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.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.
According to College Track, 89% of its scholars at the Durant Center are first-generation college students, while 86% come from under-resourced backgrounds.
A decade-long programme supporting students
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.“This is the realisation of a dream of mine,” Durant said when announcing the commitment in 2018.
“To come back home and positively impact the lives of kids – who share the ambitions I’ve always had – with world-class educational opportunities and resources that can completely change the game in our community for generations to come.”The initiative reflected Durant’s decision to direct part of his philanthropic work towards education in the area where he was raised. His foundation had previously supported youth athletics, basketball court construction and organisations working with young people experiencing homelessness.
What the college acceptance rate shows
College Track reports that the Durant Center’s four-year college acceptance rate is above 96%. The figure indicates how many participating students receive offers from four-year institutions, rather than how many ultimately enrol or complete their degrees. The distinction matters because admission is only one stage of the college journey.The organisation’s wider programme is built around that longer process.
Students receive support from high school through college, to help them manage academic requirements, financial pressures and other challenges that can affect degree completion.
Who is Kevin Durant?
Kevin Durant is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets and is widely regarded as one of the NBA’s greatest scorers. He has won two NBA championships, been named the league’s Most Valuable Player and received two NBA Finals MVP awards.Durant has also been selected as an NBA All-Star 16 times and won four Olympic gold medals representing the United States.