Tomorrow marks the third annual Scholarship Luncheon celebrating donors and their contribution to support our UMBC students. This yearly meet-and-greet event is a great opportunity for donors to get to know the scholarship recipients and understand just how big an impact their gifts have on the UMBC students and community.

A highlight of the event is the opportunity to hear from two special speakers: a donor and a student. This year, donor Ken Pittman ’80, Economics, of PNC Wealth Management will share the story of why he supports UMBC and one of the Linehan Art scholars will share the story of how receiving a scholarship has changed her life and advanced her studies.

More than just a time to express gratitude, however, the scholarship luncheon promotes the possibility of future philanthropy – the students are able to see the faces behind the scholarships and realize that the people giving these gifts are real people with passions just like themselves with a desire to give back to others and their community. It’s heartwarming for the donors to meet the students face to face and students are also touched at the chance to learn the story behind the scholarship.

And even as the luncheon ends and our donors and students go their separate ways, the effects of their meeting often last beyond this day, beyond UMBC and even extend into the personal lives of the donors and recipients. One particular student was so grateful to his donor that he made the effort to follow up and maintain a relationship. Equally, the donors enjoy the chance to see where the students are after graduation: where they are working, what has happened in their lives and what they are working toward in their future.

As we at UMBC see it, this is what philanthropy should be: a lasting legacy and the chance to make new connections. We appreciate all the donors who support our students – you are making a very real mark on our campus and changing lives.

Make your mark today! Support students scholarships.

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 Kara.

Kara is from Kensington, MD, and is working toward her degree in environmental science. She plans to graduate in December of this year. We sat down with Kara to get to know her a little better and here’s what we learned:

Why did you choose to come to UMBC? What do you enjoy most now that you’re here?
I chose to come to UMBC because it was a smaller campus and a great community of all types of students. I enjoy the dedicated teachers and the ability to visit my family on the weekends.

What activities do you enjoy outside of class?
I enjoy playing soccer and going to car events with friends.

What do you like best about being a student caller?
I love the laid back environment as we work to call alumni and better our university for future students to come.

What are your plans after graduation?
I hope to find a great paying job that I enjoy doing and that involves solving environmental issues.

Learn more about the great projects that Kara and the other student callers fundraise for. 

When we talk with our alumni, they often tell us UMBC not only taught them what they needed to earn a degree, but also what they needed to live their lives in an engaged, active way.

For some, all it took was the special attention of an extraordinary teacher. For others, it was the chance brush with another culture that caused a sea change of perspective.

Think about ways UMBC has enriched your life. Now, imagine a university where everyone knew its worth in their lives – and what might happen if each of those people supported it at whatever level they could. Every year.

Imagine what we could all do together. You know that every little bit counts, but it becomes even clearer when you see what might be possible if each of UMBC’s more than 60,000 alumni made a gift in support of UMBC’s Annual Fund. The results would be phenomenal:

• If every alum gave $10, UMBC would have $600,000 to fund new scholarships, research opportunities, faculty training, and more…
• If every alum gave $15, UMBC would have $900,000…
• If every alum gave $20, UMBC would have $1.2 million…

And it only takes one person to start the movement. When you make your gift to the annual fund, you’re making a public and important show of support.

Annual fund gifts have an immediate and direct impact on academic and other resources for our students. Did you know that state funds provide less than 25% of the university’s operating budget? And that tuition and fees alone do not cover the full cost of a UMBC education?

That’s why your gift to the department, area, or program you care most about helps keep a UMBC education within reach for our students and families.

We are extremely proud of and honored by the support we receive each year. We are amazed at the generosity of UMBC’s supporters, from alumni, faculty and staff to friends of the university, corporations, foundations, parents and even current students themselves. We know that your gifts are an indication of your belief in the work that we do here and the potential of our amazing students. 

Change lives. Make a gift to the annual fund today!

It’s Valentine’s Day, and love is in the air! For all of us here at UMBC, it’s a great day to tell you, our donors, how much we appreciate you and all that you do for UMBC.

