News
B.E.S.T. Celebrates the Start of Summer at the Summer Kick-Off Drive-Thru
June 16, 2021
After a long 18 months, B.E.S.T. staff members and families were finally reunited at the Summer Kick-Off Drive-Thru! B.E.S.T. families drove through the beautiful Odyssey...
B.E.S.T. 2022-2023 ADMISSIONS SEASON IS NOW OPEN!
June 15, 2021
B.E.S.T. has opened our admission season for the 2022-2023 academic year. Now through September 30th, we are receiving applications for students seeking admission and financial...
Alumni Zoom Series: Cooking Class with Keyia Yalcin ’02
May 17, 2021
In the second session of our Alumni Zoom Series, Keyia Yalcin ’02 (St. Paul’s School for Girls) shared her chef skills with fellow B.E.S.T. Alumni,...
Virtual Book Talk on Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City by Wes Moore and Erica L. Green
April 25, 2021
Through the Molly Hathaway Young Women’s and Redmond C.S. Finney Young Men’s Leadership Programs, B.E.S.T. had the wonderful opportunity to send each upper school student...
Alumni Zoom Series: Finance 101 with Josh Perry ’02 and Victor Abiamiri ’03
April 15, 2021
In the first session of our Alumni Zoom Series, Josh Perry ’02 (Calvert School and McDonogh School) and Victor Abiamiri ’03 (Gilman School) shared their...
B.E.S.T. Upper School Families Virtually Visit 3 Universities Over Spring Break
March 23, 2021
Over Spring Break, our upper school students and parents participated in three virtual college tours and information sessions. From the comfort of their own homes,...
Thanks-for-Giving Tuesday: Our 2020 Annual Report
December 1, 2020
Thank you for supporting our work in fiscal year 2020 with a gift to the annual fund, with your time or with your expertise as...
We Are Thankful for Our Alumni: Darryl Jordan ’99
November 19, 2020
Darryl Jordan ’99 Gilman School Choir Director and Voice Teacher, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School Director of Music Education & Adjunct Lecturer in Voice, Nyack...
Summer Scholars 2020 Successfully Champion Lillie Carroll Jackson
September 3, 2020
This year’s Summer Scholars took on the hard work of historians to research and bring attention to a very important historical figure, Lillie Carroll Jackson....
B.E.S.T. Trustee Emeritus, Stuart O. Simms, Joins Maryland Legal Aid as New Chief Counsel
August 25, 2020
We are very happy to announce that B.E.S.T. Trustee Emeritus, Stuart O. Simms, has accepted the position of Chief Counsel at Maryland Legal Aid. In...
Congratulations to B.E.S.T. Community Trustee, and Park School and B.E.S.T. Alumna, Nikki Hasselbarth Kerman ’04!
August 24, 2020
We are so proud to announce that B.E.S.T. Community Trustee, and Park School and B.E.S.T. ’04 Alumna, Nikki Hasselbarth Kerman, has been selected as one...
We Welcome the Class of 2020 to the B.E.S.T. Alumni Community!
August 18, 2020
To congratulate the Class of 2020 on a successful final year of Upper School, we sent them t-shirts from their new colleges and universities! We...
2020 B.E.S.T. Family and Alumni-Owned Business Directory
July 9, 2020
With services ranging from beauty and self-care, to real estate sales and investments, we are happy to present a directory of B.E.S.T. Family and Alumni-owned...
B.E.S.T. Kicks Off Virtual Summer Scholars 2020!
July 6, 2020
With Summer Scholars 2020 looking a little different this year, B.E.S.T. provided a socially distant “drive through” supply pick-up for our newest 6th – 9th...
B.E.S.T. 2021-2022 Admissions Season is Now Open!
July 2, 2020
B.E.S.T. has opened our admission season for the 2021-2022 academic year. Now through September 30th, we are receiving applications for students seeking admission and financial...
B.E.S.T. Celebrates McDonogh Senior, Sam Mumford ’20!
May 14, 2020
In his remarks at what would have been the McDonogh Scholarship Luncheon, Sam Mumford ’20, reflected fondly on his time at McDonogh. He thanked his...
B.E.S.T. is Here for our Families
March 23, 2020
While the B.E.S.T. office is temporarily closed, the staff team is working remotely to ensure that we can be of full support to our students...
Brunch with our College-Aged Alumni at Miss Shirley’s
January 3, 2020
B.E.S.T. kicked off the New Year with nearly 20 college-aged B.E.S.T. Alumni gathering for brunch at Miss Shirley’s. Boys’ Latin School of Maryland, Bryn Mawr...
