Bowie State University Enrolls Two Maguire Scholars with Full-ride Scholarships

Bowie State Joins with Maguire Foundation to Establish Program for Top Students in Need

MEDIA CONTACT: Damita Chambers, dchambers@bowiestate.edu, 301-832-2628 mobile

(BOWIE, Md.) – Two recent Philadelphia-area high school graduates received full-ride, four-year scholarships to attend Bowie State University in Maryland, thanks to a $100,000 gift from the Maguire Foundation, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit organization providing scholarships for high-achieving students from families in need.

The funding establishes the Maguire Scholars Program at Bowie State to provide four-year scholarships for as many as three top students per year from Maguire Foundation high schools, mostly in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Maguire Scholars attending one of the foundation’s college or university partners receive last-dollar scholarship support, which adds to any institutional aid they qualify for. To maintain their scholarships, students must continue to demonstrate academic excellence and participate in service activities. Tatyana Studivant, of Philadelphia, and Kasheem Thompson, of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, are Bowie State’s first Maguire Scholars, recognized for achieving a grade point average of a 3.0 or better and having a strong record of community service. Studivant graduated from Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster and Thompson from Archbishop Carroll High School in Radnor. Both will begin their freshman year at Bowie State in the fall.

“We are proud to partner with the Maguire Foundation to make it possible for deserving students to have the opportunity to pursue a high-quality higher education and make a difference in the world,” said Bowie State University President Aminta H. Breaux. “For more than 150 years, Bowie State University has provided generations of learners with higher education that transforms lives and our communities. We are grateful to the Maguire Foundation for helping Bowie State to reach even more diverse populations, advancing public education for the public good.”

The Maguire Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of people’s lives through investments in education, arts and humanities, and relief of hunger and homelessness. The foundation partners with institutions and organizations to provide scholarships and grants for families of need for grade school through college, building a strong foundation for success.

Although never visiting the Bowie State campus before enrolling, Studivant was drawn to the university because she heard great things about the academic major in government and had a desire to attend a historically black college or university (HBCU). “I could see myself here definitely. I wasn’t really looking at HBCUs at first, but my dad is a big advocate of them.” She plans to study government and enroll in an Air Force ROTC program.

Thompson has a similar story. He had only seen images of the campus online, but decided to attend Bowie State at the urging of family members who were familiar with it. Plus, he developed a good relationship with a BSU admissions counselor who encouraged him to enroll. Thompson wants to study business administration, with a focus on economics or finance. “That’s why I came to Bowie State. I feel like it’s a good fit. I felt like it would be the best decision to further my education.”

###

About Bowie State University
Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, seeking a high-quality and affordable public comprehensive university. The university places special emphasis on the science, technology, cybersecurity, criminal justice, teacher education, business, and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit www.bowiestate.edu.