When you give to the University, you make it possible for our students to get the highest quality education. You ensure that our faculty and staff have the resources to do amazing things. You invest in a place that strives for greatness. And though that investment means more to us than words can convey, we still want to say thank you. So we asked a few of our faculty and staff to say thank you to a donor who has made a difference to them:

“We’re so appreciative of the support that Ken Pittman ’80, economics, gives to our university. He is generous with his time through his service on our alumni board, and he and his family regularly contribute to several of our scholarship funds. His willingness to give back helps make UMBC a great place.”

~Stanyell Bruce, Director of Alumni Relations, UMBC

“We are so grateful for Next Century’s support of this software engineering course. Their gift helps students learn about the fundamentals of Software Engineering and the software development lifecycle. The students are getting a great opportunity to work with a ‘real-life’ application, developing a student alert system. Next Century personnel are acting as ‘customers’ for this project, which gives students valuable training in working with real customers. The students are also going to present their project in Next Century’s offices and will get an experience of actual office/industry setting.”

~Karuna Joshi, Research Assistant Professor, UMBC

“Through his work as a student caller with UMBC’s Phonathon, Jordan, class of 2014, has done exceptional work on behalf of UMBC and the Meyerhoff program. He has had hundreds of conversations with alumni and parents, helping to secure many gifts for the  LaMont Toliver Alumni Memorial Scholarship. This fall, Jordan himself made a contribution to the LaMont Toliver Alumni Memorial Scholarship. I was really impressed by his leadership as a student and donor. UMBC’s students often give back of their time and talent, but it’s more rare for students to part with their hard-earned paychecks. Jordan’s commitment to helping future generations of UMBC students excel was a really moving act that leaves a lasting legacy in Mr. Toliver’s name.”

~Dayna Carpenter, Director of Annual Giving

Check out UMBC’s Donor Roll, where we say thank you to everyone who has supported us each year.

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 and supervisor Jordan.

Jordan will be graduating in May of this year and has worked for Phonathon since September 2011. Jordan is from Bowie, MD, and is a Meyerhoff Scholar finishing his degree in computer engineering and mathematics. We sat down with Jordan to get to know him a little better and here’s what we learned:

Why did you choose to come to UMBC? What do you enjoy most now that you’re here?
I chose to come to UMBC because of the academic and scholarship programs as well as the diverse student body. Now that I’m here, I enjoy learning about the various cultural backgrounds of my classmates.

What activities do you enjoy outside of class?
When I’m not in class, I enjoy playing soccer and running around the Loop.

What do you like best about being a student caller?
The best thing about being a student caller is the opportunity to speak to a wide variety of UMBC alumni.

What are your plans after graduation?
My plans are to pursue  a career as a mathematician/computer scientist while pursuing a Ph.D. in mathematics.

Learn more about the great projects that Jordan and the other student callers fundraise for. 

Alternative Spring Breaks

Last week, we told you about two of the Alternative Spring Break (ASB) trips UMBC students have the opportunity to go on, instead of opting for sun and sand. 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. Here are the other projects where students will be doing amazing work – and YOU can help:

Clowning Around to Change Lives

West Virginia may not sound like much of a spring break destination, but this March, 15 UMBC students will spend their break at Patch Adam’s Gesundheit Institute in Pocahontas County, WV. Through the Gesundheit Institute ASB, students will interact with patients as they learn about the Patch Adams’ medical model – the belief that laughter, joy and creativity are an integral part of the healing process. Students will also study the Institute’s approach to social justice and lend a hand in maintaining the sprawling 300 acre campus.

http://youtu.be/jhYhrV2srbM

Seeing Through the Eyes of a Refugee

Home. It’s a simple concept – a place where you belong and are cared for, a place you return to over and over. But it’s a place that has been ripped away from refugees who have been forced to flee home. And despite the overwhelming numbers of refugees around the world, very few people know about or understand the plight they face. For a group of UMBC students, that’s about to change. During the Through the Eyes of a Refugee ASB, students will be introduced to the realities faced by those living as refugees. They’ll spend a week with refugee adults, high-school refugee students and their families and ultimately witness the strength and courage of refugees living in the Baltimore area.

