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About Scholarships

University of Maryland Division of Student Affairs Scholarships

The experiences our students have both inside and outside the classroom prepare and guide them as future leaders. Your investment in UM students will pay the highest of dividends by giving them the opportunity to fulfill their boundless potential. Your gift may be measured in dollars, but the reward translates to lives forever changed and dreams fulfilled.

We are pleased to provide individuals, corporations, and foundations with the opportunity to support two types of scholarships: endowed and annual.

Endowed Scholarships

Endowed scholarship and award funds start at $50,000. The larger the gift to scholarship or award endowments, the greater the impact it has in relieving the tuition burden or program cost. Endowed scholarships are invested in their entirety, and awards are made from interest earned. Traditionally over time, five percent of the corpus value is available for awards. Endowed scholarships are permanent fixtures of support for students at the University of Maryland.

Current Use/Annual Scholarships

An annual scholarship is a gift that is awarded in its entirety in the year it is given or for a set number of years. We suggest a minimum gift of $25,000 so that the award will have a significant impact on one or several students. The scholarship or award may be given to one student or divided among several. Annual scholarships provide for students on a yearly basis. In order to continue the award, the gift must be renewed. Once your annual scholarship funds have been awarded, you may renew the current scholarship fund by making additional gifts.


Establishing Your Own Scholarship

When you create a scholarship, you give the gift of education and provide critical assistance for talented students who otherwise could not afford to attend the University of Maryland and/or participate in key programs and initiatives.

Scholarships make a significant difference in the lives of students, like Henry Carbajales.

Henry is an undergraduate majoring in geography, and is one of many students who has excelled at Maryland because of the generosity of scholarship supporters like you. A Maryland native, Henry came to the University of Maryland after serving five years in the Marine Corps with three deployments to Iraq. While completing his studies, he gives back to campus by working for Facilities Management creating a new GIS mapping of the campus.


Involvement and Leadership Scholarships

By establishing or supporting a leadership based fund, you are encouraging our University of Maryland students to excel and achieve their goals both in an academic and extra-curricular setting. Whether you are doing this in honor of your own experience or in recognition of another individual, your support will impact a student and inspire them to continue to achieve in all aspects of campus life.

"We wanted to recognize distinguished contributions to the academic integrity and ethical development program, including fostering discussion about and enhancement of University academic integrity or student conduct policies".
-Gary and Margaret Pavela

Memorial Scholarships

You can leave a lasting legacy through our students and our community.

Over the years, the Maryland campus community has experienced loss and from that loss, families find the strength to support students in need. Through memorial scholarships, such as Watson and Malstrom, families are able to establish funds that support students who embody the same qualities and values as the individual they are honoring, while staying connected to the community through generous support for students today.

"Joe was a mentor, guide and friend to our students, developing their talents and abilities. I consider this to be Joe's greatest gift."
-Deb Grandner

Need Based Scholarships

You can play a pivotal role in supporting students with critical need.

Many University of Maryland students experience an unexpected financial crisis that puts their academics at risk. Without the role of scholarships such as the Crisis Fund and Divine Nine, students would not have the financial support they need to stay in school and focus on completing their studies.

"Your contribution has significant impact on UMD students during their critical time of need; it truly transforms lives and strengthens our community."
-Linda M. Clement, Former Vice President for Student Affairs

Returning Student Scholarships

Our non-traditional students also need your support.

There are many University of Maryland students who are returning to complete their degrees, and need the community support to excel while balancing employment and family in many cases. Returning Student Scholarships such as Newcombe are critical for these Maryland students.

Veterans Scholarships

With many Veterans at the University of Maryland, there is a significant need to supporting a seamless transition from military life to civilian college life. Scholarships providing financial support that Veterans students need to pursue their academic degrees.

Scholarships make a significant difference in the lives of students, like Henry Carbajales.

Henry is an undergraduate majoring in geography, and is one of many students who has excelled at Maryland because of the generosity of scholarship supporters like you. A Maryland native, Henry came to the University of Maryland after serving five years in the Marine Corps with three deployments to Iraq. While completing his studies, he gives back to campus by working for Facilities Management creating a new GIS mapping of the campus.

