2nd annual BCPS-HBCU College & Career Fair to provide instant admissions opportunities for students
Fair also will feature representatives of employment, military, financial, scholarship, and community organizations
TOWSON, MD — More than 1,000 students from all 24 Baltimore County high schools will meet with admissions and alumni representatives from at least 13 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) as well as representatives of various employment, military, financial, scholarship, and community organizations at the 2nd annual Mid-Atlantic BCPS-HBCU College Fair.
The event, hosted by Milford Mill Academy and sponsored by Edible Arrangements and the Common Black College Application (CBCA), will be held on Thursday, Nov. 8, from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Milford Mill Academy, 3800 Washington Ave., 21244. From 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Grade 12 students will have appointments with vendors, including instant admissions opportunities with the HBCUs. From 1 – 2 p.m., more than 300 Grade 11 students from Milford Mill Academy will visit the college fair. The event is free of charge to all students and vendors.
“I am so proud of the work that Milford Mill Academy has done for the past two years to provide this unique opportunity for our students,” BCPS Interim Superintendent Verletta White said. “Our students work so hard to prepare for their futures, and we want to do all we can to connect them to higher education and employment options.”
Catonsville, Catonsville Alternative, Dundalk, Franklin, Lansdowne, New Town, Owings Mills, Towson, and Woodlawn high schools have made arrangements to bring busloads of students to the event. Individual students (not coming with their schools) can register through their school counselors to attend with a chaperone. All participating students are encouraged to complete the Common Black College Application (choosing “Apply All”) prior to the fair. BCPS has secured a discounted rate of $10 (a savings of $25) for the CBCA. BCPS students can obtain the promo code from their school counselors.
The growing list of vendors for the event includes the following confirmed colleges and organizations:
HBCUs (* indicates that the university will offer on-site instant admissions)
Bowie State University* – CBCA member
Coppin State University*
Delaware State University*
Fayetteville University* – new for 2018
Lincoln University*
Morgan State University* – CBCA member
Norfolk State University* – CBCA member
North Carolina Central University – new for 2018
Tuskegee University* – CBCA member, new for 2018
University of Maryland, Eastern Shore* – CBCA member
Virginia Union University* – CBCA member
West Virginia State University* – CBCA member
Wilberforce University* – CBCA member, new for 2018
Employers/Unions
3 Rivers Builders
ABC Baltimore
Baltimore County Fire Department
Baltimore County Police Department
Baltimore Electricians JATC 24
Costello Construction
Edible Arrangements
Lewis Contractors
Maryland Apprenticeships
National Association of Women in Construction
National Electrical Contractors Association
North American Trade School
Southwest Airlines
Tranzed Apprenticeship Services
Whiting-Turner Construction
Year-Up NPO
Military Organizations
U.S. Army
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Navy
Financial Advisors/Institutions
First Financial Federal Credit Union
S.E.C.U.
Wells Fargo
Scholarship Providers
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Common Black College Application
Maryland Higher Education Commission
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.
Local Community Organizations/Scholarship Providers
Baltimore County African American Cultural Festival
Black Professional Men
Greater Baltimore Black Chamber of Commerce
NAACP of Baltimore County
According to Ken Berlett, Jr., event founder and Milford Mill’s school counseling chair, “It is the goal of every BCPS school counselor to identify the greatest needs of students and to close achievement gaps. For my students, and many other BCPS students of color, that greatest disparity has been the pursuit of higher education and other post-secondary opportunities beyond our doors.”
In part due to the 2017 BCPS-HBCU College Fair, Milford Mill Academy was able to increase the college acceptance rate for its students from 56 percent to 72 percent in one year.
“Ken Berlett and our school counseling staff have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to ensuring that more of our students receive college acceptances,” Milford Mill Academy Principal Kyria Joseph said. “As a proud Morgan State alumna, leading a staff that includes many HBCU graduates, I am pleased that we are able to share this important option with so many Milford Mill and BCPS students.”
Last year, nearly 1,000 BCPS seniors countywide attended the fair and were awarded 957 instant admissions. The goal for this year’s fair, according to Berlett, is to provide a post-secondary opportunity to every student, be it college, career, or military.
Event sponsor Edible Arrangements once again will provide each vendor with a custom dipped chocolate fruit assortment, and all vendors will enjoy a luncheon sponsored by many of the Parent-Teacher-Student Associations in Baltimore County.
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Baltimore County Public Schools, the nation’s 25th largest school system, emphasizes literacy (not only reading and writing, but understanding and using information) across all subject areas to prepare every student for college and careers. Thanks to innovative and talented leaders, teachers, and staff, BCPS celebrates many honors, including the 2017 National School Library Program of the Year Award.