Former UMBC baseball standout Zach Clark ’06, psychology, has been added to the Baltimore Orioles’ roster, the Baltimore Sun reported yesterday.
Clark, who pitched and was a designated hitter for the Retrievers, has spent seven years in the Orioles farm system, most recently with the Bowie Baysox.
Read the Baltimore Sun story here.
He was profiled in a recent UMBC Magazine story here.
Read more about Clark in two recent news releases from UMBC Athletics:
The U.S. State Department counts Arabic as flat out one of the most difficult languages to learn. For Loren Siebert ’93, computer science, however, the study of a language that started as a hobby has blossomed into a career that blends both tech and teaching skills.
The founder of LinguaStep, an online language learning service praised by students for being both speedy and effective, was featured in Salon last week as part of a story explaining how Siebert has partnered with the U.S. military to develop language programs for soldiers serving in Iraq.
On a lark, the story says, Siebert decided to take lessons in Arabic at the University of California, Berkeley. He found the language beautiful, but incredibly challenging. Finding little in the way of online resources for learning Arabic, he began to develop a software to fill the teaching gap. In 2006, he launched LinguaStep.
“Arabic is a language of memorization,” [Siebert] said. “You just have to drill the words into your head, which unfortunately takes a lot of time.” He thought, “How can I maximize the number of words I learn in the minimum amount of time?”
Meet Krista, a sophomore studying animation and interactive media. Someday she hopes to create video games that educate as much as they entertain. And, like so many of her friends in disciplines across the board at UMBC, she is an innovator-in-training.
Krista also supports her education by working part-time as a phonathon caller, so she speaks all the time with alumni about their time at UMBC. She enjoys the stories – and the idea that so many memories have come together to build the UMBC of today.
Watch Krista’s video to learn more about her work, and check out the links below to see her progress in her studies!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7thtRhLKx14]
The UMBC women’s soccer team raised $1300 for breast cancer research during its recent “Fight in Pink” contest on Oct. 14 against Stony Brook. The money will go directly to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a foundation that has become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.
The Retrievers sold t-shirts prior to the event and held a silent auction throughout UMBC’s matchup with the Seawolves, in addition to accepting donations.
“I have to give credit to all the UMBC women’s soccer players who initiated the pink game,” head coach Leslie Wray said. “It was their idea to have a match that promoted breast cancer awareness and to help raise funds for Susan G. Komen by selling “Fight in Pink” t-shirts, that they designed.
“We would like to thanks the UMBC students, parents and fans who bought t-shirts to help women’s soccer raise money for this incredible cause,” Wray continued. “So many women are affected by breast cancer and for many of us it hits very close to home. I am glad the UMBC women’s soccer team could contribute to helping all the brave women who are fighting this disease.”
An op-ed by George Derek Musgrove ’97, history, assistant professor of history, recently appeared on The Root DC blog on the Washington Post website.
In the piece, Musgrove and co-author Chris Myers Asch discuss why current discussions of gentrification in the Washington D.C. region can be so heated.
“Simply put, people do not want to be gone or forgotten,” they write.
“Displacement and struggles over who ‘owns’ the city have a long history in Washington. Ours is a city both Southern and transient, where the constant churn of newcomers has amplified the importance of place and rootedness.”
The authors conclude that “We must also help create the conditions in which a diverse population can flourish now and in the future.”
The story, “Not gone, not forgotten: Struggling over history in a gentrifying D.C.” appeared online on October 19.
When alumnae of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Lambda Phi Chapter reunited during this month’s Homecoming weekend, it was more than just the predictable flurry of pink and green and catching up on each other’s lives.
That’s because the women added a philanthropic component to their event, raising nearly $700 to support UMBC’s Second Generation Scholarship Fund. Thirty-eight alumnae contributed to the fund, which was founded in 1986 to support students who have taken at least one Africana studies course and demonstrate a commitment to improving the lives of minorities through community service, extracurricular activities or other community involvement.
Event organizer Dr. Tamara L. Lewis ’92, psychology, presented a check to Gary M. Brooks ’79, history, a member of the scholarship board. Lewis is a member of the UMBC Alumni Association Board of Directors and President of the Chapter of Black and Latino Alumni.
“The Second Generation Scholarship Fund started from some alumni who wanted to give something back,” said Brooks, who explained the need for scholarship funding has increased sharply over the years.
“Back when I was in school in the ’70s, if you could write your name on the X, you’d get enough scholarship funds to go to school. It wasn’t a question of money,” he said. “As time went on, those behind us found out that it is a problem [finding the] money.”
Read more about the Second Generation Scholarship Fund here.
FROM: Philip Rous, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
TO: The UMBC Community
RE: Warm Support for the Hrabowski Fund for Innovation
Dr. Hrabowski addresses guests at A Celebration of Leadership + Innovation, October 6. See more photos from the event here.
I am delighted to share news of the tremendous support we have received from alumni and friends, the local community and businesses, and state and national leaders as we launch the Hrabowski Fund for Innovation.
Over the last few months, hundreds of people across the state and nation have given of their time, talents, and resources, including about $5.5 million in gifts honoring President Hrabowski’s 20 years of dynamic leadership. Of that amount, more than $3 million was given in support of the Innovation Fund.
As Tim Nohe, President of the Faculty Senate, shared: “The community support that lifted the Innovation Fund to such heights also makes it clear that people and businesses believe in the vision and mission of our university, and I am grateful that faculty and students have been supported with such extraordinary generosity … Freeman has involved each of us in a great and growing university that we make, day by day, with extraordinary effort and a little bit of magic.”
