Future Entrepreneurs Get Assistance To Finance Paths to 4-Year Degrees

Scholarship Bridges Prince George's Community College, U-Md.

Trevor Young has tried more than a few businesses over the years: He's gotten his real-estate license, his taxi license, his vending license. He's promoted parties, cleaned carpets, started a magazine and sold postcards on the Mall.

Now, at 31, he's finally doing what he couldn't afford to do after high school: He's getting an education and learning to be an entrepreneur. "I love college," he said.

Young is one of 19 students at Prince George's Community College awarded scholarships that include full tuition, books and a $500 stipend -- and two-thirds of the tuition at the University of Maryland when they transfer there to earn a four-year degree. The $1.7 million total donation from the David H. and Suzanne D. Hillman Family Foundation is designed to encourage young entrepreneurs.

"Even if they don't ever own their own business, entrepreneurial thinking makes things happen," said David Hillman, chief executive of Southern Management Corp., which owns apartments in the area.

"We're trying to create leaders," program director Lisa Rawlings said.

The scholars range in age from 18 to the mid-40s. Their grades are anywhere from straight A's to a C average. Some live at home with their parents; some are married with children in college.

To stay in school, the students are "already hustling -- they've got a couple things going on so they can meet their financial commitments," Rawlings said. "They've already got a babysitting thing they do or home repairs or something on the side."

According to a recent survey reported by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, nearly two-thirds of Maryland voters polled said higher education in the state is very good or excellent -- but very few think it is affordable.

A national study by the Education Trust, a research and advocacy organization, said that state flagship schools have become less accessible to students from low-income families and racial minorities. Like 24 other state flagships, U-Md. got a D rating. None got A's.

U-Md. has added need-based scholarships in recent years and, like an increasing number of four-year colleges, has forged agreements with some community colleges. That makes it easier for students to transfer to complete their degrees, making a bachelor's degree more affordable.

Shavon Holland was worried about paying for college when she went back to school, especially because she has an 11-year-old son to take care of. Now, with the scholarship, she's excited about studying business at PGCC and U-Md., and she plans to open a consignment shop in Southern Maryland.

Uma Bharadwaj joined the Navy to earn money for college. After he graduates from U-Md., he hopes to go to the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School or Harvard Business School.

Trevor Young came to the United States from Sierra Leone when he was 9 years old; his parents died there during the war. He started at U-Md. but didn't have enough money to pay for it. Since then, he has tried his hand at just about everything.

"I realized I have business experience but no business theory, no knowledge," he said. He laughed, and said, "Rather than make the same mistakes and pitfalls, I should study business and learn from the mistakes of others."

He wishes he started off at PGCC because it would have been more affordable. "Most people, when they think of community colleges, they think negatively," he said. "They aren't aware of the opportunities."

Young has been getting A's, and he competed in an economic contest this month, even as he works nights in his cab and helps his wife care for their two young daughters.

He couldn't afford all the classes he wanted to take before, but now, with the scholarship, he has added courses and changed his major to international finance and economics.

He plans to start businesses in the Upper Marlboro area, where he just bought a house, and in Sierra Leone.

"Not too many people in life get a second opportunity," Young said. "I'm ready -- I'm ready to take advantage of any opportunity that comes to me."