Students across the country struggle to afford a college education, and student-athletes, in particular, are forced to sacrifice a great deal of time for their sport that could be spent working to help bridge this financial gap. Beyond this, student-athletes in underprivileged communities, such as Baltimore, face additional challenges in pursuing their aspirations of a college education.

Over half of the student population in Baltimore City Public Schools come from low-income households, exacerbating this issue of college affordability. Furthermore, nearly 90% identify as Black or Hispanic, groups that are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields. Taken together, these factors indicate that many capable students are less likely to have the encouragement and opportunity to pursue a STEM education.