The University of Maryland (UMD) has announced a $20.6 million investment from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation to make the A. James Clark School of Engineering the permanent home of a multi-university program that supports students with financial need.

Launched in 2016 and active at 11 of the nation’s top engineering institutions, the A. James Clark Program Network awards scholarships to exceptionally talented students and provides holistic support in engineering, business, leadership, innovation, and community service. Reintroduced this year as the Clark Scholars Program Network, the initiative will encourage collaboration and innovation across participating institutions, facilitate forums for sharing best practices, establish an alumni network, and host an annual Clark Scholars Summit at partner institutions, including Georgia Tech, Stevens Institute of Technology, the University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Duke, George Washington, Johns Hopkins, Penn State, and Vanderbilt universities.

With the most recent gift, the foundation and the Clark family have invested more than $300 million in UMD, supporting new infrastructure, students, faculty, and research efforts.

“The University of Maryland is proud of its long-standing partnership with the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, and we are thrilled to carry on its legacy moving forward as the official home of the Clark Scholars Program Network,” said UMD president Darryll J. Pines. “The foundation's support for scholarships and fellowships has made college education more accessible to students from all backgrounds, and this program’s impact is only just beginning to be realized as our scholars enter the workforce. We look forward to collaborating with our partner institutions as the Clark Scholars Program Network enters its next chapter.”

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