Participant Spotlight


Howard Bank: In 2003 Mary Ann Scully Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer of Howard Bank and Board of Director Chairperson, headed the organizing team for Howard Bank, the first new bank to open in the county in 15 years. Under her leadership Howard Bank has succeeded in a very difficult economy because of their strong community relationships. Students are fortunate to be able to tap into the talent and vision of the Howard Bank team.

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Our Valued Partner; CEBE

The mission of the Center for Entrepreneurial and Business Excellence (CEBE) is to bring holistic entrepreneurial education and business growth to Howard County.

The vision of CEBE is that opportunities for innovative business ideas are born and fostered here in Howard County, while the reach of those businesses extends as far as the entrepreneur’s imagination.

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Internship Program

Scott Caplan's family created this endowment to assist students who have the same entrepreneurial spirit that Scott demonstrated; students who are building a business through the Center for Entrepreneurial and Business Excellence at Howard Community College or perhaps who have already started their own business.

Each summer designated students who have declared entrepreneurship as their intent participate in a Coop experience. This is a ten week three credit course under the supervision and guidance of an entrepreneurship faculty member and the Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial and Business Excellence. The students develop and refine a plan for their business that includes justification for start up funding. Upon completion, the student entrepreneurs present their business plans to the Caplan Scholarship Leadership Team. The plan is accompanied by a short paper focused on insights gained from the experience with the CEOs (and their companies) and descriptions of how those insights apply to them and to their business planning.

The primary goals of this program are to have entrepreneurial students visit businesses to raise their awareness of what it takes to operate a business successfully, secondly to evaluate the experience from many perspectives including that of the CEO so that they are able to develop and enhance their own personal development, business concept and plan.

The Coop experience has three major components. The components are managed by the director and/or faculty member who is directing the Coop.


SITE VISIT: Visits to three-five targeted businesses beginning with a 6-8 hour day spent with the CEO during week one or two. These visits also include interviews of critical personnel in the areas of technology, marketing, operations, customer service and finance. The intent of these visits is for the student to learn about the different functional areas and apply what they learn to their own business planning. The student completes a written report for each business that is shared with the participating business. The report includes a SWOT analysis, a description of their experience including the knowledge they have gained and any recommendations they have for the business. (Weeks 1 through 5)
INTERNSHIP: Once the initial site visits are finished the student works as a paid intern at one-three companies. During that time they are also developing a plan for their business that incorporates the learning from the Coop experience and discusses the ways that these insights will be applied to their business. This plan is accompanied by a short paper that details specifically what the student learned from the CEOs and how these insights modified their thinking about their own business and business plan. This plan includes a request for start up funding.
COACHING: Throughout this process the students work with a business coach. The role of the coach is to hold the student accountable, support their efforts and provide what ever additional resources may be needed. To complete the program the student spends a second follow up day during weeks nine or ten with each CEO.(Weeks 6 through 10)

Criteria for Caplan Scholars:
  • 2.5 G.P.A. (Part-time or full-time) At times special circumstances may be considered and the G.P.A. requirement waived.
  • Completion of a minimum of 9 credits in business/entrepreneurship.
  • A written business concept
  • Interview with entrepreneurship faculty and the director.


Financial Components:
  • The Caplan Scholarship will pay for the students’ tuition and fees.
  • The Caplan Scholarship will pay the students $10 per hour for a twenty- forty hour work week while they participate in the Coop.