8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  June 29, 2011

SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland	000-19065	52-1532952
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

17801 Georgia Avenue, Olney, Maryland  20832

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (301) 774-6400

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Mr. Robert E. Henel, Jr. was elected a director of Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) at the regular meeting of the board of directors on June 29, 2011.  Mr. Henel was appointed to the Credit and Investment Risk Committee and the Audit Committee.

Mr. Henel, age 63, is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Annapolis Banking & Trust Company and a former Regional President for PNC Bank.

The Company issued a news release announcing the appointment of Mr. Henel on June 30, 2011.  A  copy of the news release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibits

Number Description

99.1 Press Release dated June 30, 2011

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.
	(Registrant)
Date:  June 30, 2011	By:	/s/ Ronald E. Kuykendall
		Ronald E. Kuykendall
		General Counsel and Secretary

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EX-99.1

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                           

SANDY SPRING BANCORP ELECTS ROBERT E. HENEL, JR.

TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OLNEY, MARYLAND, June 30, 2011 — Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., (Nasdaq: SASR) the parent company of Sandy Spring Bank, today announced the election of Robert E. Henel, Jr., to its board of directors on June 29, 2011.  Henel, 63, is the former Regional President of PNC Bank for the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Region having previously served as the Chairman, President and CEO of Annapolis Banking & Trust Company, an affiliate of Mercantile Bankshares Corp., for 16 years.

“We could not be more pleased to have someone with Bob’s experience in the industry and reputation in the community on our board.  It’s a perfect fit,” said Daniel J. Schrider, President and CEO.  “The greater Annapolis market is very important to us, and there are few who understand banking in that market as well as Bob.”

In addition to 39 years in the banking industry, Henel is a past chairman of the board of trustees for the Anne Arundel Health System, and a past chairman of the Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation. He has served numerous community, civic, and industry organizations such as Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, Annapolis Life Care, Historic Annapolis Foundation, and the Maryland Bankers Association.

"Bob will make an outstanding addition to our board,” said Robert L. Orndorff, Chairman of the Board.  “He represents community banking at its best, and that is what Sandy Spring Bank endeavors to bring to each of the communities we serve throughout central Maryland and Northern Virginia.”

Henel will serve on the board’s Audit Committee and Credit & Investment Risk Committee.  He will also assume the position of chairman of the Chesapeake Region Advisory Board for Sandy Spring Bank.

About Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc./Sandy Spring Bank

With $3.5 billion in assets, Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for Sandy Spring Bank and its principal subsidiaries, Sandy Spring Insurance Corporation and West Financial Services, Inc. Sandy Spring Bancorp is the oldest and largest publicly traded banking company headquartered and operating in Maryland. Sandy Spring is a community banking organization that focuses its lending and other services on businesses and consumers in the local market area. Independent and community-oriented, Sandy Spring Bank was founded in 1868 and offers a broad range of commercial banking, retail banking and trust services through 43 community offices in Anne Arundel, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties in Maryland, and in Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia. Through its subsidiaries, Sandy Spring Bank also offers a comprehensive menu of leasing, insurance and investment management services. Visit www.sandyspringbank.com to locate an ATM near you or for more information about Sandy Spring Bank.

For additional information or questions, please contact:

Daniel J. Schrider, President & Chief Executive Officer

DSchrider@sandyspringbank.com, or

Philip J. Mantua, Executive V.P. & Chief Financial Officer

PMantua@sandyspringbank.com

Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.

17801 Georgia Avenue

Olney, Maryland 20832

800-399-5919

Web site: sandyspringbank.com