Every student a future. Every business a success. The vision of Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) seems simple enough, but to bring it to fruition there are many layers of support that need to be in place. A cornerstone of that support is fostering career connections for students across the state. While there are ways our organization focuses directly on career-readiness and students moving to the world of work as their immediate post-secondary option, MBRT also works to expose students to a variety of college options, enabling them to later pursue careers that require or benefit from certifications and/or collegiate-level degrees.
What does this look like in Fall 2025 in our Next Generation Scholars (NGS) Counties*?
- College Campaigns: NGS coordinators have hosted Maryland Post-Secondary Success: College Focus weeks. During these weeks, students are offered extra services to complete college/trade-school applications. They are also given opportunities to meet with admissions counselors. In Kent County, juniors and seniors were given the opportunity to meet with twenty-one different admissions counselors from Maryland colleges and universities, which resulted in 262 student interactions. In Wicomico County, they had 197 seniors who participated in their week with 4 colleges present. In Caroline County, the NGS Coordinator worked directly with 87 seniors over the week at Colonel Richardson. And in Dorchester County, they worked with six admissions counselors.
- College Fairs: In October, students across the shore attended the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Tri-County College Fair to explore different college and trade-school options. Branches of the military were also present. In total, 164 NGS students attended. 99% of students said that attending the college fair was a positive experience, and 92% of students said they would use the information they learned.
- College Visits: Johns Hopkins University (JHU) is the destination for the next college visit! NGS counties will be visiting throughout the month of November, with an anticipated total of 128 students. This is the first time MBRT has coordinated visits with JHU. We will offer another NGS-wide college visit in the spring.
- Salisbury University On-Site Admissions: Partnering with Salisbury University, MBRT has been able to offer on-site admissions to the schools we serve. So far, 43 seniors from North Caroline High and Kent County High have been accepted through this event as their respective schools. Events in Dorchester and Wicomico counties will follow later this month.
*MBRT Next Generation Scholars Programs operate in five counties in Maryland: Kent, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, and Allegany, with MBRT professional staff serving six high schools with offices on-site.
Outside of NGS Programs, MBRT works school-wide in these same schools to meet with every 10th grader to conduct Career Exploration sessions. During this time, our program team discusses the impact that education can have on future career possibilities and earning potential. We use our Way to Be magazine as a resource – see pages 7 and 17.
At Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, our vision is more than just a catch phrase — it is a daily commitment. From personalized career exploration sessions to impactful college campaigns and visits, MBRT’s efforts are helping students see the full spectrum of opportunities available to them. Whether their paths lead directly into the workforce, trade programs, or higher education, students are gaining the knowledge, confidence, and connections they need to take the next step toward success and understand how continuing their education can benefit them.
