Kevin Durant/Image: Getty Images
NBA star Kevin Durant’s $10 million commitment to college access in his Maryland hometown is now supporting more than 200 students annually, with the education centre established through the initiative reporting a four-year college acceptance rate above 96%. Durant announced the 10-year pledge in 2018 through the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation, partnering with College Track to bring its college preparation and completion programme to Prince George’s County. The Durant Center opened in January 2019, giving students from underserved communities access to academic guidance and other resources intended to help them enter and graduate from university. 89% of its scholars at the Durant Center are first-generation college students, while 86% come from under-resourced backgrounds, according to College Track. College Track reports that the Durant Center’s four-year college acceptance rate is above 96%.
Because admission is only one stage of the college journey, the distinction matters. The center, based in the community where Durant grew up, now serves students from partner schools including Suitland, Potomac and Charles Herbert Flowers high schools. College Track’s model begins in ninth grade and continues through college. Rather than focusing only on university applications, the programme aims to address academic, financial and social-emotional barriers that can prevent students from completing a degree. The Durant Center was established as the first College Track location on the East Coast. Its inaugural cohort included students from Suitland High School, near the neighbourhood where Durant grew up. The programme was designed to help participants navigate the transition from secondary school to higher education and remain supported through graduation. The figure indicates how many participating students receive offers from four-year institutions, rather than how many ultimately enrol or complete their degrees.