Alumni expand scholarship for Glen Burnie High School graduates to study at McDaniel

Graduates of Glen Burnie High School in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, have expanded scholarship opportunities available to attend McDaniel College through a $500,000 gift commitment from alumni couple Bryson and Carol Popham, both members of the Class of 1973.

The Pophams joined McDaniel College President Julia Jasken, Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Bedell, and Glen Burnie High School Principal Kevin Carr for a surprise announcement Monday, Sept. 14, at Glen Burnie High School, where school staff learned about the expanded scholarship opportunity.

Through the Mildred R. Popham and Carol L. Popham ’73 Scholarship for Teaching and Human Services, eligible Glen Burnie High School graduates who attend McDaniel can receive a $20,000 annual scholarship, which is then matched by McDaniel College, for a total scholarship value of at least $40,000 each year.

Bryson Popham said, “The scholarship program reflects a collaborative relationship between McDaniel and Glen Burnie High School and is designed to help make a McDaniel education more accessible to students interested in careers serving their communities. With the annual scholarship amount increasing, this places the net cost of a McDaniel education at or below the cost of other public colleges and universities in the State of Maryland.” 

Bryson and Carol Popham established the Mildred R. Popham Scholarship in 2024 in honor of Bryson’s mother to support Glen Burnie High School students planning to major or minor in Education at McDaniel. This expanded scholarship program provides additional funding and broadens eligibility to benefit more students. 

Beginning with the 2027-28 academic year, scholarship funds will be available to up to four eligible Glen Burnie High School graduates each year who apply to McDaniel to pursue studies in Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Education (K-12), Health Sciences, Nursing (B.S.N.), Psychology, Social Work, or Sociology. 

Scholarship recipients will be selected from McDaniel’s admissions applicant pool.

Bryson Popham said, “The scholarship program reflects a collaborative relationship between McDaniel and Glen Burnie High School and is designed to help make a McDaniel education more accessible to students interested in careers serving their communities."