Editor’s Note: The UMBC physics department recently honored the life of Joseph Mulligan, one of the founding faculty members, with their annual Mulligan Lecture and award. This year’s recipient, Kim Berghaus, is the first undergraduate student to receive the award. Her lecture, presented on May 14, 2014, is titled “The Life and Work of Albert Einstein.” Recently, Berghaus shared her thoughts with us on this opportunity:

The Mulligan lecture is a beautiful tradition, held every end of the school year about a topic in the history of physics to honor Joseph F. Mulligan. Holding this meaningful lecture was an amazing opportunity for me to get involved and connect with the physics department beyond just the classroom.

(L-R) Hilke Berghaus, Francisca Berghaus, Mrs. Mulligan, Kim Berghaus, Rafael Berghaus

Presenting my work to faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students, in and outside of physics, was an important lesson for myself and prepared me for future communication of my scientific work.

The Mulligan award allowed me to do original research on Albert Einstein and visit the Einstein Museum in Berne. That journey was the foundation for my lecture, as it exposed me to deeper insight
into his life.

The lectureship also strengthened my applications to graduate school and helped me get admitted into great physics Ph.D. programs such as Johns Hopkins University and the University of Texas in Austin. I am grateful for the unique opportunity and my special thanks goes to Mrs. Mulligan.

– Kim Berghaus, ’14, physics

Watch Berghaus’ lecture here!

Feeling a little nostalgic and generous? Check out these quick and easy tips for giving to UMBC. Don’t forget: the fiscal year ends on this year on June 30! We greatly appreciate your support.

ONLINE GIVING
To donate to UMBC, you may go to our traditional giving site and designate your gift any way you’d like. If you would prefer to donate directly to student scholarships or other student programs, you can continue online to our crowdfunding site.

CHECKS
If writing a check, please make them payable to the UMBC Foundation and mail to the UMBC Foundation at 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250. Use this printable form to make your contribution even easier.

GIFT OF SECURITIES
Giving appreciated stock can benefit both you and the school you came from. You may be eligible to take a charitable deduction for the market value of the securities, and could potentially benefit by avoiding capital gains tax and reducing your estate tax. You can request additional information about donating securities here.

PLANNED GIVING
Planned gifts, such as bequests, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts, can benefit for you, your family, and UMBC and offer a wide variety of ways to donate to the university. For more information, visit our Planned Giving website. You can also contact Kim Robinson, Director of Capital Campaigns and Donor Relations, by phone at 410-455-3700 or by email at trowbrid@umbc.edu.

GIFTS IN KIND
Used to benefit the university, a gift of personal property includes equipment, inventory, books, works of art, or other tangible property. Gifts of personal property are gladly accepted by UMBC and greatly appreciated. Donors may designate their gift to be used in an academic department or program. If you are interested in pursuing this type of gift, please email Kim Robinson, director of capital campaigns and donor relations, at trowbrid@umbc.edu or give her a call at 410-455-3700.

Make a gift to UMBC today!

Every so often, we highlight the importance of student scholarships by introducing you to the very students they help to succeed. Today, we’re featuring Kristine Galli, health administration and policy, who is a Barbara E. Burkman Health Administration and Policy Program Scholarship recipient. This scholarship is given to a student who has demonstrated academic stature and scholarly/creative activity in their chosen discipline.

Name: Kristine Galli ’14
Major(s): health administration policy
Scholarship(s): Barbara Burkman Scholarship Award

Q: Why did you decide to attend UMBC?

A: The school has a great reputation and I love the diversity of our campus community. I knew I could learn from experts in my field while cultivating relationships that have enriched my life more than ever expected. I will be graduating with an amazing degree and incredible friends.

Q: What’s been the most amazing discovery you’ve made so far as a student here?

A: Definitely learning about other students has lead to the most amazing discoveries. People are amazing and everyone has a story, so take the time to listen because both of your lives are enhanced through that connection.

Q: Tell us about a class or club that has really opened your mind.