Annual B.E.S.T. Family Holiday Party
December 7, 2019
Over the weekend, 158 B.E.S.T. students and family members kicked off the Holidays with the Annual B.E.S.T. Family Holiday Party. It was an afternoon of...
B.E.S.T.’s 2019 Annual Report
December 5, 2019
We are thrilled to share our 2019 Annual Report, highlighting our many successes! Thank you to all of our supporters who make our work possible....
B.E.S.T. Alumni Networking Cocktail Party
November 21, 2019
Nearly 30 B.E.S.T. Alumni gathered at Mt. Washington Tavern for a B.E.S.T. Alumni Cocktail Party to network, reconnect with old friends, and learn more about...
7th Annual Leaders on Leadership Breakfast
November 7, 2019
What a wonderful morning for B.E.S.T.! Nearly 100 B.E.S.T. Upper School students gathered with 90 civic and community leaders at the Center Club in downtown...
B.E.S.T. Hosts a Private Screening of Harriet at the Charles Theatre
November 10, 2019
On Sunday, November 10th, over 100 B.E.S.T. 8th – 12th graders and their family members attended a private screening of the biographical film about slave-turned-activist, Harriet Tubman....
Paula Dofat’s “Maximizing the College Counseling Experience” Talk
October 20, 2019
On Sunday, October 20th nearly 50 upper school students and parents gathered at Calvert School for Paula Dofat’s “Maximizing the College Counseling Experience” event. Families spent...
FAFSA / CSS Profile Workshop at Gilman
October 12, 2019
On Saturday, October 12th current B.E.S.T. Senior parents and B.E.S.T. Alumni parents spent the morning at Gilman School participating in the annual FAFSA / CSS Profile...
B.E.S.T. Takes a Tour of the National Aquarium
September 7, 2019
76 B.E.S.T. lower and middle school students and family members enjoyed a day at the National Aquarium in Baltimore! It was a fantastic way to...
B.E.S.T. Celebrates Heading Back to School
August 15, 2019
With the start of school quickly approaching, nearly 200 B.E.S.T. students, parents, siblings and Alumni gathered to celebrate the start of the 2019-2020 school year...
B.E.S.T. Member School Networking Breakfast
August 14, 2019
Each August, B.E.S.T. hosts a Member School Networking Breakfast, bringing together those individuals who have roles in Admissions, Diversity and Inclusion, College Counseling, and Alumni...
B.E.S.T. Summer Scholars 2019
August 7, 2019
For five weeks during June and July, B.E.S.T. hosted our annual academic enrichment and transition program for 25 newly enrolled, rising middle and upper school...
In Memory of Redmond C.S. Finney, B.E.S.T. Co-Founder and Trustee Emeritus
August 1, 2019
The Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust (B.E.S.T.), and all of us fortunate enough to work with Mr. Finney in the achievement of B.E.S.T.’s mission, are forever...
B.E.S.T. Sees “The Lion King” at The Senator
July 27, 2019
On Saturday, July 27th, B.E.S.T. 5th – 12th graders and their family members attended a private screening of the 2019 computer-animated version of The Lion King...
Hamilton at The Hippodrome Theatre
July 14, 2019
On Sunday, July 14th, ten rising B.E.S.T. seniors spent the evening at the Hippodrome Theatre for a live performance of the Broadway hit, Hamilton. Students...
New Parent Welcome Night
June 20, 2019
On Thursday, June 20th, 49 new B.E.S.T. parents and family members gathered for a Welcome Dinner at Bryn Mawr School. The event began with a...
B.E.S.T. Families Take a Tour of Howard University
June 18, 2019
With summer in full swing, 51 of our rising B.E.S.T. 9th-12th grade students and their parents attended a tour of Howard University in Washington, D.C....
B.E.S.T. Family Day at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
June 15, 2019
On Saturday, June 15th, 65 B.E.S.T. lower and middle school students and family members enjoyed a day at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. It was...
Farewell and Thank You to Board Member, Penny Bach Evins
May 9, 2019
At a Breakfast Celebration following the final Board of Trustees meeting for Fiscal Year 2019, we honored outgoing Trustee, Penny Bach Evins, Head of St....
B.E.S.T. Celebrates Our 2019 Stanley I. Panitz Award Winners
May 8, 2019
As the 2018-2019 school year comes to a close, the B.E.S.T. Board of Trustees and staff joyfully celebrated our 2019 Stanley I. Panitz Leadership Award...
