We’re just ONE day away from #GivingTuesday, a national day of giving tomorrow, December 3rd. The UMBC community is working to change the world, and on #GivingTuesday, you can help them do it.

Throughout the past month, we’ve shared stories of how our students, faculty, staff, and alumni are making a difference. We took a peek at how the Engineers Without Borders group will bring clean water to Isongo, Kenya. We tapped our feet to songs that will be on the Down and Dirty Dawg Band’s new CD. And we learned about UMBC’s mission to create a more inclusive campus through LGBTQ programs and initiatives.

Here are just a few things the people involved with those projects had to say:

“Engineers Without Borders-UMBC relies on gifts to fulfill our mission of implementing environmentally and economically sustainable engineering projects, while developing globally aware and internationally responsible students and engineers. We especially appreciate gifts from alumni because we believe that EWB-UMBC not only promotes projects in the developing world, but also transformative experiences for UMBC students.”

~Lee Blaney, assistant professor and advisor for EWB

“[Your support] means the world to the band. If you’re an alumni of the band and had a great experience, your donation will help ensure that the next generation of students have the same positive experience.”

~Matt Basch ’08,  ’10, Director, Down and Dirty Dawg Band

“To support UMBC as an alum is a no-brainer. As a student, I felt the positive impact [of donor support], and I want to live up to Dr. Hrabowski’s motto that of those to whom much is given, much is expected.”

~Chris Magaha ’03, donor to LGBTQ programs & initiatives

They’ve had their say. Now it’s your turn.
Will you join us in making a difference on #GivingTuesday?

Every year, as fall begins to roll in, and the leaves start turning brilliant colors all across campus, we’re reminded that Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

Fortunately for us, we don’t have to wait for November to get that warm gracious feeling (although the pie, alas, will have to wait). Today, we’re releasing the FY13 Donor Roll, a list of all of the wonderful people who supported UMBC during the last fiscal year.

This list is full of Retriever Believers. Thank you for all you do to keep UMBC strong!

TO: The UMBC Campus Community

FROM: Diane Lee, Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education, and Greg Simmons, Vice President for Institutional Advancement

RE: Naming Academic IV for Generous Supporters of UMBC

We are delighted to announce that the USM Board of Regents have approved UMBC’s request to officially name Academic IV after George and Betsy Sherman, in honor of their generous support of the University. Over nearly 20 years, the Shermans have committed more than $10 million to help strengthen our efforts increase the number of well-prepared, highly qualified teachers committed to teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in high-needs school throughout the Greater Baltimore region.

In 2007, the Shermans partnered with UMBC to start the Sherman STEM Teacher Scholars Program, which is dedicated to growing the number of highly-qualified STEM teachers working in urban school districts by providing scholarships, intensive advising, and robust peer support and mentorship. Dozens of Sherman Scholar alumni are now working in Baltimore City Public Schools.

The Shermans’ most recent gift commitment, a $1-million pledge, will enable UMBC and the Sherman STEM Teacher Scholars Program to deepen its connection to city schools through a multi-year partnership with Lakeland Elementary and Middle School in southwest Baltimore. Sherman Scholars, along with Shriver Center Peaceworkers and Choice Program caseworkers, will work with school leadership to develop school- and family-centered strategies that address student and community needs.

In appreciation of the Shermans’ generosity, and in recognition of our shared commitment to the power of education to transform lives, Academic IV will be renamed “Sherman Hall.” In the tradition of the Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Chemistry Building and Janet and Walter Sondheim Hall, signage throughout the building will be changed and donor plaques will be introduced. Work will begin over the summer, with the building officially assuming its new name at the beginning of fall 2013.

A formal dedication ceremony will be planned for the fall, and we will share that information in a follow up communication in the coming weeks.

We admit it: we get a little sentimental around this time of year. You see, we’re in the final throes of the fiscal year, and it gets our minds spinning about all the things we love about UMBC: the people, the activities, the amazing research…everything.

Truth be told, all of the things we love were made possible, at least in part, by the support of our donors. And everything UMBC becomes in the future depends on our support just as much.

We think UMBC is worth it. Don’t you?

Please make your gift to UMBC by this Sunday, June 30, to make an immediate, lasting impact at UMBC.  Thank you!

Wondering how best to make a difference in students’ lives at UMBC? Check out these quick and easy tips for making your gift! Don’t forget: the fiscal year ends this Sunday, June 30.  Thanks so much for supporting UMBC!

ONLINE GIVING
You can quickly and easily make your gift online either on our crowdsourcing site, where you can directly support student scholarships and other student programs, or on our traditional giving site, where you can designate your gift any way you like!

CHECKS
Please make checks payable to the UMBC Foundation and mail to the UMBC Foundation at 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250.

