Sometimes, the strongest legacies arise from the humblest beginnings. For UMBC’s rugby team – one of the oldest clubs on campus – it all began with a bag of chips, a few cold ones, and a group of determined guys.

On May 3, the team proudly celebrated its 30th anniversary – a true legacy for UMBC and the ruggers.

Andrew Gaither ‘94, history, a current rugger and member of the Alumni Association Board, is overwhelmed and honored that the team has lasted this long. “I don’t think anybody thought we’d get this far,” says Gaither. “Having endured 30 years and seeing what it was and what it is now is kind of amazing – I’m looking forward to the 50th.”

The story begins back in 1984 when the rugby team first started and became part of the Potomac Rugby Union (PRU) – the official governing body of all rubgy for the areas of northern Virginia, D.C., Maryland, and parts of Pennsylvania. It was in 1992 that the first alumni game was held at UMBC. Gaither explains that what started as small and simple has turned into their annual Alumni Weekend featuring a match, fellowship, and the “Best Damn Awards in All of Rugby.”

Gaither talks of the levels of fraternity and community that most people don’t understand. “I have a lot of rugby brothers,” Gaither says. “I always say to the younger players, ‘Look around. These guys will be here with you and for you in 20 years.’” For many, this camaraderie is what rugby is all about.

There’s something else special about UMBC Rugby: the Haud Collumi Scholarship. It’s the only scholarship formally endowed by an athletics alumni group and was named after the famous pre-game ritual of the Dance of the No Neck (Haud Collumi in Latin). Since 1984, the ruggers take part in this dance before every single game. The exact origins are unknown, but it’s a part of tradition; and for the rugby team, tradition is just as important as camaraderie.

“It’s a great feeling to know that you’re helping your brothers get to the next level,” Gaither remarks.

The motto of the rugby team is one that speaks to the culture of their sport: “For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother (Henry V, Act 4, Scene 3).” There is a sense of brotherhood formed on the field that will last for years to come. The 30th anniversary for UMBC and the ruggers is a huge accomplishment and Alumni Weekend was nothing short of phenomenal as these brothers came together to play, sing, dance, drink, and be merry. The whole thing was a field day (pun intended)!

- by Jessie Orsburn

Support the Haud Collumi Scholarship.

Thanks so much to everyone who came out to the 9th Annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction hosted by our Chapter of Young Alumni. By attending the event, you helped us raise more than $6,500 for student scholarships. In fact, since 2009, together we’ve raised almost $25,000 to support UMBC students.

We’re also grateful to our generous sponsors, whose contributions came in at nearly $7,000 this year. Without their support, this event would not be possible.

We loved seeing you all there and hope you had as good a time as we did! We’ve shared just a few photos from the event below, but we hope you’ll check out our full gallery on Flickr.

See more photos from the Wine Tasting!

The UMBC community gives back in many ways. The Clothing Closet and Sweeten Up Your Network events were great examples of exactly that. Thanks to your donations of time, money and clothes, students were able to find outfits for future job interviews, brush up on their networking skills and make connections that could last a lifetime. Weren’t able to make it? Take a look at some of the pictures and head over to the Student Alumni Association Facebook page for more!

Some of the clothes donated by the UMBC community. (photo via SAA)

Another happy student finds an interview outfit! (photo via SAA)

UMBC SAA member Sheena was able to mix and match a few items to create a great outfit. (photo via SAA)

The Student Alumni Association hosted a great networking event! (photo via SAA)

Alumnus and UMBC staff member, Jeremiah Sawyer ’13, chats with a student about UMBC’s Career Services Center. (photo via SAA)

Once in a while you might get a call asking for your support for UMBC and its mission.

The person on the other end of the line? A UMBC student.

Five nights a week, UMBC students assemble at Alumni House and reach out to alumni and parents via the university’s Phonathon. The program was brought back to campus in 2011 after being outsourced to a third party for eight years.

