Darden Alumnus Earns Horatio Alger Award

The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc. recently selected Thomas J. Baltimore Jr., a UVA Darden alumnus who worked his way from a modest background to become president, chair and CEO of a $9 billion lodging real estate investment trust, as one of 12 recipients of its 2025 Horatio Alger Awards.

Baltimore – the subject of a 2022 UVA Today profile – leads the Tysons-based Park Hotels & Resorts. He earned an undergraduate degree from UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce in 1985 and an MBA from the Darden School of Business in 1991.

“For 76 years, the Horatio Alger Award has been awarded to Americans who have achieved great success despite facing significant personal hardships,” the association’s announcement states.

Baltimore joins more than 200 previous recipients, including Oprah Winfrey, Reba McIntire, Johnny Cash, Hank Aaron, Rob Lowe and leaders in business and other pursuits. Besides Baltimore, this year’s entering class also includes singer Lee Greenwood.

Baltimore’s mother raised five children while working nights, and his father gave up a steady job to enter the ministry at age 33, starting his own Baptist church. Baltimore worked his way through high school and college.

Since graduation and ascent in the business world, he has supported scholarships and fellowships for minority students at UVA, served on several University committees and boards, and guest-lectured at Darden.

“Although I grew up in a loving home, my family faced many economic hardships. That lack of financial stability forced me to rely on my education to lift me out of those circumstances,” said Mr. Baltimore. “Attending the Darden School of Business was a transformative experience that not only sharpened my leadership skills but also reinforced my belief in the power of perseverance and preparation. The lessons I learned there have been instrumental throughout my career, and I remain deeply committed to giving back to the University and supporting future generations of students.”

The Horatio Alger Association, a nonprofit educational organization, “aims to teach young people about the limitless possibilities available through the American free-enterprise system.” Since 1984, it has awarded annual need-based scholarships to high school students who overcome significant obstacles and demonstrate a commitment to continuing their education and making a unique contribution to society.

“That’s why I’m honored to join an organization like the Horatio Alger Association, whose growing list of impressive Members share similar stories to my own. Through our collective efforts, I hope we can empower the next generation of Horatio Alger Scholars to achieve their dreams and create brighter futures for themselves and their communities,” said Mr. Baltimore.

Association members have provided more than $265 million to 37,000 students in the past 40 years.

This story originally appeared in UVA Today.