GIFTS OF SECURITIES
Giving appreciated stock can be beneficial to UMBC and you. 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 can be a significant benefit to you, your family, and UMBC. Bequests, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts offer donors a variety of ways to support 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
A gift of personal property includes equipment, inventory, books, works of art, or other tangible property. Gifts of personal property are accepted by UMBC. Gifts in kind can be used to benefit the university, an academic department, or program as designated by the donor. If you are interested in pursuing this type of gift, please call Kim Robinson, director of capital campaigns and donor relations, at 410-455-3700 or trowbrid@umbc.edu.

When students have the scholarship support they need, they can do AMAZING things. And during the month of June, we’re working hard to help students do just that — make the most of their time at UMBC, and change the world for the better, with the aid of scholarships. Our aim? To raise enough money to award 30 scholarships of $1,000. It’s a big goal, but you can help us reach it, and when you do, you’ll be helping students in need.

Today we’re featuring 2013 valedictorian and scholarship recipient Asif Majid ’13, interdisciplinary studies, who this fall is bound for Georgetown University to study conflict resolution. While at UMBC, Asif (a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar) not only wrote a play about Moroccan social justice issues while studying abroad in Morocco, he also participated in Model UN and served as a hand drummer in UMBC’s improvisational world music band and principal timpanist for the UMBC Symphony Orchestra.

Q: What did it mean to you and your family to be able to rely on scholarship support during your time at UMBC?

A:  Coming out of high school, one of my main considerations in choosing a university to attend was financial.  Simultaneously, I was concerned with having a sense of community, as close-knit as possible, while at UMBC.  As a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar, the financial support that I received from the program and the community support I received from my fellow scholars were essential parts of my UMBC experience.

Q:  Why did you choose UMBC?

A:  Rather than me choosing UMBC, I think that UMBC chose me.  Before and during my high school years, my father taught in the Mechanical Engineering Department, my sister was a Meyerhoff Scholar and Interdisciplinary Studies major, and my mother volunteered with the Meyerhoff Parents’ Association.  UMBC has been a constant presence in my life, and it seemed a natural fit when it came time to choose an undergraduate institution.  Receiving financial support from the school only sweetened the deal.

Q:  We know that students who receive the support they need can do amazing things at UMBC. What are you most proud of accomplishing in your time at UMBC?

A:  Though UMBC has afforded me many opportunities and given me support to be successful in many arenas, I would say that I am most humbled and honored to have achieved excellence within the Interdisciplinary Studies Department (INDS).  Designing my own major, conducting independent research through my capstone and social justice theatre project, integrating a study abroad experience into my undergraduate career, and making history as the first valedictorian from INDS are simply my way of saying thank you to the exceptional department that has been my home for the past four years.

Q:  How did it feel to be able to address your classmates as valedictorian?

A:  It is an impossible task to speak for anyone else, let alone to represent the experiences of thousands of students at a university as diverse as UMBC.  Holding fast to the idea that any good valedictory address is not about the valedictorian but about the graduates as a whole, I chose to speak in terms of ideas and principles such as risk-taking and remembering our origins.  Each graduate has a unique experience that is theirs alone, and I wanted to acknowledge that journey.

Q:  I understand you’re planning on studying conflict resolution at Georgetown. Where do you hope your studies take you?

A:  I feel that my life lines up alongside the motto of The Honors College: “Learning for Living.”  Infused with such an idea after my time at UMBC, I aim for my studies to propel me in the direction of being a conflict transformation scholar-practitioner.  This will involve working in the intersections of the performing arts, experiential education, conflict transformation, and humanitarian emergencies while also thinking, teaching, and writing about how to improve the conditions of others in conflict zones.  For me, the convergence of learning and living is an exciting interstitial space that I believe will characterize my future.

When students have the scholarship support they need, they can do AMAZING things. And during the month of June, we’re working hard to help students do just that — make the most of their time at UMBC, and change the world for the better, with the aid of scholarships. Our aim? To raise enough money to award 30 scholarships of $1,000. It’s a big goal, but you can help us reach it, and when you do, you’ll be helping students in need.

Today we’re featuring an outstanding scholarship winner and future teacher, Micaela Perez Ferrero ’13, political science, who received a number of scholarships while at UMBC, including the Alumni Association Scholarship, Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program, The Shattuck Family Entrepreneurial Scholars Program, and The UMBC Political Science Department.

Q:  How important is it for you to have received these scholarships?
A:  Without scholarships, I would not be at UMBC. Scholarships have not only allowed me to attend a 4 year university, but it also allowed me to attend UMBC. Scholarships have given me the opportunity to achieve my goals and dreams, and I am sincerely grateful for all those who have contributed to each of my scholarships.

