Four students from Franklin High School are the first recipients of a scholarship named in honor of a famous alumnus— T. Rowe Price. Franklin High School graduates Noor Shaike, Margaret Garcia, Daisy Atika, and Syncere Hobbs were selected by the school’s guidance department and alumni association and received an initial scholarship of $2,000. They are eligible to renew the prize for the next four years as long as they continue to meet the criteria.
The students attend the following schools: Shaike, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC); Garcia, Towson University; Hobbs, University of Maryland, College Park; and Atika, the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC).
“This scholarship really helps a lot,” said Garcia. “I thank T. Rowe Price for this scholarship along with the wonderful assistance of Franklin High School’s guidance department.”
The T. Rowe Price scholarship was created to support students at Franklin, which is located in Reisterstown, Maryland. Price was a member of the graduating class of 1914.
“This is really a story about a graduate from 1914 touching graduates in 2018,” says Renee Christoff, head of Global Associate Engagement + Corporate Responsibility for T. Rowe Price. “We are giving in honor of Mr. Price to touch students at his alma mater.”
Born Thomas Rowe Price Jr. on March 16, 1898, Price received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Swarthmore College in 1919.With his degree in chemistry, Price initially sought a career with the chemical company DuPont. However, he soon realized that he was more interested in money management than scientific research, and left DuPont to join a series of small investment firms and brokerages.
He founded the investment firm T. Rowe Price in 1937. The company offers mutual funds, subadvisory services, and separate account management for individuals, institutions, retirement plans, and financial intermediaries.
“We focused on students who had worked hard to be successful in school but were not necessarily at the very top of the class,” said Tanya L. Scott, School Counseling Department chairperson at Franklin High School. “We were looking for students who made positive contributions to Franklin High School and overall were well-rounded, good young people.”
After learning of their awards, the students visited the firm’s Owings Mills campus, where they had lunch and a tour. Franklin High School principal Patrick McCusker accompanied the students on their tour, along with guidance counselors and members of the school’s Alumni Association.
“Our mission is to make sure that we set students up for success after high school,” said McCusker. “That is, we are committed to providing them with the knowledge and skills to be successful as they transition into post-secondary education, the military, or the workforce.
“The T. Rowe Price scholarships help to ensure that financial need is not a barrier for qualified students who want to further their education. As the alma mater of the business’s founder, we are honored that T. Rowe Price has become a partner in helping us fulfill our mission.”
The latest scholarships are a part of T. Rowe Price’s mission to grow their relationship with the school and help deserving students. The firm also awarded scholarships to the school six years ago.
“I think it is a great way to showcase that the business community recognizes Franklin High is living up to our motto,” said McCusker. “We want to be second to none in preparing them for success after high school. We can give them academic support but can’t support them financially after they graduate. Doors have opened up for these students after high school because of T. Rowe Price’s generosity.”