• A Proven Roadmap for Success

    The College Success Scholars Program provides structured personal, academic, and professional support to Black and Latino males at the University of Maryland to ensure that scholars have the opportunity to become fully engaged in all aspects of university life and are able to succeed academically, personally, and professionally.

Scholar Testimonials

Tobi Oke
Class of 2016

College Success Scholars (CSS) has been the best thing that has happened to me since I started college. The opportunity to be accepted into a program that exposed me to college life prior to my first semester has impacted me significantly. I’ve been supplied with academic resources such as tutoring that have helped me to maintain an excellent GPA. The mentorship I’ve received from CSS leadership and upperclassmen has prepared me for the challenges that I faced throughout school and given me an advantage that is invaluable. As I grew in the program and in my personal academic achievements, I was afforded the opportunity to be in leadership in CSS which has been a transformational experience. I gained wisdom and understanding about being a professional and working to manage an organization. Through CSS leadership, I’ve learned accountability, discipline, and sacrifice. I’ve truly been blessed by my involvement in this program.

Tobi Oke
B.S. Kinesiology, 2016
School of Public Health
University of Maryland,
College Park

Troy Shuman earned his JD from Rodger Williams School of Law in spring 2015 and was recently selected for the Judge Advocate General’s Corps

Patrick Williams completed his Peace Corps assignment as a health technical trainer in Burkina Faso, Africa and is currently pursuing his doctorate in public health at University Of Minnesota

Alex Childs triple majored in Management Information Systems, Operations Management, and Analytics and is now a technology consulting senior analyst at Accenture.

Each of these young men created their own successful road map with the support of the College Success Scholars (CSS) program at the University of Maryland. As a result, each young man has created a bright future filled with service and leadership.

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Student Scholars.

While society’s educational expectations remain low for Black and Latino young men, we know that these young men can and will succeed in school when they have access to the right tools, support, and opportunities. In fact, our first class of 2007 scholars succeeded with a 100% graduation rate. We continue this record of success, as our scholars maintain a 90% retention rate. This is 27% higher than similar populations who lack a support network like the one we offer at CSS. College Success Scholars demonstrate retention and graduation rates that far exceed university and national averages.

The College Success Scholars program recognizes the innate abilities and the potential for growth of each of our scholars. We work to help each scholar develop the following qualities as they begin their journey through higher education and ultimately into the workforce —

  • Resilience
  • Agency
  • Purpose, and
  • A sense of brotherhood

Our program helps scholars to develop a road map for their academic journey, that includes internships, fellowships, research, study abroad, leadership positions, and extracurricular activities that will strengthen their minds and characters and prepare them well for what lies ahead.

Our scholars

  • Receive and provide mentoring and tutoring
  • Engage in community service and service learning
  • Participate in cultural, educational, and professional field trips

 

Download our
program brochure »

 

Spring 2023 Internship Highlights #1- Lucas Gonzalez-Rey

Posted by Maxwell Morris
My name is Lucas Gonzalez-Rey, and I’m currently a sophomore studying Information Systems and Operations Management & Business Analytics at the Smith Business School. Last summer, I had the opportunity to work as a social media and videography intern for the Capitol Hoops Summer League. The Capitol Hoops Summer League is an offseason basketball league consisting of high school teams ...READ MORE »

Scholar Testimonials

Malik Abu-Kalokoh
Class of 2017

The College Success Scholars program gave me the support I needed at the University Of Maryland. It has provided me with brothers who either have walked or are walking beside me on the path towards success. We constantly are there to support one another whenever we are in trouble or worried with a class or do not simply understand a concept. There have been times where I have felt down about something such as an exam or internship. It was my brothers who helped me back on my feet for each time I felt down and I can’t even express how much this means to me.

Malik Abu-Kalokoh
B.S. Computer Engineering,
Class of 2017
James Clark
School of Engineering
University of Maryland,
College Park