Q: Why did you choose UMBC?
A: I decided to come to UMBC due to my acceptance into the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program. I knew that I wanted to spend my four years as an undergraduate surrounded by a community that believed in helping others and making change in order to improve communities.

Q: What’s the most amazing thing you’ve noticed so far?
A: The most amazing discovery that I have made as a student here is how willing faculty and staff want to help you achieve your dreams. This year, I have the opportunity to not only intern in New York City, but also study abroad in Costa Rica. I would have never have achieved either of these dreams without the support and encouragement from my professors.

Q: Is there a particular class that has really opened your eyes?
A: POLI 450, Seminar in Public Administration and Management, really opened my mind to the idea of working in the public sector. Along with my internships in non-profit organizations, this class helped me learn more about my future career interests and what it means to be an effective leader in the public realm.

Q: What are your plans for after graduation next spring?
A: After I graduate, I hope to be admitted into the Teach For America Corps. I interned with TFA this summer and felt truly inspired and motivated by their mission to provide all children with a quality education. I hope to also pursue a Master’s in Public Policy in order to further my career. Ultimately, I wish to work either for the government or a non-profit organization.

Q: What would you like to say to alumni who have supported your scholarships?
A: To the alumni who contributed to my scholarship: thank you. Your contribution not only allowed for me to be able to study abroad, but it also allows me to continue my education at UMBC. My entire undergraduate degree is based on scholarships and so your contribution is of extreme value to me.

Read more about Micaela on the Class of 2013 page.

Interested in helping students like Micaela? Give today.

When Dr. Shlomo Carmi – former Dean of the College of Engineering and Information Technology and professor of mechanical engineering – retired from UMBC this semester, he and his wife Rachel decided to give back to the university that has been such a big part of their lives for so many years.

Watch the video to learn more about why the Carmis give to UMBC.

In a final goodwill gesture to the Catonsville community, the recently disbanded Woman’s Club of Catonsville has donated $25,000 to establish a new endowment at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).

In memory of 80 years of service to the Catonsville community, The Women’s Club of Catonsville Memorial Scholarship rewards UMBC students returning for their sophomore year and having maintained a 3.5 GPA, or higher. Preference will be given to candidates who have attended a public or private high school in the Catonsville area.

“The club has a strong history of putting money back into the Catonsville community,” said Paula Ray, former treasurer for the club. “UMBC has a very good reputation, and we are fortunate to have to such a fine institution in our back yard.”

Besides following the tradition of the Women’s Club, Ms. Ray says the donation was also a great way to memorialize the legacy of the club. “We really wanted a lasting endowment that the club would be remembered for.”

Most scholarships focus on the newly enrolled, but the members of the club wanted to highlight those students returning to campus to continue their studies. “The club wanted to see the money go to someone who had finished their first year, and done well,” said Ray.

UMBC plans to offer the scholarship to students beginning in fall 2014.

In his junior year at UMBC, Collin Wojciechowski ’13, political science, represented nearly 180,000 students within the University System of Maryland (USM) as their sole student representative on the Board of Regents. Wojciechowski advocated against “doomsday” budget cuts and tuition increases and successfully lobbied to overhaul the USM policy for assessing student fees, making students an active part of the discussion.

Without the aid of scholarships, he would never have been able to serve his fellow students in this way. We sat down with the newly graduated Sondheim Scholar to talk a little bit about the part scholarships have played in his life.

Help UMBC students do AMAZING things. Make a gift to the 30 Days/30 Scholarships campaign today!

Q:  How important was it to your college career to have the support of scholarships?

A:  Being the son of a firemen and a public school teacher and the oldest of three brothers who all aspire to seek higher education, having the support of a scholarship was extremely important to my college career.

Q:  Can you tell us a little about what it meant to you to be able to serve as the student regent, and then to continue working with legislators?

A:  If I did not have a scholarship, I would not have been able to be the USM Student Regent; it’s as simple as that. I only had the time and ability to serve at that post because I did not have to work a side job to pay for college.

Being the Student Regent was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Representing students through such trying times as merger debate and the doomsday budget was the thrill of a lifetime. To then be able to take what I had learned on the Board and use it to represent Dr. Hrabowski in Annapolis was a dream. I have never had more fun then the Session I spent advocating for UMBC before legislators.

Q:  Has that work given you added insight into education funding, and if so, can you talk a little about the significance of alumni support of education in Maryland?

A:  Having been a member of the Advancement Committee of the USM Board of Regents, which oversees alumni giving, I feel I have a unique perspective on the significance that alumni support plays in higher education in Maryland. While our state, specifically Governor Martin O’Malley, has done tremendous things for public universities in terms of funding, student support and financial aid always need assistance. As students and their families continue to face economic difficulty it is up to the alumni base to ensure UMBC is a place welcoming to everyone.

Read more about Collin and his UMBC experiences on the Class of 2013 site.