Bethany Elementary teacher John Plunkett was selected as a teacher mentor by a University of Maryland senior.
Srinidhi Gubba, who studies individual studies and computer science, chose Plunkett through the university's Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars program. The university announced the 2026-27 class on Nov. 6.
The program, established in 2004 through a gift from the late publisher Philip Merrill and his family, highlights UMD's highest-achieving seniors along with the K-12 teachers and faculty members whose mentorship shaped their paths. Each scholar picks both a teacher mentor and a faculty mentor. Gubba also named Deb Niemeier of UMD's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering as her faculty mentor.
Eighteen scholars were named this year. Their career goals include fire protection and post-quantum cryptography, according to the university.
The honorees were recognized at a ceremony and workshop Nov. 6 at University House on the College Park campus. UMD President Darryll J. Pines said the Merrill family "have invested in supporting the teachers who push us to take on new challenges, inspire us to set new goals and discover talents we never knew we had."