Dayna Carpenter, UMBC’s director of annual giving, says that the university made the change because it was students who could make the most tangibleconnection to donors.

“People were really excited to talk to actual UMBC students and to have meaningful conversations,” said Carpenter.

Success is measured in numbers – and giving is up since the switch was made. But the relationships built by the Phonathon effort are just as important. Students and alumni swap stories about their time at UMBC, and a few students have received internship and job offers from alumni whom they’ve connected with during a phone call.

Logan Wern, UMBC’s Phonathon coordinator, says that students’ understanding of philanthropy has also increased: “Many of our students realize and understand the importance of fundraising and the good it does here on campus.”

One of the efforts that has benefited from the Phonathon is the Retriever Learning Center. The effort was heavily funded by alumni and it is a place beloved (and used) by many students.

“It’s because of the donors’ outstanding support that UMBC is able to offer so many resources for students and alumni alike,” says student caller Jordan Coffie ’14.

– Katharine Scrivener

Read the full issue of the Winter 2014 UMBC Magazine.

This March, while most college students were enjoying freedom from the classroom or even sunny days on the beach, a number of UMBC students instead chose to spend their week off from school in service learning experiences through Alternative Spring Break (ASB).

These week-long service trips introduce students to the broad range of challenges our society faces and teach them how they can help change things for the better. Thanks to donors like you, our students were volunteering and serving for projects and organizations like: 

• The Gesundheit Institute
•  Through the Eyes of a Refugee
• The ARC of Carroll County
• Will Hope for Change
• A Better Impact

Your gifts ensured that students could take advantage of these life-changing education opportunities, so thank you! They truly will carry these memories and lessons throughout their lives.

“My ASB experience was truly memorable. I loved seeing that small actions can make an impact and I had the best time working with other students in the program,” says student Erin Wells who went on the A Better Impact trip. “I have grown so much from just one week, thank you for this opportunity.”

See more photos from the Alternative Spring Break trips!

A group of UMBC students needs your help! The Students for Environmental Awareness (SEA) is currently seeking funding to host their Earth Day Festival on April 23.

SEA’s mission is to think locally and act globally, and they work to raise awareness for environmental causes and how everyone can make a difference.

And what better way to raise awareness than an Earth Day festival bringing the whole school together around peace and interconnectedness? SEA has worked tirelessly to secure space, funding and partner organizations to make this the best EcoFest yet! This year the students have a week of events planned, with the biggest being the Earth Day Festival, celebrated on April 23.

The funds raised will be used to pay for parking passes for SEA’s off-campus organization guests, printing posters, stenciling t-shirts, craft supplies for button-making and others, and covering other unanticipated costs.

Everyone is welcome to join in the festivities on April 23. We’d love you to be there in person or in spirit!

Help our students raise $200 to host EcoFest!

Once a month, we’ll profile one of the amazing Phonathon students working in UMBC’s call center. This week, say hello to student caller Regine, class of 2014.

Regine will be graduating in December of this year and has worked as a Student Caller and Supervisor for Phonathon since September 2011. Regine is originally from Haiti and is finishing her degree in Health Administration and Policy. We sat down with Regine to get to know her a little better and here’s what we learned:

Q: Why did you choose to come to UMBC? What do you enjoy most now that you’re here?

A: I chose to come to UMBC because I heard it was a good school for science and I was interested in Biology and public health. Now, I enjoy meeting new people every day from all over the world.

Q: What activities do you enjoy outside of class?

A: Getting my homework done on time. I really enjoy sitting and reading in the quad when it’s nice out.

Q: What do you like best about being a student caller?

A: Talking to alumni and learning about their experience. They always have the best stories and jokes about the campus.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: Go to grad school to study clinical epidemiology and global health!

Foursome on Fantasy Valley Golf Course

This year’s 9th Annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction, hosted at the George Peabody Library, is more than just good food and fine wine: Your attendance and participation in the auction will benefit the Alumni Association Scholarship for current UMBC students.

