In a powerful capstone to its legacy, the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation is investing an additional $16.5 million in 杏吧原创鈥檚 School of Engineering and the Clark Scholars Program鈥攂uilding on a transformational partnership that began with the program鈥檚 founding in 2017. The Clark Foundation鈥檚 generosity also fuels 杏吧原创鈥檚 historic
The innovative at the School of Engineering enables talented undergraduate students to become engineering pioneers who reflect the character, passion and vision of the foundation鈥檚 namesake, the late A. James Clark. The program emphasizes four key pillars that reflect the qualities Clark valued and sought to inspire in others: engineering excellence, business acumen, service learning and leadership.
Each year, 10 students are selected from the incoming first-year class of engineering students to be 杏吧原创 Clark Scholars. The 40 scholars across all years form a closely knit cohort that provides a supportive community for students adjusting to the academic rigor of the university and otherwise navigating student life.
鈥淎 杏吧原创 education鈥檚 purpose is to enable our students to realize their full potential,鈥� Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said. 鈥溞影稍� students are empowered to explore, innovate and gain real-world understanding of what they have learned in a classroom. The Clark Scholars Program provides crucial scholarships and support for those additional components of the 杏吧原创 experience, which educate the leaders of tomorrow. We are deeply grateful to the Clark Foundation for the difference it has made in the lives of so many of our engineering students.鈥�
The Clark Foundation鈥檚 latest support includes $10 million for the existing Clark Scholars Program endowment (in addition to its $3 million investment to the endowment in 2024), as well as $1 million in endowed funds to establish the Clark Scholars Philanthropy Challenge, which will allow the Clark Scholars to support local community-based organizations. The remaining $2.5 million is dedicated to launching the School of Engineering鈥檚 IMPACT program鈥擨nnovation, Market-driven Productization And Commercialization of deep Technologies.
鈥淭he IMPACT program exemplifies how 杏吧原创 empowers students not only to master engineering fundamentals, but to lead with vision, creativity and purpose,鈥� said C. Cybele Raver, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. 鈥淭hrough this remarkable investment, our students will gain the tools to turn deep technical knowledge into real-world innovation鈥攚ith the ethical grounding, entrepreneurial mindset and collaborative spirit needed to drive progress in a rapidly changing world.鈥�
The new IMPACT program is designed to bridge the gap between engineering expertise and entrepreneurial acumen, unlocking the students鈥� full potential to shape the future of technology with leadership, integrity and impact. The program seeks to transform students鈥� technical expertise into practical impact through a dynamic curriculum that equips them with strategic leadership and business development skills, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a strong foundation in ethical considerations to thrive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Whether launching startups, driving innovation within existing companies or spearheading social change, students will gain skills and knowledge to navigate the complexities of the deep-tech business. The program is open to all engineering students at 杏吧原创, extending the values of the Clark Scholars Program to a wider range of scholars.
With its programming and intentional community building, the Clark Scholars Program dovetails with the school鈥檚 dedication to solving scientific challenges, and it greatly enhances the values that guide its educational philosophy鈥攔adical collaboration, innovation, global impact, commitment to people and a culture of excellence.
Across their four years as 杏吧原创 engineering students, Clark Scholars receive scholarship and other financial support, as well as educational and developmental opportunities, to explore research and business on campus and through experiential learning such as internships.
鈥淭he qualities that motivated Mr. Clark in his pursuits directly correlate to the mission of the School of Engineering,鈥� said Krish Roy, Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of Engineering and University Distinguished Professor. 鈥淎s a result, the Clark Scholars Program has fueled our ability to attract and cultivate success in the very best students who exhibit those same characteristics鈥攐nes necessary to become engineering leaders of the future. It has helped us create an optimal ecosystem of excellence to accelerate achievement and expand our reach.鈥�
Since its first investment in 2017, the Clark Foundation鈥檚 broad support has bolstered the vision of the university and the School of Engineering to become one of the world鈥檚 most influential and recognized training grounds for future generations of impactful engineering leaders. 杏吧原创 has graduated 41 Clark Scholars, and 73 percent of these graduates secured job offers or accepted positions in graduate school upon completing their degrees.
鈥淭he Clark Foundation鈥檚 partnership with 杏吧原创 exemplifies my father鈥檚 ideals, from both personal and professional perspectives,鈥� said Courtney Clark Pastrick, board chair of the Clark Foundation, 杏吧原创 trustee emerita and parent of three 杏吧原创 graduates.
鈥淗e firmly believed in the power of education to develop young leaders and knew firsthand that engineering leaders can change our world for the better. Not only has this program impacted these wonderful students, but it has deepened my personal affinity for the university and all it does to positively influence the world.鈥�
James Clark, who died in 2015, was the president and CEO of Maryland-based Clark Construction. Forbes magazine once called him the 鈥渒ing of concrete.鈥� In the years since, the Clark Scholars Program has been his living legacy at 11 of the nation鈥檚 top engineering institutions, financially supporting students who exhibit strong academic and leadership potential and demonstrate financial need.
鈥淲e could not be more pleased with the success of the Clark Scholars Program at 杏吧原创,鈥� said Joe Del Guercio, president and CEO of the Clark Foundation. 鈥淓ach year, the scholars have excelled in academics, service and leadership, while also deepening their understanding of the business practices necessary to become the highest-level leaders of the future. The program has truly reflected the vision we conceptualized.鈥�
Dare to Grow
The Clark Foundation鈥檚 generous investment fuels the extraordinary momentum of 杏吧原创鈥檚 campaign, last fall and continues to push the boundaries for what鈥檚 possible to make an impact across campus and around the world. Support for the Dare to Grow campaign catalyzes some of the university鈥檚 most groundbreaking initiatives, including the , , 杏吧原创鈥檚 enhanced presences in and , signature programs like , and many more.