Meet Ahmad Parker '27

Ahmad Parker just committed to join the Class of 2027 at Hood College. His journey toward higher education, however, has been far from easy. Born and raised in Frederick, Maryland, Ahmad recently graduated from Frederick High School. Throughout his youth, Ahmad and his family struggled with housing insecurity and homelessness. Sadly, Ahmad is one of more than 800 students in Frederick County Public Schools who face this urgent yet often overlooked issue. 

Ahmad was fortunate to receive assistance from the Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership of Frederick County (SHIP), a nonprofit organization with close ties to Hood College. SHIP’s New Horizons program supports students like Ahmad. Case managers connect students with healthcare, housing services and educational coaching, in addition to providing school supplies and necessities like food, clothing and toiletries. 

Thanks to the new Hood Advantage Program, which offers financial aid for Maryland-based families with the greatest economic need, Ahmad will receive a full-tuition grant starting in the fall 2023 semester. Ahmad is one of the first Hood Advantage students, and he could not be more excited to pursue his dreams at Hood College. 

“I feel blessed,” says Ahmad. “I’m extremely grateful for everybody that has helped me out.” 

Ahmad first heard about Hood Advantage through his grandmother, who reached out to admission counselors at Hood to see if Ahmad might qualify for the program. Ahmad says his grandmother has always played a major role in his life, and without her help, he wouldn't be where he is today.

Despite his hardships, Ahmad maintained excellent grades during high school, on top of working a job. Ahmad plans to pursue a degree in environmental science and hopes to work in project management one day, which would give him the opportunity to travel while working to protect the natural world. 

“Honestly, I just want to make a difference one step at a time,” he says. 

Ahmad knows he wouldn’t have this lifechanging opportunity without the support of his family, organizations like SHIP and the admission team at Hood. He hopes that other students who find themselves in a similar situation will utilize resources the same way he has. 

“I always tell people that your thoughts and words become your reality, so if you have a dream in mind, practice good affirmations, and eventually those dreams will come true.” 

Learn more about Hood Advantage.