Students will be selected based on factors including:
- Financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Office of Student Financial Aid.
- Prior academic and extracurricular achievements.
- Interests and/or prior experiences that align with the program components, including multidisciplinary education, research, entrepreneurship, technology management, global leadership, and social consciousness
Prospective freshmen admitted to the A. James Clark School of Engineering during the freshman early action admission process will be considered for the program and invited to apply.
Incoming first-year Scholars kick off their Clark Scholars experience with a mandatory two-week residential summer program on-campus (Summer 2025 dates are TBD). The two-week program serves as an opportunity for students to meet and develop relationships with fellow cohort members, build a foundation for their fall academic coursework, and meet important people and resources integral to their success as a Clark School student.
The Clark Scholars Summer Program activities focus around community building, learning about campus resources, preparing for success in chemistry, and developing skills in computational thinking. The 2024 Clark Scholars Summer Program kicked off with a day of bonding and ziplining at an outdoor adventure center, giving Clark Scholars the chance to build teamwork skills and get to know one another. Other highlights included attending a Washington Nationals baseball game, escaping the Charm City Clue Rooms in Baltimore, MD and Beat the Bomb’s challenge rooms in Washington, D.C., and having a bonfire with s’mores and games. Students also had fun in “The Joy and Importance of Understanding How and Why Things Work” engineering workshop, which was a weeklong workshop-style course where they were able to disassemble and reassemble a variety of products (i.e., a toaster, a coffee maker, a remote-controlled car, etc.) as well as work on their computational thinking skills. During the University Resources workshops, students had the unique opportunity to meet with the Dean of the A. James Clark School of Engineering, Dr. Samuel Graham, Jr., and intimately discuss the National Academy of Engineering's Grand Challenges. After the Summer Program, our incoming Clark Scholars started the fall semester supported by a network of friends and university faculty and staff, equipped with the confidence to begin to develop their Fearless Ideas as Terp Engineers!
The 2025 Clark Scholars Summer Program will be held in late July/early August (official dates are TBD). More details regarding the program will be shared with the Fall 2025 incoming Clark Scholars in June/July 2025. Please note that this is a mandatory program and is required for all new Clark Scholars.
The Clark Scholars Program curriculum is designed for students to develop their leadership skills, business acumen, commitment to service, and identity as a Clark Scholar. In the first year, scholars take the Engineering and the Grand Challenge's course with their cohort members, and also meet monthly with program staff. Scholars also meet monthly with all cohorts to work on their service-learning project, directed by Faculty Advisor Dr. Christopher Cadou. The current service-learning project is a student-led project aimed at stormwater management on campus. Clark Scholars also engage in semesterly advising meetings with Dr. Cadou and Associate Director, Damien Franze, to discuss their educational and professional goals.
During the next three years, Clark Scholars continue with advising and cohort meetings and collect additional experiences to build their resume as future leaders. University of Maryland Clark Scholars have the opportunity to interface with other Clark Scholars across ten leading engineering institutions through an annual conference hosted by the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation. Additionally, Clark Scholars are provided the opportunity to connect with and learn from other engineering students, faculty, and engineering professionals through various educational workshops and special opportunities, like the annual National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges Scholars Program Conference and biannual Grand Challenges Global Summit. Academically, they take business, leadership, and interdisciplinary coursework that align with their individual professional goals.
- Clark Scholars must be active program participants, attending mandatory cohort meetings and advising meetings with program faculty, staff, and Clark School administrators.
- Clark Scholars must maintain a 3.0 cumulative UMD grade point average, remain enrolled in the A. James Clark School of Engineering, make satisfactory progress toward a degree in engineering, and complete a minimum of 12 credits per semester/24 credits per year.
- Clark Scholars must complete the program's academic course requirements and present their research during the Undergraduate Research Day (as directed by program staff).
- Clark Scholars must meet the campus financial aid deadlines on an annual basis, including filing a FAFSA by the university's priority deadline.
- All incoming Clark Scholars must participate in the Clark Scholars Summer Program.
- As part of their studies, Clark Scholars will seek to solve some of the greatest engineering challenges as participants in the National Academy of Engineering’s Grand Challenges Scholars Program.
Full Clark Scholars Policy details are available on the Office of Student and Financial Aid website.
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