First Early College Business Management Cohort Finds Success at CSM and Beyond

At the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Commencement exercises earlier this month, student speaker Emma Fonke encouraged her classmates to never let an opportunity pass them by.

“Take everything you’ve gained here; every skill, every friendship, every lesson, and use it,” she said. “Don’t let these sit neglected on a shelf. Apply what you have gained. Challenge yourself. Speak up, even when you’re scared. Go after what scares you a little, because that’s where growth awaits. And most importantly, show up; not just for others, but for yourself.” 

Fonke was an ideal messenger for the advice: Two years ago, while starting her junior year of high school, she seized the opportunity to become a member of the first cohort of Early College students to pursue an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Management through the Early College Program at CSM. Her ambition had paid off and now she was graduating with an associate degree and a scholarship to complete her bachelor’s -- before even finishing high school. 

Fonke was one of 49 Early College students who completed their Business Management degree this spring. Though the Early College program, which allows students to attend CSM while finishing their high school program of studies, is well established, the business management track only opened to Charles County high school juniors in fall of 2023. 

Business department chair Tony Stout said that while there were some challenges as the program got underway, such as crafting a schedule that could meet the requirements of both the college degree and high school diplomas, the students have overall been very successful. He pointed out that many Early College students have taken on leadership roles on campus, such as roles in the Business and Accounting club and the SGA, and that many students have excelled academically, earning admission to the Kappa Beta Delta Honor Society and acceptance to prestigious programs, such as the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, where they will complete their degrees after leaving CSM. 

“This is the first time we’ve had a focused early college program that takes a group of students directly from high school,” Stout said. “Many of my faculty report to me now that early college students are some of the best students they have.” 

Fonke, who graduated from Westlake High School this year, plans to transfer to St. Mary’s College of Maryland in the fall with a full scholarship to pursue a bachelor's degree in biology. In her speech, she explained that although she is not continuing along a business-focused path, she still found the lessons she learned as a business student to be valuable. 

“I’m incredibly grateful for the business degree I have earned at CSM,” she said at commencement. “Every class in this program taught me something valuable, whether it was to manage resources, lead a team, or think critically in high-pressure situations. Those skills are universal. They’ll stay with me through every job, every challenge, and every opportunity to grow. Even if my career takes a different path, the lessons from this degree will continue to shape me.” 

Another Early College student, Cadence Tolbert, received the Business Management Academic Excellence Award this spring. She was attracted to the program by the opportunity to earn an associate degree while also attending high school. Like Fonke, she has since realized that the skills she is taking away from the program are applicable in many contexts. 

“I have learned that business management skills can be applied universally, like how human resource management skills can be used in both professional and personal situations,” she said. 

“It's such a versatile degree that can open up many opportunities to different industries and career paths,” agreed fellow student Carla Jones. “The Early College experience was really positive and gave me a great learning opportunity to grow personally and academically. I'm very proud to say that I'll be graduating with my associate's degree at 17 years old.” 

Fonke, Jones, Tolbert, and the rest of the Early College Business Management cohort accepted their CSM degrees on May 9 – several weeks before they received their high school diplomas.