B.E.S.T. at the Torrey Smith Family Fund Charity Basketball Game
March 30, 2019
Over the weekend, 43 B.E.S.T. families attended the annual Torrey Smith Family Fund Charity Basketball Game. In addition to the game itself, families enjoyed giveaways,...
B.E.S.T. Families Visit St. Mary’s College of Maryland
March 21, 2019
With most of our member schools on Spring Break, B.E.S.T. 9th-11th grade students and their parents attended a tour of St. Mary’s College of Maryland....
College-Aged Alumni Drop-In Lunch
January 4, 2019
B.E.S.T. hosted a Drop-In Lunch for college-aged alumni who were home for winter break. Alumni from Classes of 2016, 2017 and 2018 attended and swapped...
Annual B.E.S.T. Family Holiday Party
December 1, 2018
On Saturday, December 1st, B.E.S.T. students and family members kicked off the Holidays with the Annual B.E.S.T. Family Holiday Party. It was an afternoon of...
B.E.S.T. Alumni Networking Cocktail Party sponsored by Keyia Yalcin ’02
November 29, 2018
On Thursday, November 29th, B.E.S.T. Alumni gathered at Mt. Washington Tavern for a B.E.S.T. Alumni Cocktail Party to network, reconnect with old friends, and learn...
B.E.S.T. Family Game Night at Gilman School
November 19, 2018
On Friday, November 16th, nearly 100 B.E.S.T. K-8th grade students and family members participated in our Annual B.E.S.T. Family Game Night! Held in the Lumen...
6th Annual Leaders on Leadership Breakfast
November 1, 2018
What a morning for B.E.S.T. last Thursday! More than 100 B.E.S.T. upper school students and 120 adult guests attended the B.E.S.T. 6th Annual Leaders on...
FAFSA WORKSHOP
October 13, 2018
On Saturday, October 13th current B.E.S.T. 12th grade parents and several alumni parents spent the morning at Gilman School participating in our annual FAFSA Workshop....
Maximizing the College Counseling Experience Workshop
September 16, 2018
On Sunday, September 16th over fifty Upper School students and parents gathered at Calvert School for the first-ever “Maximizing the College Counseling Experience” event. Developed...
The Color Purple at the Kennedy Center
August 25, 2018
On August 25th, eighty Upper School students and parents spent the afternoon in Washington, D.C. at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts...
B.E.S.T. Gets Ready to Go Back to School
August 16, 2018
With the start of school fast-approaching, close to 200 B.E.S.T. students, parents and siblings gathered to celebrate the start of the 2018-19 school year at...
B.E.S.T. Member School Networking Breakfast
August 15, 2018
Each August, B.E.S.T. hosts a Member School Networking Breakfast at Donna’s Café to reconnect after the summer and look ahead to our partnered work in...
B.E.S.T. Summer Scholars 2018
July 29, 2018
This summer, 25 newly enrolled B.E.S.T. students participated in the B.E.S.T. Summer Scholars program. Hosted at Roland Park Country School, this five-week comprehensive program for...
Trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture
July 18, 2018
On Wednesday, July 18th, 29 B.E.S.T. Upper School students and parents spent the day at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in...
Upper School Transitions Workshops at Summer Scholars
June 26, 2018
On Tuesday, June 26th, 19 rising 9th graders attended a two-part workshop that focused on transitioning to Upper School. Students spent the first half of...
Summer Scholars Begins
June 25, 2018
On Monday, June 25th, newly enrolled B.E.S.T. middle and upper school students and their parents attended the opening ceremony for our annual 5-week Summer Scholars...
New Parent Welcome Dinner
June 21, 2018
On Thursday, June 21st, new B.E.S.T. parents gathered for a Welcome Dinner and the chance to ask questions and learn about the experiences of current...
B.E.S.T. on Broadway
June 20, 2018
On Wednesday, June 20th, 100 B.E.S.T. students, parents and staff embarked on a memorable trip to New York City to see The Lion King on...
Honoring Vernon A Reid, Jr
May 16, 2018
The Board of Trustees of the Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust surprised Vernon Reid at the May Board meeting by naming him Trustee Emeritus. Vernon joined...
B.E.S.T. Honors and Celebrates Outgoing Head of School, Charlie Britton
May 15, 2018
At B.E.S.T.’s end of year Board meeting, we celebrated and bid farewell to Charlie Britton, Head of McDonogh School, after his 11 years of service...
B.E.S.T. Celebrates our 2018 Stanley I. Panitz Award Winners
May 14, 2018
Earlier this month, the Board of Trustees and staff of B.E.S.T. celebrated our 2018 Stanley I. Panitz Leadership Award Winners, Lauren M. (Garrison Forest School...
