Support from The University of Baltimore Foundation works to
POSITION UBALT AS THE REGION’S PREMIER PROFESSIONAL,
CAREER-FOCUSED UNIVERSITY.
DONOR DOLLARS AT WORK
While coursework is vital for career readiness, The University of Baltimore has long recognized the importance of applied learning for professional development. UBalt works closely with individuals and organizations to create funded opportunities that help prepare our students for their next steps. Two such funds established in FY2022 spotlight the importance of meeting needs beyond the classroom.
Almost immediately following commencement, graduates from the School of Law expect to spend upwards of 400 hours over the next eight to 10 weeks preparing for the Bar Exam. Director of Bar Success, Neal Kempler, J.D. ‘10, tells students to “treat bar preparation like it’s a demanding full-time job.”
During this time, many bar takers not only struggle to make time for family responsibilities but maintain even a part-time work schedule during this period. Additionally, to increase their chances of passing the Bar, graduates utilize various study methods, including review courses or private tutors. Students who are not able to afford such resources are almost immediately placed at a distinct competitive disadvantage.
Having faced similar challenges, Arthur C. Crum Jr., J.D. ’84, established the Crum Fellowship for Bar Success Fund to support graduates during this relatively brief, but intense time in their burgeoning careers, and also to ensure financial inequality at the end of law school is not a barrier to success in the future. He says, “The Fellowship is designed to assist law school graduates with demonstrated financial needs to lessen financial concerns and distractions. Our belief is that assistance will help alleviate, in some measure, financial pressures and allow the graduate to concentrate on Bar exam studies and preparation ensuring a successful result.”
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation, also recognizes the need for students to have the financial freedom to pursue professional development while also pursuing their degree. Much like UBalt, they believe that internships allow students to apply their education, gain experience in a particular field, and prepare for fulfilling careers. That’s why they established the BGE Scholarship Fund for University students in the Merrick School of Business.
Five “BGE Scholars” will receive $5,000 for one year to not only pursue their degree program on campus but complete an internship with BGE/Exelon. This need-based program will not only serve to attract high-achieving and diverse students to the business school, but also provide BGE with workforce-ready support in areas including finance, accounting and business management.
For many students, financial assistance can mean the difference between fulfilling the dream of receiving a college degree and being resigned to a lifetime of untapped potential.
I have completed my first two years majoring in counseling psychology at The University of Baltimore. Although it has been hard to balance my two jobs and school while emotionally dealing with the pandemic, I feel proud of what I have been able to accomplish. My new job as an interpreter for non-English speaking parents and children during counseling sessions lit a fire in me to work even harder on my education so I can become a therapist as quickly as possible. This job has been so rewarding, and watching these patients grow and improve has proven that I can make a difference in this career. The generous UBalt community has made my education possible, and I am beyond grateful.”
– CATHERINE Z. LUGARDO, CURRENT STUDENT
APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY, COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY CONCENTRATION
PITCH FOR A MILLION
A team of three University of Baltimore alumni finished first in the third annual “Pitch for a Million” competition
, held on June 23, 2022 on the UBalt campus.
The competition saw six finalists from the University’s 2022 M&T Bank Real Estate Fellows program pitch their concepts for improving Baltimore’s middle-market neighborhoods before a panel of expert judges.
The winning project to create affordable, family-owned housing in Baltimore was presented by the founding members of Three Walls Development (3WD), Wesley Hawkins, B.S. ’18, Amber Jones, B.S. ’18, and Lamar Purnell, B.S. ’17. 3WD’s mission is to build up vibrant, sustainable communities by providing housing, resources, and opportunities that empower residents to thrive in-place.
The competition is part of an intense immersion into the finer points of property development, led and mentored by some of the region’s top real-estate professionals. This cohort represents the third in the Real Estate Fellows program sponsored by M&T Bank. The winning team will receive $10,000 in equity to secure the property for their proposal and the necessary financing, up to $1 million, in a Guidance Line of Credit from Baltimore Community Lending.