The University of Maryland College of Education recognized Olivia Avelar Nunez ’27 and Misty Kaletenyk ’27 as the 2026 recipients of the Elaine Johnson Coates ’59 Scholarship at the Sixth Annual Alumni of Color Celebration, held at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center on May 14.
The College of Education Alumni of Color Celebration honors historical milestones and contributions from alums, students, faculty and staff of color to the College of Education. This event provides a space for networking, fellowship and community-building while raising funds for the Elaine Johnson Coates ’59 Scholarship. This year’s celebration raised a total of $39,300 from 69 donors, exceeding its goal of $35,000. Attendees included alums who graduated more than 50 years ago and those who graduated last year.
Created in 2021 by Patricia Koskinen Ph.D. ’75 and John Koskinen and first awarded in 2022, the merit-based scholarship is given to students who demonstrate a commitment to promoting racial diversity through service or activism or who distinguish themselves through notable research. A total of nine students have received the scholarship. Coates persisted through many obstacles and hardships, including discrimination and social isolation, to become the first Black woman to receive an undergraduate degree from UMD—a bachelor of arts degree in education in 1959. Coates died on February 14, 2026, at the age of 88.
Avelar Nunez, an elementary education major, transferred to UMD from Montgomery College, where she earned her associate degree in elementary and special education. As a first-generation Mexican American college student, she is passionate about creating an environment where students feel welcomed and supported. In high school, Avelar Nunez began working at a nonprofit organization devoted to supporting families and their children. She is currently a lead teacher providing academic support and facilitating diverse learning experiences to help foster a safe classroom environment. She also recently worked with Maryland Mentor Corps, where she supported fourth grade multilingual learners in math in Prince George’s County.
“It is truly an honor to receive an award named after Mrs. Elaine. She paved the way and opened up many doors of opportunities for me and other educators of color,” Avelar Nunes said in her speech at the Alumni of Color Celebration. “We walk past her portrait each day as we head to class and learn how to help students reach their full potential. … I hope to continue honoring Mrs. Elaine’s legacy through the work that I do in my community and in the classroom.”
Kaletenyk is a middle school math and science education major and first-generation college student. She works as a substitute teacher in Montgomery County, where she has gained experience in a wide range of classrooms and developed her ability to connect with students. She also serves as the treasurer of the Future Mathematics Teachers’ Council, supporting events and opportunities for aspiring educators. Through her work in schools and her involvement on campus, Kaletenyk has developed skills in leadership, classroom management, student engagement and adapting to different learning environments. Her goal as a future educator is to create classroom environments where students thrive and feel supported.
She told the Alumni of Color Celebration attendees that Coates’s story “reminds me why representation and belonging matter so much. I want my future students to walk into my classroom and feel like they belong there. I want them to see their identities and cultural backgrounds as strengths. I want them to feel supported in ways she didn’t always get to feel. That’s why for me this scholarship is not just financial support. It’s a reminder of the responsibility I carry and the kind of teacher I’m working to become.”
Top photo, from left to right: Dean Kimberly Griffin; Clemmie Solomon, Jr., Ph.D. ’96; Avelar Nunez; Kaletenyk; Associate Dean for Educator Preparation and Undergraduate Studies Ebony Terrell Shockley Ph.D. ’12; and John Koskinen.
Bottom photo: Past and current recipients of the Elaine Johnson Coates '59 Scholarship with Coates' daughter, Dr. Tamara Elmira Coates-Walker (third from left).
Photos by Jahaira Dixon
