2025 Bulldog Scholars Academy Participants Begin Their Higher Education Journey

Students Have Residential and Commuter Options

Bowie State University welcomed a cohort of 45 freshmen to campus eager to begin their college careers by participating in the 2025 Bulldog Scholars Academy, a program that enables students to take college courses and earn credits toward graduation, receive academic and social support, and meet new friends in the six-week introduction to the university. 

Scholars who live on campus participate in the Residential Academy, enrolling in two courses and earning 6 credits, while students who opted for the Commuter Academy complete one course for three credits. 

“The students earn credits through our Scholar Studio Learning Community format of courses that include psychology, communications, health, mathematics, and natural science,” said Monica Lawson, director of the Bulldog Scholars Academy. “Our staff is poised to always help students, connect them with tutors, and provide restorative practices to help with conflict resolution.” 

Some of the students are also participating in a laboratory research project, working with professors from the the Department of Natural Sciences. Dr. Hoke Glover, chair of the Department of Language, Literature & Cultural Studies, met with the students to discuss the power of reading and tai chi, but it wasn’t all work for the scholars. They were treated to a concert in The Music Center at Strathmore with three-time Grammy Award-nominated Sweet Honey in the Rock, a group known for expressing their history as Black women through song, dance and sign language. Step Afrika!, a dance company dedicated to the African American tradition of stepping, also performed, celebrating its 30th Anniversary. 

“Learning is a continuous process,” said Lawson. “Many of the students had never heard of Sweet Honey in the Rock or Step Afrika!, so the concert became an experiential learning moment fusing music and dance.” 

The Bulldog Scholars Residential Academy operates from June 23 – August 2, while the Commuter Academy welcomes students from June 25 – July 31.