The distinguished individuals receiving honors this year are:

• Ann Heavner, Executive Director, Rebuilding Together Howard County

• Col. (Ret.) Edna W. Cummings, Army Reserve Ambassador-Maryland, Six Triple Eight Congressional Gold Medal Champion, and Documentary Producer

• Hon. William Barnes, Superintendent, Howard County Public Schools

• Somnath Sengupta, PhD, Founder, My Life Learning Center

• Jean Accius, PhD, President & CEO, CHC: Creating Healthier Communities

• Marcus Smith II, Former NFL 1st Round Draft Pick & CEO, The Circle of M

“The 2025 Beacon of Hope honorees are genuine pioneers, influential thinkers, and impactful implementers,” remarked Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq., president of the Rotary Club of Howard West. “They illuminate a beacon of hope for current and future generations, especially our youth and seniors. We eagerly anticipate recognizing their remarkable achievements alongside the broader Baltimore/Washington community. Indeed, hope knows no bounds.”

The 2025 Beacon of Hope recipients will be honored during the Harvesting Hope Servant Leadership Awards & Annual Fundraiser. This event is scheduled for Saturday, November 1, 2025, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM ET, and will be held in The Kittleman Room (DH-100) at Duncan Hall, Howard Community College, located at 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044.

Attendees can anticipate the following highlights at the event:

• Culinary Delights: A selection of international cuisines to satisfy diverse tastes
• Live Entertainment: A captivating magic performance by Dave Thomen of D’s Magic
• Silent Auction: Unique items and memorable experiences available for bidding
• Networking Opportunities: An assembly of national and local business, government, and nonprofit leaders, alongside Rotarians from District 7620 and further afield
• Dress Code: Glamorous and sparkling attire is encouraged for this special occasion!

For ticket purchases or inquiries regarding sponsorship opportunities, kindly reach out to Dr. Geetha Jayaram at districtgovernor2122@gmail.com or Ms. Rudy Scott at rudylscott@gmail.com.

About the Rotary Club of Howard West

The Rotary Club of Howard West, situated in Ellicott City, Maryland, is an affiliate of Rotary International. This global organization encompasses 45,000 clubs and more than 1.4 million members committed to community service, fostering peace, advancing education, preventing disease, ensuring access to clean water, promoting maternal and child health, supporting economic development, and championing environmental stewardship. Established in 2014 as part of District 7620, Howard West Rotarians have implemented impactful local and international service initiatives, with a particular focus on mental health and well-being, advocating for women and girls, and general community service. The club convenes weekly in a hybrid format every Monday at 6:30 PM ET at the Glory Days Grill in Ellicott City, MD. To discover more about our club or to join our mission of “Service Above Self,” please visit www.websites.dacdb.com/howardwestrotary.com or contact rawleandrewsjr@gmail.com via email.