History of the Provident Pride Tournament

    Bill Nelson, men's basketball coach at Johns Hopkins University, and Brett Adams, athletic director and men's basketball coach at Villa Julie College, came up with the idea more than 10 years ago. The plan was to model the tournament after the very successful 40-year old JP Morgan Chase Scholarship Basketball Tournament in Rochester, NY. The tournament combined collegiate athletic competition, community involvement, and academic scholarship and recognition. Nelson had been a participant of the "Chase" tournament during his tenure at Nazareth College in the late 70's and early 80's. Adams and Nelson felt that the state of Maryland presented a unique opportunity, due to the ideal number of men's Division III teams. The fact that there was eight teams in the state, made it possible to play a three-day tournament and ultimately crown a "Division III Maryland State Champion."

    Ten years ago, even though there was significant interest, the group put the tournament on hold because of conference schedules concerns. Five years later, while flying to the NCAA Division I Championships, Nelson and Adams decided to forge ahead and initiate the tournament under the "Pride of Maryland" moniker. At this time, Hood had initiated a men's basketball team and there were now nine teams in the state. A spot in the tournament was offered to each school and the interest while lukewarm at first quickly turned into the tournament to be in. St. Mary's College sat out the first year with Washington College slated to sit out the second year. The tournament opened as a "Tip-off" and after three days and 12 games, the Pride of Maryland Tournament had its first champion in Villa Julie College.  Interestingly, Villa Julie College and Johns Hopkins University played for the championship in a thrilling overtime game. With such positive response the tournament was set for its second year with Provident Bank coming on board as the title sponsor. Provident's corporate culture perfectly compliments the ideals that represent Division III basketball. 

Living the Provident Way

    The Provident Way cultivates collegiality, mutual respect and openness. In business, it emphasizes relationship building as the centerpiece strategy for winning and deepening customer trust. In 2006, our distinction as a proactive, caring organization grew as we applied the values represented in the Provident Way in our workplaces and communities. During 2006, Provident contributed more than $700,000 to  programs in Maryland and Virginia that support our giving focus of education, economic development, health and human services and arts and culture initiatives. It is the Provident Way to support worthy causes with financial as well as human resources that include our dedicated group of volunteers.

    Provident was the recipient of the prestigious Mayor's Business Recognition Award for our ongoing commitment to the City of Baltimore in 2005. We won this award because of our continuing focus on financial literacy that involved the program known as "Operation Hope." This program, which operates in Baltimore and Washington, enabled Provident team members to teach the basics of money management to public school students from elementary through high school. Provident's commitment to building stronger communities was evident in its continued relationship with Healthy Neighborhoods; a nonprofit corporation in Baltimore that helps homeowners revitalizes their areas and increase property values.

    In 2006, Provident built on its community commitment with increased emphasis on multicultural outreach that included the growing Hispanic population throughout Maryland and Virginia. At Provident, giving back isn't just a way to increase business, it's how we do business, person to person. That's the Provident Way.

PROVIDENT BANK PRIDE OF MARYLAND SCHOLARSHIP

    Provident Bank, the Pride of Maryland Scholarship Basketball Tournament and the Provident Way Academic Scholarship: the perfect marriage of community, support, education and citizenship. 

    The Provident Bank Pride of Maryland Scholarship Basketball Tournament continues Teddy Roosevelt's vision by perpetuating good sportsmanship amongst the Division III men's basketball teams throughout the state of Maryland and by creating a vehicle that will allow many spectators to enjoy watching college players on the court.  Provident Bank, founded in 1886, is celebrating 120 years of doing business in the Baltimore region.  They are the perfect fit for this Maryland Tournament.  Provident is interested in building a community not just a banking service. Their philosophy of building a "foundation of trust" and "banking the way people live" is the same community based and quality of life based philosophy of the NCAA and Division III. "We are relationship driven," says Provident President and Chief Operating Officer Kevin G. Byrnes. "We try to anticipate customer needs at whatever point they are in their lives."

    Provident Bank will donate $1000 to the general scholarship fund of each of the nine colleges and universities participating in the Provident Pride of Maryland Tournament. One student from each school will be selected to receive the award, with the criteria for selection defined as:

1. The student must be a Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC resident.

2. The student must exemplify the Provident Way:

            • Integrity - treats everyone with fairness and respect;

            • Caring - takes time to know fellow students and faculty;

            • Excellence - exceeds expectations by anticipating needs;

           • Partnership - does the little things right and earns loyalty;

            • Results Driven - makes a difference every day.

3. The student must be enrolled full-time.

4. The student must be an upperclassman.

5. The student must maintain a 3.2 GPA in his/her area of study.

6. The student must make a good-faith effort to be present at the check presentation ceremony during the Provident Bank Pride of Maryland Scholarship Basketball Tournament.

    The 2006 recipients of the Provident Bank

Pride of Maryland Scholarship:

Frostburg:  Megan Zimmerman

    Goucher:  Fredrica Newman-Blount

    Hood:  Nathan Whye

    Johns Hopkins:  Desirae Vasquez

    McDaniel:  Kristen Bender

    Salisbury:  Joshua Daniel Weikers

    St. Mary's:  Lisa Dacick

    Villa Julie:  Christopher Conroy

    Washington:  Ellen N. Boone