Scholarship Honors Life and Legacy of Former Superintendent

Bright Minds, the foundation of The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS), announces the establishment of the Sydney L. Cousin Memorial Scholarship fund effective December 2. The Foundation is establishing the scholarship to honor the life and legacy of the late Dr. Sydney L. Cousin, former HCPSS Superintendent. This year, December 2 marks the 73rd anniversary of Dr. Cousin’s birthday.

Dr. Cousin joined HCPSS in 1987 as Director of School Construction and Planning. Previously he taught social studies and worked in long-range planning with the Baltimore City Public Schools.  Dr. Cousin became HCPSS Associate Superintendent of Finance and Operations in 1989, was named Deputy Superintendent and Chief Operating Officer in 2001, and became Interim Superintendent in March 2004. He became the system’s first African-American Superintendent in July 2004 and served in that position until his retirement in July 2012. Dr. Cousin passed away after a long bout with an illness in August 2018.

The Sydney L. Cousin Memorial Scholarship is intended to help an HCPSS graduate who wishes to become a public school teacher. HCPSS graduates completing a Teacher Education program at Howard Community College (HCC) and have also been accepted for continued study in teacher education at an accredited four-year college/university are eligible for consideration. In May 2019, two winners will each receive $1,000, which can be used to pay tuition, fees, or the cost of books. Interested HCC students should contact Laurie B. Collins, Assistant Professor and chair of the Teacher Education Program at Howard Community College at lcollins2@howardcc.edu.

Contributions to the Sydney L. Cousin Memorial Scholarship fund may be made online at www.brightmindsfoundation.org, or by check to the Bright Minds Foundation, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042. Please designate “Cousin Scholarship Fund” in the comment field or on the memo line.

For more information, please contact Liz Crammond, Executive Director of the Bright Minds Foundation, at 410-740-0707 or liz@brightmindsfoundation.org. Bright Minds Foundation is an independent nonprofit dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for all Howard County Public School System students through private support of academic initiatives and pursuing opportunity for our least advantaged children.