Morgan State University and Senator Arthur Ellis Launch Scholarship Partnership to Expand College Access for Charles County Students

Matching Award Initiative Doubles Financial Support, Opening New Pathways to Higher Education and Student Success

BALTIMORE — A new collaboration between Morgan State University and the Office of Senator Arthur Ellis (District 28) will significantly expand access to higher education for students from Charles County by doubling available scholarship support and reducing financial barriers to college completion.

Through a newly executed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Morgan will match District 28 Senatorial Scholarship awards—up to $5,000 annually per student—effectively increasing the total financial aid available to eligible students who enroll at the University. This joint effort is designed to broaden educational opportunity, promote academic success, and ensure that more Maryland students can pursue a college degree without undue financial burden.

“This collaboration represents what is possible when leadership and vision align around a shared purpose,” said Morgan State University President David K. Wilson. “Senator Ellis has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the students and families of District 28, and we are proud to partner with his office to amplify that impact. By matching these scholarship funds, Morgan strengthens its connection to a growing part of the state while also investing directly in the academic aspirations and future success of its constituents.”

Access to financial aid plays a critical role in student success, with grant-based support increasing college enrollment, persistence, and degree completion—particularly among students facing financial barriers. By doubling scholarship funding, this partnership amplifies those outcomes, helping more students not only access higher education but also remain on track to graduate.

The partnership aligns Senator Ellis’s longstanding commitment to supporting Maryland’s next generation of scholars with Morgan’s mission as the state’s preeminent public urban research university—focused on excellence, access, and community impact.

“Expanding access to higher education is one of the most meaningful investments we can make in the future of Charles County,” said Senator Ellis. “I am proud to work alongside Morgan State University to open doors of opportunity and help cultivate the next generation of leaders from District 28.”

Maryland Senatorial Scholarships are available to Maryland residents pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree or certificate at an eligible two- or four-year college, university, or private career school within the state. These scholarships are awarded through each legislative district’s state delegation. Maryland District 28 is a state legislative district in Charles County, Maryland, with approximately 174,000 residents.

Under the agreement, the coordinated effort between the Senator’s office and Morgan’s Office of Financial Aid ensures efficient administration and accountability, with both parties committed to annual reporting and ongoing collaboration.

The MOU remains in effect through January 2027, with both parties expressing interest in exploring additional opportunities to deepen the partnership and expand its impact in the years ahead.

*All photos shown courtesy of the Office of Senator Arthur Ellis

About Morgan

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master’s degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu. 

# # #

Media Contacts:

Larry Jones, or Dell Jackson, for Morgan State University PR
443-885-3022