Alternative Breaks

You can ensure that every student has the opportunity to experience a once in a lifetime leadership program.

Established in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, UMD is approaching its 10th year of its Alternative Breaks program. Each year, hundreds of students participate in substance-free, community service-learning trips during winter, spring and summer breaks. Participants travel both locally and internationally to engage in active service, learn about social issues, and build upon community assets.

Scholarships are needed to ensure that students who otherwise could not afford to participate in these experiences, are able to participate and grow as student leaders.

America Reads * America Counts

“The expertise of the America Counts tutors, with their many resources and hands on approach, directly and powerfully meets the needs of our targeted students. They love the opportunity to collaborate in mathematics with their university counterparts. The children have been challenged, supported and inspired. America Counts is a program that validates the talent and commitment of university students, empowering them to provide real opportunities for public school children to advance their achievement in Math.”
Janet Reed, Principal Mount Rainier Elementary School

America Reads * America Counts, a partnership between the University of Maryland and Prince George's County Public Schools, provides a high quality mentoring program that enriches learning opportunities for both college and elementary school students.

Your support ensures that these programs continue to provide University of Maryland students with the opportunity to spend their team and energy tutoring elementary school students and thus investing in their community, while also making the investment yourself in future generations by positioning them to have the math and reading skills they need to become future Terps and give back to their community someday.

Memorial Chapel

You can ensure that our campus continues to feature places on campus for students, faculty/staff and community members to reflect and relax during stressful times. The Memorial Chapel and Garden of Reflection and Remembrance is one of these unique places.

The goal was to construct a lush, open space for meditation—a place free from everyday demands, like clogged commuter routes and stressful schedules. In the wake of this, and recent tragedies both national and close to home, it has never been more important for the campus community to have a place to stop and reflect.

The Memorial Chapel, along with the Garden offer students, faculty/staff and community members a serene place serving numerous on-and off- campus populations and is home to a diverse range of events and personnel.

Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK)

You can invest in our student leaders have the resources they need to succeed at Maryland.

Established over 85 years ago, ODK Sigma Circle recognizes and empowers student leaders at the University of Maryland so they can have the resources to become leaders in their community as well. Through speaker series and scholarships funds, ODK inspires and empowers students to leave a lasting influence on campus in the various academic and extra-curricular programs that they are involved in—whether it is in the arts, sciences, athletics, community service.

Student Crisis Fund

When students are experiencing a personal crisis, they can turn to the Crisis Fund because of you.

Each year, many University of Maryland students need financial support because of a very unexpected personal situation. They need their community support and with your generosity, they can continue to have their needs met through the Crisis Fund.

You can make sure the Crisis Fund is still here to replace textbooks and clothes lost in an off-campus fire, help a student who is unable to pay for a medical prescription, and even helped pay medical expenses for another student's emergency surgery.

Career Center and President’s Promise

You can help a student get the work experience they need; many times through unpaid opportunities.

Today, work and leadership experience makes all the difference in getting your first job. The Career Center and The President’s Promise empowers students to learn life-long career development skills and make meaningful contributions to their communities. You can support the Center and its programs that promote a learning environment where student academic study and career goals work together to ensure success at the University and contribute to successful employment upon graduation.

With your help, more students can network and focus on getting the critical internships they need without worrying about how they will afford to stay in school.

Counseling Center

Conferences and Visitor Services

Dining Services

Ensure that student leaders focused on sustainability and fresh food, as well as the legacies left by staff continue.

Both students and staff members have left a lasting impression on this campus through Dining Services. Whether they have dedicated their time and energy to ensuring that the University of Maryland is one of the first universities to have a fresh farm that delivers produces from its farm to its campus regularly to bringing food to local food banks and shelters, we continue to see leadership and innovation through Dining Services.

These programs need your support. Please consider making an impact by expanding the need for sustainable work through Dining, recognizing a student/staff member for their commitment, or a staff member who commited decades to making sure that through Dining Services, students felt at home on this campus.

Fraternity and Sorority Life

"Brotherhood and sisterhood, service, scholarship, philanthropy and more..."

Today, you have the opportunity to support these values. You can do so by supporting the leadership programs that are offered through Fraternity and Sorority Life. You can also support the individual chapters by establishing a scholarship or house fund, or by contributing to an existing scholarship fund.

