Alumni create scholarship program for Glen Burnie High School graduates studying at McDaniel
Alumni couple Bryson and Carol Popham, who both graduated from the college in 1973, created the Mildred R. Popham Scholarship in honor of Bryson’s mother. Up to four $10,000 annual scholarships will be awarded starting in the 2025-26 academic year, with preference given to students planning to major or minor in Education.
Carol Popham '73 and Bryson Popham ’73
Alumni couple Bryson and Carol Popham, who both graduated from the college in 1973, have created a scholarship fund at McDaniel College through a $160,000 gift commitment.
The program consists of a collaborative relationship between McDaniel and Glen Burnie High School (GBHS) in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and program funds are only available to eligible graduates of GBHS who apply for admission to McDaniel. The two institutions have already begun to work together in support of the scholarship with GBHS counselors visiting McDaniel’s campus. The Pophams presented the program to GBHS faculty on Sept. 25 and intend to continue their active involvement in the program, serving as its champion with both institutions.
Up to four $10,000 annual scholarships will be awarded starting in the 2025-26 academic year, with preference given to students planning to major or minor in Education. Each $10,000 scholarship grant is renewable annually for a maximum of $40,000 over four years. Students for the scholarships are selected from the admissions applicant pool at McDaniel.
The scholarship fund has been created in honor of Bryson’s mother, Mildred Popham, who taught at Ferndale Elementary School in Glen Burnie, Maryland, from the early 1950s to the early 1970s.
A lawyer and lobbyist, Bryson Popham runs a government relations practice in Annapolis, Maryland, while Carol Popham is a social worker employed by the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services.
“My mother was a great teacher, and teaching runs in our family’s genes,” said Bryson Popham. “Even my wife Carol became a substitute teacher after retiring as a social worker. Almost everyone remembers a teacher who made a positive difference in their lives, and that was certainly true of Mildred Popham.”
“Carol and I are deeply grateful for the enthusiastic response from both McDaniel and Glen Burnie High School to the creation of this program. We believe it will be successful, and we will continue our efforts to assure its success.”
