On Tuesday, June 21, 2022, the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) hosted its second annual NextGen NextLevel summer bridge event at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. Next Generation Scholars from Allegany, Dorchester, Kent and Wicomico counties were joined by fellow 2022 graduates from Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties for the full-day conference designed to inspire and lead new graduates into their young adult life. Eighty percent (80% of attendees are headed to college in the fall, 10% will be entering the workforce, and the remaining graduates have chosen trade school, the military or a gap year.
Regardless of their chosen path, NextGen NextLevel had something for everyone, including a variety of workshops focused on college survival, career, life hacks and self-exploration. In a follow-up survey, nearly three-quarters of participants (72%) indicated the session “Your College Survival Guides: Tips from College Students” was the most useful, followed by “How to Manage Your $$$ When You Don’t Have Any” (66%), “Secrets to Surviving on Your Own” and “The Bravest Thing You Can Do Is Ask for Help” (59% each).
Neila Henrice, a graduate of Wicomico High School attending Salisbury University in the fall to study nursing, said she really enjoyed hearing from Next Generation Scholars alumni during the College Survival workshop “because they actually went through and talked about their experiences.” Fellow Wicomico High School graduate and future nursing student Lousedaina Nissage said that session “impacted me the most because I learned more and asked questions that I wouldn’t ask an adult.”
Others are looking forward to implementing what they learned from the sessions, such as time management, budgeting, or opening a checking or savings account. For Kortney Manokey from Cambridge-South Dorchester High School, it’s “learning to speak up no matter what,” which she learned about in “The Bravest Thing You Can Do Is Ask for Help,” led by Shaquanna Foster-Dotson, MSSA, LCSW-C, CCTP, CEO of Inspiring Change Mental Health Services, and MBRT’s own Leonard Webb, Allegany County Next Generation Scholars Coordinator.
Graduates also participated in a college and career fair where they interacted with representatives from the Allegany College of Maryland, Armed Forces Center, Baltimore City Community College, Community College of Baltimore County, Howard Community College, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Maryland Hospital Association, National Security Agency, Northrop Grummanand Towson University.
“I was so excited to learn about Maryland Hospital Association just because I want to be a nurse,” said Christencie Mose Berlie Phenelus, a graduate of Wicomico High School attending Salisbury University in the fall.
Both Amaya Carroll, a graduate from Archbishop Spalding High School who is attending UMBC in the fall, and Esther Kehinde, a Randallstown High School alumna attending Johns Hopkins University in the fall, said they liked learning about internship opportunities from businesses at the college and career fair.
During lunch, graduates were entertained by Yvng Swag who spoke to the students about his journey to becoming an entertainer. And, before closing, MBRT Chief Strategy Officer and Next Generation Scholars Program Director Nona Carrollled participants in a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion session that promoted understanding and acceptance.
At the end of the day, graduates reported they felt more confident, and 98% of people who responded to a survey said they feel more prepared for their future.
As for next year, Emonie Stanford, a graduate of Wicomico High School entering trade school in the fall, hopes to return as a Next Generation Scholars alumna and share her experience. Duval High School graduate Kelly Kameni attending University of Maryland, College Park said to “please keep hosting this event.” And Nijay D, a graduate of Wicomico High School entering the workforce, agreed. “Continue this program far into the future,” she said. “Believe me, it helps.”
