This story begins with the Baltimore Orioles.

But it has nothing to do with baseball.

John Angelos announced yesterday that the team would be contributing $5 million to the College Bound Foundation.

I wrote Cassie Motz, the Executive Director of the Foundation.

“What can the State do to support this effort?  Could the state…provide counseling for students during their time at college so that they graduate on time?“

Her response was the basis for my bill drafting request:

“This bill would mandate that a College Completion Program, similar to the one offered by the College Board Foundation, be provided to recipients of a Guaranteed Access Grant.”

This is a $20,000 annual state grant for students who have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 or higher and whose family income is 130% of the poverty level.

Since so many of these students are first-generation college goers, they face significant barriers to graduating.

Now it’s up to me to run the bases and get my bill safely home -to the Governor’s desk for his signature.