Indeed, the outpouring of support recognizes the lasting contributions of UMBC’s faculty, staff, students, and alumni to the social fabric of our region, to Maryland’s economy, and to advancing public education nationwide. It also shows our supporters’ enthusiasm for the impact UMBC has had as a national model for excellence in teaching and learning across the disciplines.
Mayo Shattuck, Chair of the Board of Visitors, had this to say: “It is wonderful to see such a warm and generous response to the Hrabowski Fund for Innovation. It demonstrates just how many people know what my wife, Molly, and I have known for some time—that the faculty and staff at UMBC are focused on finding ways to help students from all backgrounds be at their best.”
As many of you know, the Hrabowski Fund for Innovation will enable the University to invest in initiatives that reimagine what it means to teach and learn; challenge students to take an active role in their education; fuel creativity and enterprise; and transform classrooms into laboratories of the mind.
The first Hrabowski Fund for Innovation Competition is focused on faculty initiatives, such as course redesigns, and is already underway. We received 19 applications for the spring awards, and a committee will select the inaugural recipients from that strong group by the end of this semester. As this next phase of our work gets underway, I hope you will join me in reflecting on how far we’ve already come and on the incredible appreciation the broader community has shown.
All faculty, staff, students, and alumni should be proud of the contributions they’ve made to this gem of a university we call our UMBC.
An exhibit curated by Debra Corrie ’92, visual and performing arts, featuring Latin America’s and the Caribbean’s cultural wealth and diversity, as seen through the lenses of 22 leading contemporary photographers from 13 countries, is currently on display at Dulles International Airport. The exhibit, The Big Picture: A Photography Exhibition in Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the IDB Cultural Center, will be located at the Gateway Gallery through the end of October.
Corrie serves as art collection coordinator and registrar for the Inter-American Development Bank; the show is a collaboration between the Cultural Center of the Inter-American Development Bank and the Airports Authority Arts Program.
“Through this exhibit, which is slated to be the most visited show in the IDB Cultural Center’s history, Dulles International Airport will become a museum of modern art for several months, giving countless travelers an opportunity to become acquainted with our peoples’ colorful and expressive heritage, traditions and imagery,” said Ivan Duque Marquez, chief of the IDB’s Culture, Creativity and Solidarity Division.
Kathy Boyle ’72, French, will display her original hand-carved bird sculptures for the 29th time at the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland, next month. Easton’s Star-Democrat newspaper profiled the carver over the weekend.
“I became interested in carving through collecting. After collecting carvings for several years, I decided to try carving as a hobby,” says Boyle. “When my son was born, I took a year off from my job. My son will be 34 this year and I never looked back.”
Read the full article in the Star-Democrat here.
Boyle prides herself, she explains on her website, on thoroughly researching the bird before carving in order to achieve realistic color and form. She worked for the federal government after graduating from UMBC, but became a full-time carver in 1978.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F-Xq6zn5v0]
Former Retriever midfielders Terry Kimener ’09, American studies, and Peet Poillon ’10, interdisciplinary studies, were part of the United States national lacrosse team which conducted an intrasquad scrimmage yesterday (October 7) at the Capital Lacrosse Classic at Landon School in Bethesda. This was the latest step for the U.S. team as it prepares for tryouts next summer before the 2014 Federation of International Lacrosse World Championships in Commerce City, Colo.
The scrimmage was also a preview of the Champion Challenge from Jan. 25-27 in Orlando, Fla., when the defending gold medalists will scrimmage at least one NCAA team.
This will be Kimener’s first competition in the red, white and blue. In his sixth MLL season, the three-time All-American (2006-08) and 2008 America East Player of the Year had a break-out season with the Denver Outlaws in 2012, scoring 17 goals and adding 18 assists.
His Outlaw teammate Poillon tied for ninth in scoring in 2012 with 40 points (24-13-40) and surpassed the 100-point plateau (75-32-113) in his fifth MLL season. Poillon was a Second Team All-American for UMBC in 2009.
– Originally published on UMBCRetrievers.com
Dr. Freeman Hrabowski hosted the second annual 1966 Society dinner on September 19 in the 4th Floor English Department Conference Room in UMBC’s new Performing Arts and Humanities Building. The 1966 Society celebrates those individual members who have identified the UMBC Foundation in their estate plans.
Guests had a terrific view of the campus and the Baltimore skyline as they enjoyed their evening.
During dinner, Dr. Jessica Berman, Chair of the Department of English, welcomed them to the English department and described how introductory courses are being redesigned to improve students’ writing skills and incorporate new technology.
Earlier that day, the 1966 Society members were invited to attend the ceremonial ribbon cutting and ground breaking for the Performing Arts and Humanities Building by Maryland Governor Martin O’ Malley; a presentation on cultural spaces hosted in partnership with the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance, and an outdoor festival of arts and humanities. The evening ended with a Humanities Forum lecture featuring Pauline Yu, President of the
American Council of Learned Societies.
Please contact Kim Robinson at trowbrid@umbc.edu or 410-455-3700 if you have included the UMBC Foundation in your estate plans so we can invite you to next year’s dinner.
Front (L-R): Stephen Barker, Ann Burchard ’82, Robert “Bob” Burchard. Back (L-R): Leslie Wilson ’74, ’76, Courtney Wilson, Jo Ann Sabas’77, Liz Allen ’82, Catherine Weber.