Private Screening of STEP hosted by B.E.S.T. and Johns Hopkins University
May 4, 2018
For B.E.S.T.’s 6th Annual .edu Project Professional Development Workshop in partnership with Johns Hopkins University, we screened STEP for area professionals dedicated to supporting students...
B.E.S.T. Alumni Cocktail Party
April 26, 2018
On Thursday, April 26th, 34 B.E.S.T. alumni and Trustees gathered at Mt. Washington Tavern for the B.E.S.T. Alumni Cocktail Party to celebrate 30 years of...
B.E.S.T. Alumni Back on Campus
April 10, 2018
Peggy Bittner, our Director of Programs and Alumni Relations, spent a magical afternoon visiting two member schools to hear B.E.S.T. alumni speak at their alma...
B.E.S.T. Family Game Night
March 28, 2018
This past Friday, Lower and Middle School families attended the B.E.S.T. Family Game Night. Held in the Lumen Center at Gilman School, families spent the...
B.E.S.T. Families Visit Mount St. Mary’s University and UMBC
March 20, 2018
Last week when most of our member schools were on Spring Break, B.E.S.T. 9th-11th grade students and their parents attended two college visits to Mount...
B.E.S.T. at “Black Panther”
March 4, 2018
On Sunday, March 4th, Middle and Upper School B.E.S.T. students and their family members attended a screening of Black Panther. This record-breaking film by Marvel...
Leadership Workshop – “Your B.E.S.T. Self”
February 28, 2018
This past Saturday, 33 B.E.S.T. students gathered at Roland Park Country School for a workshop entitled “Your B.E.S.T. Self: Remaining Affirmed in Your Racial Identity...
B.E.S.T. Celebrates Black History Month
February 28, 2018
As Black History month comes to a close today, we wanted to honor special individuals who are very “close to home”. There have been many...
B.E.S.T. Alumni Sibling Spotlight
January 31, 2018
“Growing up, my mother always stressed the importance of education. She went above and beyond to seek out educational opportunities for my brother and me....
Meaningful Partnership with Under Armour through B.E.S.T. Alumna’s Participation in Baltimore Career Combine
January 19, 2018
As college students return home for winter break, some travel, take a winter class, gain a seasonal employment position, or participate in mini-internship experiences. This...
In Memory of Thomas Perkins, B.E.S.T. Trustee Emeritus
January 11, 2018
We mourn the passing of Thomas P. Perkins, III, B.E.S.T. Trustee Emeritus and Past Board President (1991-1994). Tom was instrumental in charting a course for...
B.E.S.T. Family Holiday Party and Senior Celebration
December 2, 2017
Saturday, December 2nd was an afternoon of holiday cheer at Friends School of Baltimore as B.E.S.T. families gathered for the annual B.E.S.T. Holiday Party and...
8th and 9th Grade “Starting the College Conversation” Workshop at Towson University
November 18, 2017
On Saturday, November 18th, Towson University hosted B.E.S.T.’s 5th Annual “Starting the College Conversation” Workshop for 8th and 9th graders from Baltimore area independent and...
30th Anniversary Celebration Breakfast
November 14, 2017
On Thursday, November 2nd, B.E.S.T. upper school Students, Alumni, Trustees, Funders, and Community Leaders gathered to celebrate B.E.S.T.’s 30th Anniversary! To commemorate such an important milestone...
B.E.S.T. 30th Anniversary Video
November 9, 2017
This year, B.E.S.T. is celebrating our 30th Anniversary! In 1987, the Heads of School at Bryn Mawr School, Friends School of Baltimore, Gilman School, McDonogh...
B.E.S.T. Executive Director Graduates from The LEADERship
November 2, 2017
On Thursday, November 2nd, Jessica Suriano graduated from The LEADERship, a program of the Greater Baltimore Committee. She celebrated the occasion with her family and...
“Marshall” with our Students
October 29, 2017
On Sunday, October 29th, Middle and Upper School B.E.S.T. boys and their family members attended a screening of the movie Marshall at the Senator Theatre....
FAFSA Workshop for Parents of B.E.S.T. Seniors
October 7, 2017
On Saturday, October 7, parents of B.E.S.T. seniors participated in a FAFSA Workshop. Guided one-on-one by an esteemed group of Financial Aid Officers pictured below,...
“STEP” with our Students
September 9, 2017
On Saturday, September 9th, Middle and Upper School B.E.S.T. girls and their family members attended a screening of the movie “STEP” at the Charles Theatre...
