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9/23/26
Generous donation from business leader Cathy Bernard will help current and future students
A major gift to The Universities at Shady Grove will establish a scholarship endowment and greatly expand USG’s ability to provide financial support to students. The gift comes from staunch USG supporter and Montgomery County business leader Cathy Bernard. In recognition of her generosity, the teaching theater of USG’s Biomedical Sciences and Engineering building will be named Cathy Bernard Teaching Hall. A naming ceremony and unveiling will take place in the spring.
“On behalf of the USG community, I sincerely thank Cathy Bernard for this donation and for her steadfast commitment to USG,” said Dr. Anne Khademian, executive director of USG. “Cathy’s commitment to students at USG goes beyond financial support. Cathy leads by example. She is a mentor to students and has created opportunities on our campus for students to learn from other business leaders. Her dedication opens doors and changes lives for students at USG.”
A longtime Montgomery County resident, Cathy has made her home and raised her children in the county while becoming deeply involved in the community. She is an ardent supporter of entrepreneurs in the region, including at USG, where she has mentored, judged pitch competitions, and sponsored The Bernard Series for Entrepreneurship. The series allows for students to network with and learn from regional and notable entrepreneurs. Cathy attended the series’ kickoff event in 2025.
“Helping people realize their dreams and aspirations is important to me,” says Cathy. “Creating your own business, providing jobs and being financially secure are important goals for students, and having created several businesses has given me insight and desire to guide aspiring entrepreneurs to succeed. USG offers that opportunity, and I am proud to be part of that.”
Research shows that scholarships can keep students on track to complete their degrees, and part of Cathy’s gift will begin helping students immediately. Students at USG are enrolled in one of its nine partner universities, which awards their degree and provides their primary financial aid. USG supplements that aid through its Center for Scholarships, allowing eligible students to receive USG scholarships on top of the financial aid they receive from their university. During the 2025-26 academic year, USG distributed more than $1.4 million in scholarships. Cathy’s gift will expand that support, helping more students realize their academic and career goals.
Another portion of the gift will establish the Cathy Bernard Endowed Scholarship in support of future generations of students at USG. The endowment will be held and managed through the University System of Maryland Foundation, the nonprofit organization that stewards charitable gifts benefiting the University System of Maryland and its universities and regional campuses.
Cathy is the founder and president of HCM Corporation, a real estate investment firm with holdings across the region, including apartment buildings, office buildings, retail space and storage facilities. HCM also conducts audits, accounting, insurance and maintenance functions for other property owners. Due to her wide-ranging philanthropy for causes across the county, Greater Washington Community Foundation of Montgomery County named Cathy its Philanthropist of the Year in 2025. Cathy serves on the board of directors at Signature Theatre, Imagination Stage, Strathmore, the Upcounty Hub, and Sunflower Bakery.
Cathy will be recognized by the business community next month when she is inducted into the Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame. The annual event honors business leaders who have made a lasting impact in Montgomery County while raising money for USG scholarships. Since its creation, the Hall of Fame has raised nearly $2 million for USG scholarships. The 14th annual luncheon will take place Oct. 19 at USG.