A: Being a Peer Health Educator through University Health Services for two years was a fun and influential way to empower myself and benefit the campus community. This position helped me learn about health issues that are most pertinent to college students and engage many different subcultures to help empower them through knowledge, as well.

Q: How important is it to you as a student to get scholarship support?

A: It was extremely important for me to receive scholarship support for multiple reasons. Having your hard work acknowledged is always fulfilling, but more than that I am very grateful that this support takes some of the financial burden off of myself and my family. There are many areas of life to manage in university, so when someone helps you in such a significant way it allows you to focus more energy on succeeding in school versus worrying about how to pay for it.

Q: What are you most proud of accomplishing in your time at UMBC?

A: Thankfully I have been able to do a lot with my time at UMBC including founding a mental health awareness student organization, Active Minds. I am very happy I was able to bring this organization to campus and am extremely impressed by the students who have taken over its management. They are definitely making a powerful and positive impact on the well being of UMBC students.

Q: What would you say to the people who provided your scholarship?

A: Thank you so much!  It means a lot that people like you invest their hard-earned money to help students succeed.

Q: What do you hope to do after graduation?

A: I was accepted into the University of Manchester to earn a Master’s in International Disaster Management. While this is awesome, I have deferred for a year to explore other interests before committing to this path. We will see what life has in store!

Support the Barbara E. Burkman Scholarship!

Click here to view more of our grads!

As the first day of summer approaches, we’d like to look back and congratulate the class of 2014 for completing their undergraduate years at UMBC. This class created memories, opportunities, and relationships that are unlike any others, and were able to take part in many events while completing their degrees here. Thanks to the investment of donors like you, our grads are holding their heads high as they look to a future full of bigger and better things.

While it may not be immediately recognizable, your donations, no matter how big or small, all contribute to the livelihood and well-being of our campus, our faculty, and our students. We are grateful for every gift and show of support that you are able to offer.

Thank you for the past year of giving, and take a look at this video from one of our newest grads about the class of 2014!

Northrop Grumman’s Electronic Systems sector recently donated $30,000 to establish the Northrop Grumman Scholarship at UMBC. Awards of $10,000 will be made to three students who are U.S. citizens studying Computer and Electrical Engineering, which will serve a goal of increasing the quantity of Americans graduating with undergraduate and graduate degrees in those fields. Initial awards will be provided to high-performing sophomores and juniors, who may be candidates for UMBC’s accelerated BS/MS program.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. The scholarship recipients will be eligible for summer internship positions at Northrop Grumman.

“Northrop Grumman is proud to support education programs that will develop tomorrow’s leaders in computer science and engineering. I am very pleased Northrop Grumman is partnering with UMBC,” says Ted Imes, Sector Director, Talent Acquisition at Northrop Grumman Corporation.

UMBC thanks Northrop Grumman for their continuing commitment to our students.

Show your support of UMBC. 

Recently, the Chapter of Black and Latino Alumni hosted their annual Jazz Brunch. The event brings together alumni from across the years for fellowship and food. It is also an opportunity to raise money and awareness for the Second Generation and Esperanza Scholarships. Thanks to attendees at this year’s event, the Chapter was able to raise $1,000 for those funds.

For many of our alums, giving back to UMBC is an important part of acknowledging all they’ve received in their lives. “My experience as an undergraduate student at UMBC was not only memorable but life changing,” says Dr. Yvette Mozie-Ross ’88, health science and policy. “By giving back, I’m able to pay it forward to ensure that others are able to share in this remarkable experience.”

Our alumni and donors know that by investing in UMBC, they are making a difference for future generations.

“Each time I return to campus, I feel a sense of pride for UMBC’s tremendous growth. I want to play a part in UMBC’s advancement by remaining connected to the institution that helped shape my professional and personal development,” says Dr. Tamara L. Lewis ’92, psychology. “Giving back and saying ‘thank you’ are two important lessons my parents taught me as a child. I believe it’s important for alumni to give both of their time and monetary donations, no matter how small. Every donation helps UMBC remain in the forefront of producing tomorrow’s leaders.”

