VIENNA, Va. (March 3, 2022) — Southern Management Companies has been honored with the University of Maryland’s inaugural Presidential Flagship Award. UMD President Darryll J. Pines presented the award to Suzanne Hillman, President and CEO of Southern Management Companies, during a reception at The Hotel at the University of Maryland on March 2.
The annual award honors the outstanding commitment of a community partner to the continued growth of the Greater College Park ecosystem as an educational, research and business corridor.
“Southern Management shares our ambitious vision for the future. They have invested in our diverse student body and the Greater College Park community,” said Pines. “Their impact and generosity are extraordinary and we are pleased to honor them with this award.”
In particular, this award recognizes the Southern Management Leadership Program. SMLP was started in 2006 by Suzanne Hillman and the late David Hillman, who founded Southern Management Companies in 1965. This innovative four-year scholarship program was designed for students who have an interest in business leadership and entrepreneurship and a desire to serve others. SMLP is tailored to the needs of transfer students who begin their study at Prince George’s Community College and Montgomery College and complete their bachelor’s degrees at the University of Maryland.
“I am very humbled that the University of Maryland chose Southern as the recipient of its first-ever Presidential Flagship Award,” said Hillman. “And I am honored to accept this award on behalf of all of our team members. We are so proud to be part of this great community.”
In addition to SMLP, Southern Management provides housing to a Veteran UMD graduate student each year and offers a housing discount for UMD graduate students at Graduate Hills & Gardens. The Hotel at the University of Maryland, a luxury property that opened in 2017, is home to the university’s new Student Visitor Center.
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