Planning for the Student Peace Awards Program in Frederick County, Maryland began in 2013, inspired by the successful program in Fairfax County, Virginia (see Fairfax.StudentPeaceAwards.org). A planning committee was formed and decided to begin the program with the four high schools in district 2 of Frederick County for the 2014-15 school year. Following a successful Peace Conference and Awards Ceremony, the committee expanded the program to all high schools in Frederick County. All public and several private high schools were participating from 2016 until 2020 when the program was temporarily suspended. In 2023 the program was restarted under the aegis of New Market Rotary Club. Initially, three schools in the New Market area were invited.