Read the full introduction to the series and see all featured students
Recent Frederick Douglass High School (Douglass) graduate Malver Canales always dreamed of going to college, but admits, “I never thought it was within reach because of the price tag. The scariest part of going to college was worrying about taking out loans and having to pay them back.”
Financial worries were alleviated for Malver and four other City Schools seniors, who were awarded full-tuition scholarships this spring by McDaniel College. The scholarships cover tuition and fees for all four years at McDaniel and are valued at approximately $200,000 each.
Malver’s journey is an illustration of the opportunities available to City School students: supportive and encouraging school faculty and staff, introduction to the abundance of programs for college and career exploration, assistance by dedicated partners, and ongoing support for successful transitions.
Malver ranked second in his class and served as captain of the Douglass chess team. He placed fourth in the 2024 Maryland State Chess Championships and enjoys teaching younger students about chess through the AP Summer Academy. He was also a member of the track and cross-country programs at Douglass and completed an internship with Bank of America through Urban Alliance.
“The teachers and counselors at my school helped me believe in myself,” says Malver. “I like math— board games with numbers, video games with multiplication, processing, and computing. And chess; I’m an avid chess player and love the calculations."
Promoted by this interest, Malver participated in Building STEPS (Science, Technology, and Education Partnerships), the nonprofit that supports 200 City Schools juniors and seniors each year as they explore STEM careers. Building STEPS coordinates seminars that expose students to potential career options, facilitates paid internships, and guides them through the college and financial aid application processes.
With the support of Building STEPS, Malver applied to a dozen colleges, including McDaniel. He was nominated for the McDaniel Scholarship by the CollegeBound Foundation counselor at Douglass. Soon after, Malver visited McDaniel as part of CollegeBound’s annual tour of local colleges and universities and was interviewed by a McDaniel admissions counselor.
Malver was accepted to McDaniel, but concerns about tuition costs lingered. Despite the unpredictable circumstances, his dedication to finishing the year strong by maintaining his robust resume exemplifies the Adaptable and Flexible Portrait of a Graduate competency. Malver demonstrated agility and persistence in the face of ambiguity, criticism, or praise to reach workable solutions.
His worry about school funding was eliminated on April 3, when representatives from McDaniel, City Schools, and CollegeBound popped into his classroom to surprise him with the news of his scholarship.
The McDaniel Scholarships were launched in 2008 and are a partnership between the CollegeBound Foundation and McDaniel. McDaniel admits more City School students than any other private college and has awarded a full-tuition scholarship to 60 City School graduates.
Says Cheryl Knauer, “McDaniel College values its longstanding partnership with the CollegeBound Foundation and the opportunity to annually offer up to five full-tuition scholarships to deserving, high-achieving Baltimore City students. These are students who are not only academic superstars but are also involved in their schools and communities. McDaniel’s Admissions Office looks for students who embody what it means to be a McDaniel student. This really is a life-changing opportunity for these students.”
Other worries about attending college are alleviat
ed through CollegeBound’s ongoing support. This summer, Malver and dozens of other recent City Schools graduates participated in a three-day retreat coordinated by CollegeBound. They explored the transition to college, participated in enrichment activities, and “created a cohort with other students going to their college that they've never met before,” says Jennifer Covahay. “They started to create that circle of friends who will help them get through college.”
Malver is also part of CollegeBound's College Completion Program, a multi-year support network dedicated to guiding City School graduates through their college experience. In addition to regular workshops and activities that build skills (such as time management) and allow students to share their experiences, the program matches students with an advisor who works with them to overcome potential obstacles and motivates them as they pursue their goals.
Just as he thrived in his journey at City Schools, Malver now stands ready to succeed, with a future full of promise and potential. He says, “I want to go into accounting because it's something I’ve been attuned to. I like the safety and stability, and I get to work with numbers!”
Malver’s advice for underclassmen exploring their college options: “Be open-minded. Search for opportunities. Talk to your peers and counselors—they’ll hook you up with what you need. Keep trying new things and try as much as you can.”
*Scholarship recipients may choose to attend another institution.