http://youtu.be/AKw-JmQgvEQ

Making Connections, Building Friendships

In our society, intellectual and developmental disabilities are often misunderstood and stigmatized. But we believe that the best way to understand other people is to get to know them, and that’s what this trip is all about. Through the ARC of Carroll County ASB, students will a unique chance to challenge and overcome the common stereotypes and prejudices that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face. Students will develop meaningful relationships with the clients at The ARC as they work together on projects and make one-day trips to the humane society and even the mall. They’ll hear first-hand accounts about and deepen their understanding of what life is like for someone with a disability.

http://youtu.be/y57sLj_QdgE

How Can You Help?

These will be special trips; the kind that students will remember for life. But they need your help to get there, quite literally.

Donations will go directly to the costs of the spring break service learning experience for 15 UMBC students. All donations collected will be used for supplies, lodging, food and transportation during the 2013-2014 ASBs. Thank you for your support!

Support trips and initiatives like these!

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 Kaitlyn Golden, a senior psychology major who is also a Shattuck Family Entrepreneurial Scholarship recipient. This scholarship was established to recognize and celebrate outstanding UMBC students who have demonstrated an interest in entrepreneurship, high academic potential and drive, and an exceptional value system and commitment to the community.

Name: Kaitlyn Golden
Grad year/major: May 2014, psychology
Affiliation: Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program, Honors College

Q: Why did you decide to attend UMBC?

A: My sister attended UMBC, and so I wanted to do something different. But with encouragement from my family, I took a tour during the fall of my senior year in high school and really liked the campus. When we got to Academic Row, I saw the library pond and the green trees arching overhead, and I remember thinking, “Wow, I could definitely go here.” I’ve always felt really fond of Academic Row and the library pond ever since then – they helped change my mind about UMBC, and helped me appreciate the school’s beauty.

That spring, I found out I’d been accepted into the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program and the Honors College, and so I knew then that I was definitely going to go to UMBC.

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

A: People here at UMBC are boundlessly generous and giving of their time, energy, wisdom and patience. From my peers, mentors and professors, I’ve learned about many different social justice issues. My most amazing discovery was how students can make change in the world, and from this, I realized my own personal power and strength. This year, I have also realized how, in so many ways, we are not isolated beings; we need the support of people who love us to move forward.

Q: What was your time like in the Shattuck Family Internship Program?

A: While most students were using the scholarship during the spring semester to complete internships, I interned during the summer. I spent five weeks working at a non-profit in Baja California, Mexico. Prior to my internship, during the spring semester, I attended three speaker sessions sponsored by the Alex. Brown Center. All Shattuck recipients were invited to have breakfast with Molly and Mayo Shattuck, which was really fun. I loved meeting the other interns, who were doing such great work at their respective sites. The program thus prepared me very well for my time in Mexico and gave me a solid foundation of knowledge and support.

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

A: Scholarships make my education possible. Without financial assistance, I would not be free to pursue some of the wonderful opportunities I’ve had at UMBC, such as research, volunteering, playing club Ultimate and being involved in many organizations. In addition to the Shattuck Program’s financial assistance, I am also a member of Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program. The Sondheim Program helped me financially during my college career, and gave me a solid foundation to learn about public service and public affairs. Scholarship support gave me the time to become a freer, more well-rounded thinker and an involved student.

Q: What did you do with the scholarship money you received?

A: The Shattuck Program’s grant enabled me to pay for my plane ticket to Mexico, my baggage fees and it also covered most of my living expenses while I was there. I felt really lucky to be able to do international service without worrying about the financial stress of traveling to another country.

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

A: Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you. The Shattucks’ generosity is incredible. Both Molly and Mayo Shattuck are inspiring and great examples of leading a positive and giving life. I really admire both of them for their innovations, like their internship program, and all of the service work they do in the Baltimore community.

