Impact

Scholarship Q&A: Michael Wallace Karugu ’15, Information Systems, and M.S. ’17, Cybersecurity

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As the academic year draws to a close, we thought we might take the time to introduce you to some of our Alumni Association Scholarship recipients. Today, we hear from Michael Wallace Karugu ’15, information systems, who is currently working toward a master’s degree in cybersecurity here at UMBC. Name: Michael Wallace Karugu Major: Information Systems (current master’s student in Cybersecurity) Grad Year: 2015, 2017 Extracurriculars: Soccer and billiards Why did you decide to attend UMBC? UMBC is a renowned institution offering recognized STEM programs. I wanted to experience the learning environment and opportunities offered by UMBC. Furthermore, since I was a transfer student, UMBC was… Continue Reading Scholarship Q&A: Michael Wallace Karugu ’15, Information Systems, and M.S. ’17, Cybersecurity

Scholarship Q&A: Grace Kim ’16, English

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As the academic year draws to a close, we thought we might take the time to introduce you to some of our Alumni Association Scholarship recipients. Today, we hear from Grace Kim ’16, English. Name: Grace Kim Major/Minor: English/Dance Grad Year: 2016 Extracurriculars: Member of Major Definition and Reading Tutor at Arundel Elementary/Middle School Why did you decide to attend UMBC? I fell in love with the “homey” feel of the campus. Right away, I knew I could see myself making a second home here. What’s been the most amazing discovery you’ve made so far as a student here? I’ve discovered… Continue Reading Scholarship Q&A: Grace Kim ’16, English

Scholarship Q&A: Samantha Eng ’16, Biological Sciences

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As the academic year draws to a close, we thought we might take the time to introduce you to some of our Alumni Association Scholarship recipients. Today, we hear from Samantha Eng ’16, biological sciences. Name: Samantha Eng Major: Biological Sciences Grad Year: 2016 Extracurriculars: Undergraduate Research Award (URA) Scholar, Biology Teaching Assistant, Meyerhoff Program Peer Advisor, UMBC Office of Undergraduate Admissions Student Assistant Why did you decide to attend UMBC? I was part of the pre­med college program at Brooklyn Technical High School in NYC. UMBC was one of the schools we visited on our tour of the Baltimore area. I chose… Continue Reading Scholarship Q&A: Samantha Eng ’16, Biological Sciences

Scholarship Q&A: Amirreza Saharkiz ’16, Mechanical Engineering

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As the academic year draws to a close, we thought we might take the time to introduce you to some of our Alumni Association Scholarship recipients. Today, we hear from Amirreza Saharkiz ’16, mechanical engineering. Name: Amirreza Saharkiz Major: Mechanical Engineering Grad Year: 2016 Extracurriculars: President of the Persian Student Association, Member of the Honors College, Member of the Mini Baja team, Undergraduate Research Assistant Why did you decide to attend UMBC? I considered many factors before I [chose] UMBC. First, I like small colleges and because I intended to be an engineer, the only available in-state school for me was… Continue Reading Scholarship Q&A: Amirreza Saharkiz ’16, Mechanical Engineering

Meet The Staff: Leanna Powell ’08, Assistant Director of Annual Giving

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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 Leanna Powell ’08, English, who has just returned to UMBC as our Assistant Director of Annual Giving.  Name: Leanna Powell Job Title: Assistant Director of Annual Giving Focus Area: Student philanthropy, crowdfunding, direct mail Years at UMBC: .5 as staff, 4 as a student Grad Year: 2008… Continue Reading Meet The Staff: Leanna Powell ’08, Assistant Director of Annual Giving

Meet the Donor: Kirsten Brinlee

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As we send this year’s group of Alternative Spring Breakers off on their service learning trips, we thought we’d take the time to spotlight one of the wonderful people who donated to ASB.  Kirsten Brinlee, program manager for the Baltimore Collegetown Network and friend of UMBC, tells us about how she decided to give, and why the cause is so close to her heart.  What is your relationship to UMBC, and how did you become involved with us? When I first moved to Maryland in 2012, I was working for Johns Hopkins University in service-learning, and one of my job responsibilities… Continue Reading Meet the Donor: Kirsten Brinlee

GiveCorps Spotlight: Help Interdisciplinary Studies get to the Kinetic Grand Championship!

