LARGO, Md. (June 14, 2019) – Prince George’s Community College (PGCC or College) celebrated 20 graduating students from the first cohort of the Prince George’s County Promise Scholarship on May 16. Students were recognized for their accomplishments at the College and for their future plans to enroll in four-year colleges to complete their bachelor’s degrees.
“I know how important financial support is to help young people reach their dreams,” said PGCC President Dr. Charlene Dukes in her remarks to the students and their families.
In 2017, PGCC became an early adopter of the Promise Scholarship Program through a partnership with Prince George’s County. The scholarship serves as a last dollar resource for first-time college students who meet financial and academic eligibility requirements.
Ellis Brown, one of the 20 students who graduated, said the scholarship not only helped him achieve his educational goals but also offered advising opportunities that kept him on track to graduate with his Associate Degree in Economics. He’s set to enroll as a junior at University of Maryland, College Park, in the fall where he will major in Information Systems.
The Prince George’s County Scholarship made it possible for students like Ellis to achieve lifelong goals of earning a degree. Without the scholarship, earning a degree may not have been possible or would have caused a financial burden, an issue that continues to plague college students across the nation.
Recent Federal Reserve data report that Americans owe $1.5 trillion in student loans. As the cost of education continues to rise, the prospects of obtaining a degree without taking on loan debt are slim. That’s why the county and the school partnered. The goal of the scholarship is to help more students and their families alleviate this burden.
Dakota Goldfarb graduated with her Associate Degree in Journalism, Communication, and Public Relations. She said deciding to apply for the Prince George’s County Scholarship was the “most sensible decision.” Now she only has to “worry about paying for two years of college” when she transfers to University of Maryland, College Park, in the fall.
Over the past two years, more than $1.1 million have been awarded to more than 260 Prince George’s County residents seeking their degree, industry certification, or license in a specific program.
Kimberly Johnson, manager, Special Scholarships Program at PGCC said that she has students coming every week to ask how they can take advantage of special scholarship programs. She is committed to raising awareness about the promise scholarship program and helping students identify it as a viable option.
One thing she has noticed is that many students do not fall within two years of graduation from high school when they inquire about the scholarship, which is required for the county’s promise scholarship. Another is that there are misconceptions about the Prince George’s County Promise Scholarship and how it differs from the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship.
Governor Larry Hogan signed the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship bill in 2018. The first recipients are set to receive a combined total of $15 million in scholarships in the 2019-2020 school year. As a result, students are interested to know which of these options align more with their goals and financial situations.
The two scholarships are similar in that they are both last dollar scholarships for students who meet certain criteria. Students applying for the Prince George’s County Promise Scholarship must be a county resident and attend PGCC. Students who apply for the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship must be a state resident and are required to attend the community college in the county of residence unless the community college does not offer the student’s degree or certification program of choice. There are also GPA and other requirements for both.
One of the main differences is that the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship requires the recipient to maintain an address in the state and work full-time in the state for at least one year for each year that the scholarship is awarded. If this obligation is not met, the scholarship is converted into a student loan payable to the state.
Both of these scholarships demonstrate a significant effort on behalf of the county and state to invest in Maryland students. Students are encouraged to review the requirements and speak with financial aid officers at the College to determine which scholarship is best.
To learn more about the Promise Scholarships, view the Promise Scholarship Infographic or click the links below.
To learn more and apply for the Prince George’s County Promise Scholarship, visit https://www.pgcc.edu/go/promisescholarship/.
To learn more and apply for the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship, visit https://mhec.state.md.us/Pages/Community-College-Promise-Scholarship.aspx.
About Prince George’s Community College
Named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security (2015-2020), Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) provides high-quality education and training for the progressive and career-oriented residents of Prince George’s County. From new high school graduates and career seekers to more seasoned professionals and senior citizens looking to enhance their skillsets, PGCC is comprised of students who represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and goals. Serving nearly 40,000 individuals annually, the college is the first choice for higher education for residents of Prince George’s County. Collaborative partnerships, responsive degree and training programs, and a commitment to student success enable PGCC to address diverse education and workforce development demands. For more information, visit the college website at www.pgcc.edu. Prince George’s Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (267-284-5000); www.msche.org. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
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