Support the Esperanza or Second Generation Scholarships with Your Gift Today!

The UMBC community is full of compassionate, caring people who love to give back to UMBC. Today we’re meeting one of those people, Justine Johnson, Associate Director of the Meyerhoff Graduate Program at UMBC. She was this year’s lucky – and deserving! – recipient of the Jakubik Family Endowment Award. This award was created to recognize a staff member who went beyond the norm in helping UMBC students achieve their goals. Learn more about the award and Stan Jakubik in part 1 of this series.

Q: What is your relationship to UMBC? How did you become involved with UMBC?

A: I love UMBC and I hope to retire from this wonderful place! I am currently the Associate Director of the Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows Program and I became involved with UMBC in 1999 when I was hired as an Accounting Associate in the Meyerhoff Scholarship Program. I worked in the department during the transition from FAS to PeopleSoft and was later promoted to Business Manager. It was a very rewarding experience and I learned a great deal about higher education. But I learned my biggest lesson from the amazing students in the program. In 2004, I wasn’t looking to make any career changes, however I was working closely with MaryEllen Jackson, my predecessor who was leaving the position with the Meyerhoff Graduate Program. In casual conversation I said, “Your job looks like fun! What do you think about me doing it?” With excitement she said, “You would leave the Meyerhoff Program? I think you would be great for this position!” She immediately shared our conversation with Dr. Summers and the rest is history!

Q: Could you share a favorite memory from your time here?

A: There are so many! When I began working in the Meyerhoff Scholars Program I participated in Summer Bridge with the M11’s. As part of a trust-building field trip, we had to participate in a trust-fall where the students and staff had to catch you as you fell from a 10-foot-tall tree post. Later we had to climb a rock wall and I am afraid of heights. Those incoming M11 Meyerhoff Scholars and the staff rooted and cheered me on like I was an Olympian and I was determined to reach the top. Looking down at them and hearing them root me on was priceless! I knew I was going to love working here.

Q: How did it feel to receive the Jakubik Family Endowment Award?

A: I felt really honored to receive the Jakubik award, and it was especially nice to receive an email from Mr. Jakubik congratulating me on the award. It was also an honor to get nominated by Dr. Summers and the letters of recommendation from Dr. LaCourse, Greg Simmons, and Dr. Hrabowski. It is nice to be acknowledged for the work that you do with students every day. You never know how you are influencing their lives and decisions.  I enjoy working with students and seeing their growth and watching them accomplish their goals.

Q: What would you want to say to the Stan and the Jakubik Family?

A: I would tell them thank you for establishing such an award that acknowledges contributions to students by faculty and staff at UMBC. The acknowledgement itself is an honor and the monetary award is the icing on the cake! It encourages me to continue to do better.

Q: Why do you think it’s important to give back to UMBC and its students?

A: It’s important to give back to UMBC because this institution does so much for its students, staff, and the community at-large. When I think about what working at UMBC has done for me, I’m not sure what my life or my family would be like if I didn’t work here.  Giving back to the students is important because every person needs to feel connected. They also need encouragement along the way! When I think about all that I have gained from working here, giving back to students comes easy.

Read part 1 of this series.

Editor’s note: This is part 1 of 2 in a series on the Jakubik Family Endowment Award.

The UMBC community is full of compassionate, caring people who love to give back to UMBC. Stan Jakubik and Justine Johnson are two of those people. Jakubik, a former Assistant Provost at UMBC and now the Assistant Vice Chancellor of the University System of Maryland, along with his family, established the Jakubik Family Endowment in the early 2000s. Their goal was to acknowledge the role that the staff plays in the success of students at UMBC.

Along with the Office of Institutional Advancement, Jakubik created an award that would recognize a staff member who went beyond the norm in helping UMBC students achieve their goals. While the award does include a monetary component, it was designed to highlight the contributions made by all staff to the overall academic and social environment at UMBC.

Today we’re meeting Stan Jakubik, the founder and namesake of the Jakubik Family Endowment, to find out why he’s such a big supporter of UMBC.

