Spring Break
Scholar program takes city's brightest
Issue date: 9/20/07
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Many Baltimore students once considered an education at Johns Hopkins University to be beyond reach. Aware of this notion, Johns Hopkins University founded the Baltimore scholars in 2004.
This relatively new award program, spearheaded by professor of political science Michael Crenson, a graduate of the Baltimore City school system and alumnus of Hopkins, officially began with the class of 2009. The program was created in order to allow students from Baltimore City public schools to experience a first-rate education within their home city. "The Baltimore Scholars Program is one more step the University can take to support our city and especially our public schools," University president William Brody said in a 2004 press release.
The program underwrites the cost of tuition to selected individuals applying to Hopkins from Baltimore public schools. The program is extended to all of the University's undergraduate schools (the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the Whiting School of Engineering and the Peabody Conservatory) along with the School of Nursing, if a scholar decides to transfer in his or her junior year. As of the 2007-08 academic year, the scholarship will amount to $35,900 for the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and the Whiting School of Engineering, $31,400 for the Peabody Conservatory and $29,280 for the School of Nursing.
Along with receiving full scholarships, the scholars meet to discuss future goals and attend a variety of events in which they can interact with one another and talk about their experiences at the University. In addition to these benefits, the program is currently trying to organize visits to local leaders so that the scholars may have local role models during their years at Hopkins.
"What we'd like to do is provide Baltimore home-grown leaders," Crenson said. "[Baltimore] has reached a tipping point where things are starting to look up." Indeed, the program has been successful in its brief existence. The scholars have a "pretty good" retention rate and maintain an active part in the school, the community and their studies. "It's one of the best, if not the best, opportunity I've had in my life," sophomore Baltimore Scholar Molly Broache said.
This relatively new award program, spearheaded by professor of political science Michael Crenson, a graduate of the Baltimore City school system and alumnus of Hopkins, officially began with the class of 2009. The program was created in order to allow students from Baltimore City public schools to experience a first-rate education within their home city. "The Baltimore Scholars Program is one more step the University can take to support our city and especially our public schools," University president William Brody said in a 2004 press release.
The program underwrites the cost of tuition to selected individuals applying to Hopkins from Baltimore public schools. The program is extended to all of the University's undergraduate schools (the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the Whiting School of Engineering and the Peabody Conservatory) along with the School of Nursing, if a scholar decides to transfer in his or her junior year. As of the 2007-08 academic year, the scholarship will amount to $35,900 for the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and the Whiting School of Engineering, $31,400 for the Peabody Conservatory and $29,280 for the School of Nursing.
Along with receiving full scholarships, the scholars meet to discuss future goals and attend a variety of events in which they can interact with one another and talk about their experiences at the University. In addition to these benefits, the program is currently trying to organize visits to local leaders so that the scholars may have local role models during their years at Hopkins.
"What we'd like to do is provide Baltimore home-grown leaders," Crenson said. "[Baltimore] has reached a tipping point where things are starting to look up." Indeed, the program has been successful in its brief existence. The scholars have a "pretty good" retention rate and maintain an active part in the school, the community and their studies. "It's one of the best, if not the best, opportunity I've had in my life," sophomore Baltimore Scholar Molly Broache said.
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