Early College Awareness Programs
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Early College Awareness Programs

Early College Awareness (ECA)

CollegeBound’s Early College Awareness initiative empowers Baltimore City students to explore academic, career, and leadership opportunities that inspire and prepare them for the future. From participating in STEM challenges to visiting college campuses and applying for scholarships, our students gain valuable exposure, build essential skills, and develop the confidence to take their next big step.

CollegeBound College Access Program Specialists work with 10 Baltimore City Public Schools: Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women, Green Street Academy, National Academy Foundation, Patterson High School, Benjamin Franklin High School, Bay Brook Elementary Middle School, Maree G. Farring Elementary Middle School, Katherine Johnson Global Academy, and Harlem Park Elementary Middle School.

Program Accomplishments

Students Served:

  • Engaged 800+ Baltimore City Public School students in grades 6–11 through school-based and grant-funded programming.

Program Participation:

  • Provided students with the opportunity to take part in local, regional, and national competitions and scholarship programs, including: Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP), Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Program, Fleet Reserve Association Scholarships, Horatio Alger Scholarships, Dream Big Contest by Lyric Baltimore, creative and academic projects with Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), and more experiences that open doors to new skills and possibilities.

College & Career Exposure:

  • Organized multiple college tours each year, giving students the chance to visit campuses across Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region.
  • Connected students with college representatives, industry professionals, and role models to broaden their vision for future academic and career paths.

Impact: 

  • The Early College Awareness (ECA) Program accounted for nearly 25% of all applications submitted statewide for the Next Generation Scholars Guaranteed Access Grant Prequalification, securing approximately $180,000 in financial aid for Baltimore City students in grades 8–10. 
  • Supported students in earning a combined total of roughly $241,875 through YouthWorks summer employment opportunities. 
  • The Early College Awareness (ECA) Program launched a new Microgrant Initiative, offering five $250 awards to students in grades 6–10 who sought to participate in meaningful summer enrichment programs but faced financial barriers to attendance. Through this initiative, ECA helped reduce cost burdens and expand access to experiential learning opportunities. For example, a student attending the Notre Dame of Maryland University Pharmacy Summer Camp benefited from combined ECA funding that reduced the total cost of attendance from approximately $900 to just $15.