The Southern Management Leadership Program provides financial, academic and professional assistance to students who might not otherwise be able to afford a college education. Students start at either Prince George’s Community College or Montgomery College and transfer to the University of Maryland to complete their degree in any major. They receive up to 2/3 tuition in scholarship funds. They also receive deep mentoring from full-time mentors at each institution. Students participate in community and team-building activities while taking classes in entrepreneurship and leadership.
The scholarship initiative is targeted to students who have an interest in entrepreneurship and an enthusiasm for starting a business venture or leading a company with the goal of supporting, developing, and graduating ethical leaders who want to give back to their local communities.
Southern Management has informed the University of Maryland, Prince George’s Community College, and Montgomery College of the difficult decision to withdraw support from the Southern Management Leadership Program over the next couple of years because of challenges in the current business environment. At the same time, they have said how proud they are to have supported the program, its exceptional students, and their communities for many years.
Current students will be unaffected. Because of the program’s importance, staff and leadership at the three schools are seeking ways to continue to support this impactful program. UMD has made the commitment to fund the program (including at the community colleges) for the 2024–25 school year while pursuing new sources of support. Recruitment for a new cohort will start in March 2024 at the community colleges, and the scholarships and programming for all students currently in the program will be unaffected.
Date Created: 2006
Number of students at UMD: 73
Number of SMLP UMD alumni: 388
Number of students at Montgomery College: 20
Number of students at PGCCC: 16