Bowie State University officials have created a new scholarship in honor of slain student 2nd Lt. Richard Collins III, in an effort to increase enrollment in Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs at Maryland historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
First Lt. Marcus Craig speaking during the ceremony Wednesday announcing the launch of the 2nd. Lt. Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship at Bowie State University.Collins was fatally stabbed on the University of Maryland, College Park campus in May 2017 just a couple of days shy from graduating from Bowie State University. He had already been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army as his first job post-graduation, the Capital Gazette reported.
The alleged attacker, Sean Urbanski a White male, has been charged with a hate crime. Prosecutors believe that Collins was targeted by the man because of the color of his skin.
Bowie State officials established the 2nd Lt. Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship less than a year later, and will be annually funded by Gov. Larry Hogan.
In order to be eligible for the scholarship, students must be eligible for in-state tuition, attend a HBCU and be a minority or member of an underrepresented group in the ROTC.
