Maryland Bank Gives $4K Scholarships Plus Paid Internships

A Maryland community bank is investing in local students with a program that goes far beyond writing a check for college.

Hebron Savings Bank announced its new Emerging Leaders Scholarship for high school seniors across four Eastern Shore counties. Starting this year, two students will receive $4,000 each to help cover college costs, paid out over four years.

But here's what makes this different. Every scholarship winner also gets offered paid summer internships at the bank after their freshman, sophomore, and junior years of college.

The program targets students from Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset, and Dorchester counties who plan to study business, finance, or related fields. Applicants must show leadership skills and community involvement, and they need to enroll full-time at an accredited college or university.

"By supporting local students in their pursuit of higher education and providing real-world professional experience, we are investing in the next generation of leaders who will help shape the future of Maryland's Eastern Shore," said Jennifer Poulsen, HSB's CEO and President.

The bank will select two new recipients each year, meaning the program will eventually support multiple students at once as it grows. Applications open April 6 and close May 15, with winners announced in June.

The Ripple Effect

This scholarship does something smart that many don't. It creates a pipeline connecting local students to local careers, helping young people see a future in the communities where they grew up.

The paid internships give students more than resume lines. They offer mentorship, professional networks, and real income during expensive college summers when many students struggle to find meaningful work.

For a region that often sees its brightest students leave and never return, programs like this plant seeds for them to come back. These students won't just graduate with degrees and less debt. They'll graduate with three years of banking experience and relationships in their hometown.

The Eastern Shore gets future leaders who understand both their education and their community. The students get financial support plus a head start on careers. Everyone wins.

Applications open in just a few weeks for students ready to invest in their future while their community invests in them.