Towson University has met the terms of the France-Merrick Challenge for Top 10 Scholars, creating a pool of scholarship funds for economically disadvantaged students enrolled in the university’s Top 10% Program. Admission to the program is offered to Baltimore City and Baltimore County students who ranked in the top 10% of their graduating classes. Scholarship commitments total $1.5 million and will leverage a $500,000 grant from the France-Merrick Foundation.

Towson University wrapped up the five-year challenge in March 2009, two years ahead of schedule and just in time for the first class of Top 10% scholars to cross the commencement stage in May.

Approximately 95% of challenge-eligible contributions were designated to endowment funds, which will grow over time to provide a sustaining source of support for economically disadvantaged Top 10% students. The remainder has been earmarked for direct scholarships, which heighten the program’s visibility and provide an immediate boost to the scholarship resources available to current Top 10% students. Through the generosity of the France-Merrick Foundation and donors to the challenge, 45 students have received scholarship support over the past three years.

Tags: April 2009

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 at 1:14 pm