Scholarships like these make it possible for our students to get the highest-quality education – an investment that lasts a lifetime.

“Over the years, the Chapter of Young Alumni has used this event to raise tens of thousands of dollars for the Alumni Association Scholarship, something that has significantly impacted the lives of each scholarship recipient,” says Jessica El-Zeftawy, the Alumni Programming Coordinator.

$100 gift card, oven mitt, notepad, and pens from Miss Shirley’s

Auction items some super cool things, like tickets to the Newseum in D.C., restaurant gift certificates (like to the infamous Miss Shirley’s), and golf packages. So grab your tickets now and we’ll see you on April 25!

Give to the Alumni Association Scholarship fund!

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 Dayna Carpenter, the Director of Annual Giving.

Name: Dayna Carpenter
Job Title: Director of Annual Giving
Focus Area: Annual giving at UMBC includes direct mail, online communications including e-solicitations and crowdfunding, and the student call center. We primarily focus on alumni, parent, and faculty and staff giving initiatives.
Years at UMBC: I’ve worked at UMBC for 4 years. My first week on campus (and in Maryland) was “Snowmageddon of 2010.”

Q: Where are you from originally?

A: I’m from Orrington, Maine, which is just outside of the Greater Bangor area. I love the state and I try to get back at least a few times every year to visit with friends and family.

Q: What do you love most about UMBC? 

A: I love the people. It’s a rare environment that brings students, faculty, staff and alumni together in such a collaborative way. I feel like the work that we are doing is meaningful.

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

A: I love helping people find ways to support UMBC. There is a vehicle and a cause for everyone, whether they want to support a student organization, a sports team, their academic program or the university’s greatest need, we can help them accomplish it.

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

A: Giving back is a very personal act, so I think that answer is different for different people. For me, higher education is invaluable. I support UMBC because I see the impact it has on so many people’s lives and on the state of Maryland. The university’s community members influence arts and culture, public policy, natural and mathematical sciences, engineering and information technology, and cybersecurity (just to name a few areas). When you look at supporting other organizations, where else can you make a gift that has that kind of reach? For alumni, there is the added benefit that as the university rises in national rankings, the value of their degree is enhanced, too.

Q: What do you most look forward to on any given workday?

A: I love that every day is different. One day I might be editing a complex set of data in an excel sheet for hours and later drafting a letter or developing text for our crowdfunding site. The next day might involve meeting with a dean, collaborating with the marketing and communications staff, working at an alumni event or popping into the student call center. Working at UMBC always keeps things interesting for me.

Q: Who do you admire and why?

A: I greatly admire my grandmother. She is hardworking and compassionate,  always looking for the bright spot in every situation and is quick to give people the benefit of the doubt. That’s something that I think a lot of people struggle with. Especially as I’ve grown older, I appreciate her character more and more. She is always polished and
classy and kind.

Q: What is your favorite hobby or pastime?

A: I love spending time with my husband and our dog Murphy. It usually doesn’t matter what kind of trouble we’re getting into, as long as we’re together. Anyone who knows me through social media also knows that I love snapping photos of my friends, my family and especially of Murphy.

Dayna’s dog, Murphy.

Editor’s note: One of the many ways people can support the university is through crowdfunding a variety of projects. Periodically we’ll feature campus initiatives that need your help. This week we’re pleased to share information about the LaMont Toliver Alumni Memorial Scholarship.

LaMont Toliver was a source of strength and inspiration for much of the UMBC community during his 22 years here. His passing in February 2012 was a huge loss for the entire university.

To celebrate his life and incredible work, graduates of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program established the LaMont Toliver Alumni Memorial Scholarship Fund, which will support scholarships for Meyerhoff students for generations to come.

A gift to the LaMont Toliver Alumni Memorial Scholarship Fundhelps build a meaningful and lasting memorial to LaMont and his life’s work at UMBC. It will also help future Meyerhoff scholars for years to come.

Make your gift today!