TCOE RECOGNIZES, CELEBRATES, ENCOURAGES,
GUIDES, STRENGTHS, SUPPORTS and EMPOWERS OUR YOUTH
The Council of Elders has had a partnership with the Howard County Public School System since 2004. The goal of which is to create an environment in which African American students are recognized, supported, strengthened and empowered to meet and exceed high standards of academic excellence and student citizenship. At 10 Celebrations in December and January, the elders recognized 3,400 Black students in the county for high achievement during the 2014-2015 school year. To qualify, students had to earn A’s and B’s in all four quarters or on their final grades in their English or math classes, or achieved advance scores on the science portion of the Maryland State Assessment. One participant, the Black Student Achievement Program in Howard County schools, recently indicated that this type of program goes a long way toward closing the achievement gap as it encourages honorees to continue to achieve and set goals for other black students. Being recognized and participating in the celebration sets the stage for long-lasting feelings of accomplishment for our youth as they grow. Believing that education is the intergenerational transmission of the wisdom of the ancestors beginning with the original message from the Creator to our ancestors, we go to our elders for information, solace, guidance and support.
The Education Committee of the Council of Elders of the Black Community of Howard County (TCOE) works constantly to monitor student progress and program growth in conjunction with the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS). During COVID, TCOE celebrated students virtually to ensure the tradition continued. In person celebrations resumed in 2025. In March 2026, TCOE celebrated almost 700 graduating students who had a 3.0 GPA or higher and almost 200 graduates have a 4.0 or higher GPA. TCOE introduced a public community draping portion at the Celebration of Excellence where there is a community draping where a blessing is bestowed amongst the graduating seniors and the students put on their medallion.