The CollegeBound Urban Scholars Program (CUSP) provides financial support, internships, and networking experiences for Baltimore City public school students. Urban Scholars receive annual scholarships of $10,000 throughout four years of college and are chosen through a competitive process which includes an in-person interview.
To learn more, please contact Lori Subotich at lsubotich@collegeboundfoundation.org.
Program Components, Scholar Benefits, Eligibility
- Scholarship: A four-year $10,000 renewable annual scholarship
- Skill-Building Workshops & Seminars:
- January - Economic Development Retreat held at a downtown Baltimore location, an all-day event that features workshops provided by program funders. Past topics include: "How to Interview", "Business Etiquette", "Social Networking", "Negotiating Your Future", “Social Media’. Students participate in employer/student roundtable discussions. Event concludes with a networking reception with business professionals.
- May - An early summer Wealth Management Seminar conducted by a prominent local financial institution. Over the course of the scholars' academic career, topics range from banking and investment services (including managing a checking/savings account, the pitfalls of credit, borrowing for a home or auto and investing for their future). Event is followed by a business networking reception.
- August - Resume Writing Workshop and closing ceremony at a downtown Baltimore location. Includes a seminar provided by HR professionals where students interpret their internship experiences into line items on their resume. A networking reception with prominent corporate representatives concludes the event.
- Networking Opportunities - Incorporated into each of the three scholar events.
- Summer Internship Opportunities - Scholars are assisted in seeking/securing meaningful internship opportunities each summer of their academic career. The experiences are intended to give them insight into the Baltimore business community as well as opportunities for mentoring from senior level management which may lead to potential employment upon graduation.
- Mentoring Experience - Scholars receive a mentoring experience each year of their academic career. Mentors from the corporate community as well as graduates of CUSP round out the pool of volunteers.
- Scholars: Eligible high school seniors should apply through a link on CollegeBound’s website. Beginning December 1st each year students can access an application on the main web page by clicking the words ‘Apply Here’.
- Eligible students must:
- be a Baltimore City resident and currently attend a Baltimore City Public High School
- be eligible to receive the Federal Pell Grant
- have applied and plan to attend full-time, one of the participating colleges/universities (Capitol Technology University, Goucher College, Hood College, Johns Hopkins University, Loyola University Maryland, McDaniel College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Stevenson University, Washington College)
- have a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 at the time of application
Incoming freshman are selected through a process which includes an in-person interview in the April-May timeframe.
Additional Criteria Used to Determine Eligibility:
- Financial need (preference for students from low- and moderate-income families)
- High school academic performance
- Well written essay
- Professional resume
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- Leadership potential demonstrated through high school activities and community involvement
- Preference is given to minority students and those with a demonstrable interest in diversity
Program Participation Requirements:
- Scholars continue to participate in CollegeBound Urban Scholars Program and receive the scholarship and other program benefits each year up to four (4) years if they:
- Maintain full-time enrollment and good academic standing at a participating college/university
- Maintain a required minimum cumulative GPA
- Attend CUSP skill-building workshops and networking events
- Complete an internship each summer
Since its inception in 2004, CUSP has:
- Awarded nearly $2.5 Million in scholarships to needy students
- Celebrated 41 graduates to date from CUSP
- Assisted graduates of the program in entering the workforce, matriculating in graduate programs and continuing outreach to future Urban Scholars
- Provided mentors for each Urban Scholar with the assistance of corporate and CUSP graduate volunteers
2017-2018 CollegeBound Urban Scholars Program Participants
Morgan Alark
Hood College
Lindsey Bush **
Stevenson University
Danny Flanagan, III **
McDaniel College
Grace Greason **
Stevenson University
Davon Harris **
Stevenson University
Caprice Hickson **
Stevenson University
Kiah Johnson
Mount St. Mary's University
Akira Jones **
Stevenson University
Rawan Mahmoud **
Stevenson University
Liya Sinke
Goucher College
Leonel Suarez-Perez **
Stevenson University
Patrick Tatum
Hood College
Yohanis Teweldebirhan
Goucher College
Kayla Thames
Goucher College
T' Ana Williams
McDaniel College
Mariame Zotamou
Loyola University Maryland
** Denotes dual Urban/Travelers EDGE Scholars
Program Funders & In-Kind Gift Contributors
Associated Black Charities
CareFirst BlueCross Blue Shield
Carrollton Bank
Compass Group/Bon Appetit
BGE
Greater Baltimore Committee
Harbor Bank
Legg Mason
Lord Baltimore Capital Corporation
MattGrayPhoto.com
M&T Bank
PNC Bank
P&G Fund of Greater Cincinnati
PricewaterhouseCooper
Saul Ewing LLP
SC&H Group LLC
Shawe Family Foundation
State Farm Insurance
SunTrust Bank
Travelers
T. Rowe Price Associates Foundation, Inc.
Wells Fargo
Workforce Tactix
Summer Internship Sponsors
Abrams, Foster, Nole & Williams, P.A.
AfroAmerican Newspaper
Art with a Heart
Baltimore Algebra Project
Baltimore Life Insurance Company
Bon Secours Hospital
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Carrollton Bank
Comcast
Constellation Energy/BGE
Erickson Retirement Communities
Gallagher, Evelius & Jones
Harbor Bank Maryland
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins University
Kelly & Associates
LifeBridge Health System
M&T Bank
Maryland Historical Society
MDOT
The Maryland Zoo
Parks & People Foundation
Plexus Communications
Provident Bank
SC&H
St. Agnes Hospital
Travelers
University of Maryland Medical Center
VMG Marketing
Wells Fargo