Q: What do you hope to do after graduation and why?

A: My favorite quote is derived from the Bible and immortalized by John F. Kennedy: “To those whom much is given, much is expected.” I believe in this very strongly. I have been given very much, and after college graduation I want to give back. I plan to serve both domestically and internationally. I am applying to several AmeriCorps programs and the Peace Corps. After this service, I will pursue a Ph.D. in Community Psychology. I plan on using my degree to work for food justice, access and sustainability within communities of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

Alternative Spring Breaks

Spring break. For most students, it holds the promise of sunshine and freedom – an escape from the busy world of school. But for other students, spring break means a chance to learn something new and make a difference in the world. That’s where Alternative Spring Break (ASB) comes in. 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. Your gift can help them do amazing work, like this:

Lending a Hand

Through the “Will Hope for Change” trip, students will work together to make a difference right here in Baltimore. This trip provides students the opportunity to help our city’s homeless residents. By working with programs that help to combat this issue, students will gain a better understanding of the struggles that come with being homeless and the impact of helping people right in your own neighborhood.

Living Green

UMBC students on the “A Better Impact” trip will spend a week exploring green spaces in Maryland and learning how to live more sustainably. Each day, students will reflect on the different aspects of sustainable living, and they’ll enjoy the rewards of promoting this lifestyle as they explore Maryland’s topography.

How Can You Help?

These will be special trips; the kind that students will remember for life. But they need your help to get there, quite literally.

The weather may be wintery, but it’s time for the spring semester here at UMBC! This week, classes kicked off and students poured back onto campus. As they settle down to the business of studying and creating and making, we wanted to take a moment and thank you, our donors, for all you do to support our students!

Want to continue your investment in our students as they work toward graduation in May? Check out some of these cool student initiatives:

• Haud Collumi Scholarship
• LGBTQ Outreach and Support

When she began her college search, the Honorable Wanda Keyes Heard ‘79, political science, knew very little about UMBC. But when she and her family — then living in Long Island, New York — returned from a visit to schools in the DC area, they decided to stop by the new university in Catonsville. That chance decision would change Wanda’s life.

“I fell in love with UMBC,” she says. That means a lot coming from Wanda, whose father Sterling Keyes, was a veteran educator and civil rights activist who impressed upon her from an early age the importance of education. And so she came to UMBC, where she would study political science and launch her career as a lawyer and then Baltimore Circuit Court judge.

When Wanda lost her father a year ago, she found herself making another decision about her future–the decision of what to do with her estate. In honor of her father’s legacy and her own experience at UMBC, she decided to establish a planned gift to the university.  “When you leave the earth, you can’t take it [money] with you,” she explains. “What better way is there to honor your life than to give back? I know UMBC will make good use of the money.”

Wanda’s decision isn’t surprising. Throughout her career as a judge for the Baltimore City Circuit Court, she has been paying it forward. She’s an avid supporter of UMBC’s Second Generation scholarship, and she’s also given students–many of them from her alma mater–the opportunity to gain invaluable career experience as interns in her office. It’s that kind of experience that rounds out an education and launches careers.

As Wanda is quick to tell you, UMBC was truly where her life and career got started. “I received an excellent education there, and that set me on the road to law school and being a judge,” she says. “Once UMBC has put its print on you, you can do anything you want to.”

In Wanda’s case, that print was indelible, and was made by her experiences both in and out of the classroom. Wanda was active in the Student Government Association, joined the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and worked as a Resident Assistant. Each and every one of those activities left a distinct mark on her, she says, and showed her the importance of getting involved with and contributing to her community. In fact, for Wanda, education, service and giving back are inextricably intertwined.

“If you went to UMBC, giving back comes naturally,” she says. And that dedication to service and giving will now come full circle. Through her planned gift to UMBC, Wanda is ensuring future generations will have the same amazing educational and career opportunities that she did.

Learn more about making a planned gift like Wanda’s.