Q: What is your relationship to UMBC? How did you become involved with UMBC?

A: I was a member of the UMBC staff from 1980 through most of 1997.  I originally was hired as Registrar, later became Registrar and Director of Academic Advising, finally moving to Assistant Provost in the early 1990s. I reluctantly left UMBC in 1997 to head up a project for the University System of Maryland, where I am currently Assistant Vice Chancellor.

Q: Could you share a favorite memory from your time here?

A: My most fond memories of UMBC involve the growth of team spirit among the staff over the years. In the mid 1980s, Michael Hooker became President and started the transition toward the academic powerhouse that is now UMBC, with Freeman later moving UMBC to the national acclaim it enjoys today. The staff supporting all of the changes became a critical part of UMBC’s success story by joining together to constantly try to find better ways to support students and faculty. There was a strong identity among the staff with the goals of UMBC, pushing bureaucracy aside and finding new ways to “make it happen.”

I must say my other fond memory is my daughter Stephanie’s graduation from UMBC and her first career steps, joining the UMBC staff in both the Shriver Center and Institutional Advancement.

Q: How do you hope your support will make UMBC a better place?

A: My daughter and I wanted to find a way to thank UMBC for the exceptional experiences we both had as staff members. We could think of no better way than to build a program to acknowledge the continuing efforts of UMBC people who want to make the experience of being a member of the UMBC community an exceptional positive period in the lives of our students. We wanted to publicize the achievements of those whose commitment to UMBC – and to the success of its students – set a very high bar for others to follow. I believe the award does that.

Q: Why do you think it’s important to give back to UMBC?

A: I think we all know that financial support from individuals is more critical today than it has ever been. What is most important, however, is that people associated with UMBC have an opportunity to give back in so many different ways. Financial support clearly is one, but volunteerism is another. Becoming involved in recruiting efforts, telling the story of UMBC in social media, mentoring students, and working the legislative issues that impact UMBC all provide the kind of support that UMBC needs. Supporting UMBC in whatever manner is appropriate to you will help UMBC to continue to be the incredible success story it is today.

Stay tuned for part 2 of this series tomorrow.
In the meantime, you can support UMBC, too!

Here in the Office of Institutional Advancement, we are always working hard to support the university and connect our donors with causes they care most about. We would like to introduce our donors — to whom we are so grateful — to the people who help make those things happen. Today, we’ll be hearing from Susan Lynch, a Development Officer.

Name: Susie Lynch
Job Title: Development Officer
Focus Area: Development
Years at UMBC: 1.5

Q: Where are you from originally?

A: New York City

Q: What do you love most about UMBC?

A: The people

Q: What’s your favorite thing about your job?

A: Meeting interesting, entrepreneurial people

Q: Why do you think it’s important to support UMBC?

A: Because it makes a difference. The impact of people’s philanthropy can be seen all over campus, from the students who attend on scholarship to the named buildings.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: Pizza

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Your college experience is made up of many different things: eye-opening classes, talented professors, fun campus events, and amazing friends, just to name a few. But there’s one thing that has a unique and important impact on a student’s intellectual growth and future career aspirations – your department. Once you declare a major, your department often becomes a new family, the people you spend the most time with, the community that moves you through your college years.

The professors in your department help you shape and improve your work. They advise you as you build the foundation for your career. They become mentors you can count on for the rest of your life.

Your classmates become your team. You learn and grow side by side, developing a strong network of peers who you trust. You work on projects together, cram for finals together, and you launch your careers together.

The department is at the core of your college experience, and it’s one that is more than worthy of your support. When you donate to your department, you’re giving aid to the people on the ground. Your gift will ensure that future generations of Retrievers get to have the same wonderful experiences that you did. Your gift will help develop new and better courses, ensure that the best faculty are hired and retained, and give students unique, hands-on learning opportunities.

There are so many ways you can support UMBC. If you’re looking for something that you can connect to and that will have a real impact, please consider making a gift to your department today.