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[vimeo 143338349 w=500 h=281] Kinetic Trailer from Zachary Garmoe on Vimeo. Last year, a group of UMBC students and alumni combined their expertise in engineering, art, and design to build the Kraken Upcycle, a plastic behemoth on wheels that took home the grand prize in Baltimore’s Kinetic Sculpture Race. (We wrote about them last summer at UMBC Magazine, and you can take a peek here.) The next step in their incredible journey is the Kinetic Grand Championship in Arcata, California, this May…and they need your help to get there. When you give to UMBC’s Kinetic Sculpture Race team, you’re not just supporting this one… Continue Reading GiveCorps Spotlight: Help Interdisciplinary Studies get to the Kinetic Grand Championship!

You Help Our Students Change the World: Celebrating The Hilltop Society

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There is no question that one of the secrets to UMBC’s incredible success is our dedicated donors. This past fall, we took an evening to say a special thank you to a very important group of our supporters, the Hilltop Society. These generous leadership donors support the university annually with gifts of $1,000 or more, providing powerful support for research, teaching, student activities, financial aid, and more. Their leadership gifts make an incredible difference to the University—and to every student at UMBC. In November, we invited Hilltop Society members to join us in the new Performing Arts and Humanities Building.… Continue Reading You Help Our Students Change the World: Celebrating The Hilltop Society

Paying It Forward: Lambda Phi Alumnae Fund a Scholarship for the Next Generation

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For the past four years, alumnae of UMBC’s Lambda Phi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, Inc. have been gathering over Homecoming weekend to reconnect and reminisce. For the past three, the event has come with a giving component to benefit the Second Generation Scholarship, which goes to two minority students a year. And in 2015, the alumnae chapter raised $1,585 through their Homecoming programming. The amount has been steadily increasing each year, something Dr. Tamara Lewis ’92, psychology, is very pleased with. A chartering member of UMBC’s Chapter of Black and Latino Alumni, as well as an AKA… Continue Reading Paying It Forward: Lambda Phi Alumnae Fund a Scholarship for the Next Generation

GiveCorps Spotlight: Help Model UN get to New York City!

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There are so many ways to show UMBC your support, and helping out a student organization is just one of them. Today, we’re focusing on our Model United Nations team, which needs your help to get to a conference in New York next month. At the end of March, UMBC’s Model United Nations team is headed to New York City to represent India at the national conference…and they need your help to make it happen. Model UN provides a wonderful opportunity for students to debate global issues and develop leadership and public speaking skills. Your gift will help defray the cost of transportation,… Continue Reading GiveCorps Spotlight: Help Model UN get to New York City!

Off the Beaten Path: Creating a Legacy for Students in the Arts

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 Todd Carton ’77, interdisciplinary studies, has never been one to follow a conventional route. As an undergraduate, his degree program (then called Option II) combined theatre criticism, literature, and creative writing. Additionally, his experience as a tutor in the Learning Resource Center inspired him to get a master’s degree in linguistics and teach English as a foreign language. When that market proved dry, he went on to become an accountant and work for several nonprofit organizations until his retirement. It’s certainly not what one might expect from a former theatre student! Despite his varied career paths, Carton has remained committed to… Continue Reading Off the Beaten Path: Creating a Legacy for Students in the Arts

Alternative Spring Break: The ARC of Carroll County

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As we wrap up our spotlight on Alternative Spring Break, we’d like to talk about another trip that impacts our Maryland community. The ARC of Carroll County serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout their local area, providing resources for employment, education, transportation, and community living.On this ASB trip, students will have the chance to work directly with the people the ARC supports, building bonds and breaking down stereotypes about disability. Your gift will  go towards supplies, food, lodging, and transportation for 12 students who are bound to remember this trip for the rest of their lives.To donate to the… Continue Reading Alternative Spring Break: The ARC of Carroll County

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