B.E.S.T. Students and Alumni Impacting Baltimore
August 31, 2017
B.E.S.T. students and alumni have had a busy summer giving back to their community. Aissatou, Nehemiah, and Aniya know what it’s like to give back...
B.E.S.T. Back to School Family Celebration
August 17, 2017
Over 230 B.E.S.T. students and family members attended the annual Back to School Celebration at St. Paul’s School/St. Paul’s School for Girls, to mark the...
Congratulations to Imani E., New 9th Grader at Friends School of Baltimore
August 21, 2017
Imani E., new B.E.S.T. and Friends School 9th Grader, served as a panelist earlier this summer at a conference for Expeditionary Learning educators from around...
B.E.S.T. Member School Networking Breakfast
August 16, 2017
Each August, B.E.S.T. hosts a Member School Networking breakfast for Diversity, Admissions, College Guidance and Alumni teams from our member schools. On August 16th, we...
Summer Scholars 2017
August 4, 2017
For five weeks this June and July, B.E.S.T. hosted our annual academic enrichment and transition program for newly enrolled rising middle and upper school B.E.S.T....
Welcoming B.E.S.T.’s New Board President
July 1, 2017
The Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust is pleased to welcome Karlo Young as our new Board President, effective July 1, 2017. Karlo is a Vice President...
B.E.S.T. Student Selected to Attend 2017 Telluride Association Sophomore Seminar
June 28, 2017
We are delighted to share that Kofi W., Gilman class of ’19, has been selected to participate in the 2017 Telluride Association Sophomore Seminar (TASS)...
National Museum of African American History and Culture
June 20, 2017
On Tuesday, June 20th, as part of the “Molly Hathaway Young Women and Redmond C. S. Finney Young Men’s Leadership Programs”, B.E.S.T. Upper School students...
B.E.S.T. Family Day at the Maryland Zoo
June 17, 2017
On Saturday, June 17th, 74 B.E.S.T. Lower and Middle School Family members enjoyed a day at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. It was a wonderful...
B.E.S.T. Alumni Service Project & Lunch
May 25, 2017
On Thursday, May 25th, B.E.S.T. college-aged Alumni started off their summer by joining B.E.S.T. staff at Art With A Heart* to work on art-based service...
B.E.S.T. 2018-2019 Admissions Process Has Begun
May 12, 2017
If you have a child who will be entering Kindergarten – 9th grade in the fall of 2018 and would like to start the process with...
B.E.S.T. and Professor D. Watkins
May 10, 2017
On Wednesday, May 10th, B.E.S.T. Upper School young men, their Heads of School, faculty, B.E.S.T. Trustees and B.E.S.T. Alumni attended the Advocates for Children &...
2017 Stanley I. Panitz Leadership Award Winners
May 9, 2017
Congratulations to Kalin E., McDonogh School ’18, and Bomani K., St. Paul’s School ’18, for being named the 2017 Stanley I. Panitz Leadership Award winners!...
Farewells and Thank Yous to our Board Members
May 9, 2017
On Tuesday, May 9th, the B.E.S.T. Board of Trustees convened for our final meeting of fiscal year 2017 and Breakfast Celebration to honor and thank...
5th Annual .edu Project Professional Development Workshop at JHU
May 5, 2017
On Friday, May 5th, B.E.S.T. hosted our 5th Annual .edu Project Professional Development Workshop in partnership with Johns Hopkins University and Baltimore City Public Schools....
Torrey Smith Family Fund Charity Basketball Game
March 19, 2017
The Torrey Smith Family Fund graciously provided tickets for twenty-one B.E.S.T. families to attend the organization’s Charity Basketball Game at Royal Farms Arena on Sunday...
Success Strategies for Our Next Generation of Leaders
February 25, 2017
On Saturday, February 25th, as part of the Molly Hathaway Young Women’s and Redmond C.S. Finney Young Men’s Leadership Programs – 30 Upper School B.E.S.T....
Private Screening of Hidden Figures for B.E.S.T.
February 14, 2017
Thank you to Trustee, Vernon Reid, for treating B.E.S.T. Middle and Upper School Girls to a private viewing of Hidden Figures on Saturday, February 5th...
Career Connection for B.E.S.T. Alumnus
February 9, 2017
Congratulations to Cameron Wade, B.E.S.T. and Gilman Alumnus, Class of 2013, for securing a position with The Management Development Program (MDP) at M&T Bank in...
B.E.S.T. Alumnus Gives Back to his Alma Mater
February 2, 2017
Todd Bowens, B.E.S.T. and Boys’ Latin School of Maryland Alumnus ’97, spent time with the Boys’ Latin Diversity Club this week. Please click here to...
