A renewed commitment from the Bisciotti Family Foundation is expanding an important pathway to higher education for Baltimore students, with up to $3 million in new support for the Ozzie Newsome Scholars Program at Morgan State University.
The eight-year commitment, covering 2026 through 2033, is expected to provide scholarship and college-completion support for 40 new Morgan State students. The initiative will bring 10 scholars into each of the next four incoming classes, with eligible students able to receive $15,000 per year for up to five years — as much as $75,000 per scholar.
What the Bisciotti Foundation Investment Means for Morgan Students
The award is the second Morgan has received from the Foundation for the program and reflects both the Foundation’s enduring commitment to HBCU students and its confidence in Morgan’s record of stewardship, student support and results. The expanded investment is designed to address more than the cost of tuition. Scholarship funds can be used for expenses including tuition and fees, textbooks, technology, room and board, transportation and other personal education-related costs.
That broader approach recognizes the financial challenges that can prevent students from completing college even after they have gained admission.
The program will be administered through the Morgan State University Foundation, Inc., with Morgan serving as the primary institutional partner for future cohorts.
Who Can Qualify for the Ozzie Newsome Scholarship?
The scholarship is targeted toward talented Baltimore students who meet specific eligibility requirements.
Applicants must be Pell Grant eligible, graduate from a Baltimore City public school or an approved independent school, enter college in the fall immediately following high school graduation and participate in the College Bound Foundation's College Completion Program.
The scholarship is therefore structured not simply as an award for college access, but as part of a broader effort to help students persist through college and reach graduation.
Building on the Ozzie Newsome Scholars Legacy
The expanded Morgan State commitment builds on a scholarship initiative launched in 2021 by Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti and his wife, Renee, in honor of Pro Football Hall of Famer and longtime Ravens executive Ozzie Newsome.
The original $4 million commitment provided $1 million to each of Maryland's four historically Black colleges and universities participating in the program. Under the original structure, each institution selected five incoming students annually, with scholars receiving $10,000 per year for as many as five years and participating in CollegeBound's completion program.
Since the program began, 80 scholars have received support. Morgan State has welcomed 20 Ozzie Newsome Scholars since 2022, and the university celebrated its first two graduates from the program in May 2025. Some scholars who started at other participating Maryland HBCUs have also transferred to Morgan to complete their degrees.
A Scholarship Designed Around the Real Cost of College
For many college students, tuition represents only one portion of the cost of earning a degree. Housing, transportation, books, technology and other expenses can create financial pressure that affects academic progress.
The Ozzie Newsome Scholars Program addresses several of those costs through a scholarship that can be applied across a range of education-related expenses.
That approach makes the renewed investment significant for Baltimore's HBCU community. Rather than focusing solely on getting students through the doors of a university, the program is structured around helping students stay on track through graduation.
For the 40 students who will join the next four Morgan State cohorts, the commitment could provide as much as $75,000 in scholarship support per student over five years.
What This Means for Baltimore's HBCU Pipeline
The expanded partnership comes at a time when financial access and college completion remain central issues for students seeking higher education.
By directing new Ozzie Newsome Scholar cohorts to Morgan State while continuing to honor commitments to scholars at other Maryland HBCUs, the Bisciotti Family Foundation is strengthening a scholarship model that connects Baltimore students with the state's HBCU network.
For Morgan State, the investment adds another layer of support for students from Baltimore City and reinforces the university's role as a major educational institution in the city.
For the students who receive the awards, the impact could be even more direct: fewer financial barriers, additional completion support and a greater opportunity to turn a college admission into a college degree.
About Morgan State University
Founded in 1867, Morgan State University is Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University and a Carnegie-classified R2 high-research institution. The university offers more than 150 bachelor's, master's, doctoral and certificate programs and serves a diverse student population.
About the Bisciotti Family Foundation
The Bisciotti Family Foundation is a philanthropic organization founded by Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti and his wife, Renee Bisciotti. The foundation supports initiatives focused on education, community development and expanding opportunities for young people. Its education-focused philanthropy includes significant support for college access and completion, including the Ozzie Newsome Scholars Program, which provides scholarship assistance and student-support resources to eligible Baltimore-area students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Through its partnership with Morgan State University and other Maryland HBCUs, the foundation is helping reduce financial barriers to higher education while creating pathways for students to earn college degrees and build stronger futures for themselves and their communities.
