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SU's Disbennett Wins $7,500 in Scholarships Through Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week Contest

Friday October 11, 2019
Leah Disbennett check presentation
Maryland Retailers Association President Cailey Locklair and Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, center, with SU President Charles Wight, presented a ceremonial check for $7,500 to Shop Maryland Tax Free Week photo/video contest winner Leah Disbennett during a festive celebration also featuring SU cheerleaders and Sammy the Sea Gull. Other dignitaries in attendance included Wicomico County Council President John Cannon, ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ City Council President Jack Heath and members of the Disbennett family.

SALISBURY, MD---¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ sophomore Leah Disbennett knows a deal when she sees one.

That’s why she went shopping in August during Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week, during which sales tax is waived for clothes and shoes costing $100 or less. Capturing her buying spree on video, however, netted her an even bigger bargain: $7,500 off her college tuition.

During a visit to campus today, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot surprised the psychology major from Hebron, MD, with a $2,500 scholarship as the winner of this year’s Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week student photo/video contest, co-sponsored by his office and the Maryland Retailers Association.

SU and the University System of Maryland Foundation each matched the award for a total of $7,500.

As part of his presentation, Franchot also praised SU, calling it “the Yale University of Maryland, numero uno [and] a hidden gem.”

For the contest, entrants were asked to post Maryland-themed photos or videos of their shopping experiences that week on social media with the hashtag #ShopMDTaxFree. Disbennett’s video is available .

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU website.