B. Udelle Friedland Memorial Endowed Scholarship

At UMD, Abel Amene is involved in a number of student organizations and leadership positions. Abel serves as one of the co-secretaries of the UMD Student for Justice in Palestine. He’s also involved in the Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter on our campus. Abel is also involved in his local Student Government Association. Abel serves as an officer of the organization, a member of the legislature as the representative for off-campus students who live outside the immediate area around the campus.

Tancredi Tagliaferri enrolled into the University of Maryland after earning his Associate degree from Montgomery College. Even if he had other opportunities to complete his education, he decided to come to UMD because of the Terrapin Teacher Program, which seemed to fit exactly his needs of learning and philosophical approach to teaching. Through this program they analyzed and prepared to face the main problems that the teachers are going to face in these times, completing an outstanding academic preparation with the right training for leadership and pedagogy. This experience really supported Tancredi’s desire of completing further levels for his education.

Originating from the lively border city of El Paso, Texas, Abigail Escobar’s upbringing endowed her with the invaluable gift of bilingualism, profoundly shaping her perspective. Beyond these facets of her identity, she proudly stands as a dedicated wife to a service-disabled veteran. Fueled by determination, Abigail embraces the role of a nurturing parent to her two children, aged 1 and 6, aspiring to pave a brighter future for them. Through the lens of a Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist, she is driven to instigate positive change within my community.

Abigail’s transformative experience at the University of Maryland has been instrumental in her personal and professional growth. It served as a catalyst for shedding the limitations of what she had outgrown, inspiring her to aspire for more profound depths in her journey to become a Speech Pathologist. The university's enriching environment has ignited a passion within her to not only enhance my education but to strive for excellence and go above and beyond in her pursuit of a career in Speech Language Pathology. Maryland has not just been a place of learning; it has been the driving force propelling Abigail to new heights and instilling in her the desire to make a lasting impact in her chosen field.

Vicky Guevara is a returning student, after more than twenty-years, I returned to complete my degree. For the past five years, she has been a vocational educational instructor, Spanish tutor, and full-time parent to my two-sons. During COVID, Vicky utilized her passion and exercised leadership by providing regular meals to senior citizens in her neighborhood who were unable due to advanced age or other factors. Her academic goals are to graduate with honors and teach Spanish language skills and become an educational advocate for ESOL students. 

Selamawit Shiferaw is a senior Public Health Science at the University of Maryland. She plans to get involved in public health initiatives focusing on developing countries.

I am Lulsegad Shanko, currently a student at Maryland University since spring 2020. My short life history is as follows; I was born in Ethiopia, but I have spent most of my life in the Netherlands and in the United States of America. In Ethiopia when I was a teenager I used to work part time in my father's little building material shop and go to school.  I came to the Netherlands in 1994 as a political asylum seeker and was granted up to citizenship status. 

I have been politically active against the current regime EPRDF (Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front) since it took power in 1991. It is a brutal dictator government which is dominated by ethnically based party TPLF (Tigray People’s Liberation Front). During my stay in the Netherlands I had participated in the leadership of an Ethiopian community. For two years I served as a treasurer. Also, I used to play soccer representing the Ethiopian community. In addition, I participated in creating the European Soccer Federation for the Ethiopian Community in 2003. After studying the Dutch language I was able to join the Vrij University of Amsterdam, in the Business Economics department 2001. I can speak Dutch language fluently, and I can write at college level. In addition to my native language Amharic I can speak an intermediate level of French language. As a part time I used to work at “The Flora Auction Company” it is one of the world's biggest flower auction companies. Also, as a volunteer I had worked at the Netherlands kidney institute. There I have learned how to market for nonprofit organizations and collect funds. 

Later, in August 2008 I got married with my wife who has been living in the United States of America. Consequently, I moved to the United States in 2011. During my stay here in the U.S.A, I started working at District Photo Inc. There I used to work on a digital photo printing machine. Currently I work part time at Safeway supermarket, which is located in the George Town area. I have been working there as a checker since April 2012. Concerning COVID-19, I have continued working without interruption as an essential worker at Safeway. I have been studying at Montgomery College since 2013. In May 2019 I got my Associate Degree from Montgomery College with Associate Degree in Business of Arts.

Jaclyn Davis is a junior at UMCP double majoring in English and Secondary Education. She was born and raised in Lincoln, California where she graduated high school in 2011. She decide to return to school after living in Germany with her husband, Jacob for three years where she worked as an educational aide on a U.S. military base. While working as an aide, she discovered her passion for learning and fell in love with teaching. She cannot wait to have a classroom of her own where she can hopefully instill this love of learning into her future students. She hopes to teach abroad again before eventually returning to California.

Natalia Pacyga is a returning student who believes education is an essential part of her life. Prior to returning she has been a stay-at-home mom of two children. She has obtained Associates Degree at Bergen Community College, New Jersey in 2011. Currently she is a senior majoring in Early Childhood/ Early Childhood Special Education, and wants to teach in an inclusive classroom after graduating. Her carrier goals are to pursue Master's degree in Early Intervention and become successful educator.