No matter how you choose to support Fraternity and Sorority life, your gift today will ensure that we continue to instill these critical values in many generations to come.

University Health Center

Your support can make a significant difference in the lives of University community members and ensure that health issues do not get in the way of academic success.

The University Health Center is the wellness focal point for students, faculty, and staff at the University of Maryland. Committed to the health and wellbeing of the campus community, the Health Center is an integral part of the University’s educational mission. The Center not only provides care to those in need but also develops and implements programming to promote health and support students in crisis.

With your help, we can sustain and grow the Health Center’s critical programming and crisis support funds.

Parent and Family Affairs

You can continue to play an active and supporting role in the Maryland community by supporting the Parent and Family Affairs.

Students in need of financial support, as well as student centered programs that risk losing funding all look to parents for support to continue to thrive at the University of Maryland. Without the generosity of University of Maryland parents, the Office of Parent and Family Affairs would not be able to support students with financial need or the programs that support them during extremely stressful times when they need their families the most.

Resident Life

With your help we can provide need-based scholarship support to RAs at the University of Maryland who give of their time and talents in a critical leadership role that supports students.

Resident assistants are always ‘on the clock’ and serve as role models across campus. They are relied upon to ease the transition of new students and ensure a supportive environment that fosters the success of all of their residents. With your support we can ensure that these outstanding students have the needed financial resources to pursue their collegiate dreams while making a significant impact in the lives of their peers.

You can support an existing scholarship or consider starting a scholarship of your own.

Residential Facilities

Stamp Student Union

You can support student leaders who are shaping the Maryland community through the 800 student organizations available in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union.

Students are empowered by the Stamp Student Union, which continues to sustain a student-centered environment that promotes academic success and personal development; serves as a safe and inviting campus center; and is characterized by a strong commitment to multiculturalism, excellence, and a positive work environment.

The Stamp has a home for each and every student on campus. Consider supporting these students through one of the many scholarship funds that exist today, or start your own in honor or memory of a loved one.

Student Conduct

Support exemplary students who ensure fairness, honesty and integrity in our community.

University students play a significant role in considering the behavior of their peers and are asked to assume positions of responsibility as members of the university’s student judiciary.

You too can support students who take leadership roles in ensuring that character, civility, citizenship, individual/community responsibility, and ethics are all significant qualities within our Maryland community.

Transportation Services

University Recreation & Wellness

Ensure that students have sports, fitness and wellness programs on campus to suit their needs.

Whether you view University Recreation & Wellness as the state of the art fitness facility on campus, a great resource for all sport clubs ranging from crew to boxing, a team that facilitates leadership seminars through its outdoor recreation center or even a team that leads Alternative Break trips in unique locations (which are physically and mentally challenging), RecWell offers programs for everyone as it continues to build its services around health, wellness and fitness.


Scholarship FAQs

For both endowed ($50,000 minimum) and annual scholarships or awards ($25,000 minimum), the donor may, in consultation with our staff, decide the name of the scholarship or award. Many people choose to name their scholarship in honor or in memory of a family member, friend, Maryland graduate, staff or faculty member. Scholarships can be named for an individual, family, organization, corporation, or other group.

Yes, we are happy to work with donors to create a broad set of criteria for a scholarship or award. For example, you may restrict the scholarship or award to a specific program, to students in a particular major, or to an undergraduate or graduate student. In addition, your scholarship or award can be awarded based on merit or need or both. Unfortunately, to comply with gift policies and IRS regulations, donors may not specify or select a specific student recipient.

We will create a scholarship committee based on the specific scholarship or award created. Selection committees will often include representation or input from the Office of Financial Aid, Admissions and a faculty or staff member from the from the area most involved with the scholarship or award.

Each year we will send you a report on your scholarship along with a thank-you letter from your student recipient(s). If you are interested in contacting a student directly, please let us know. 

Gifts in support of the University of Maryland are accepted and managed by the University of Maryland College Park Foundation Inc., an affiliated 501 c(3) organization authorized by the Board of Regents. Gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Please consult your tax advisor.

In addition to being honored formally at our annual scholarship event, the University of Maryland and the Division of Student Affairs publish an annual honor roll of all donors. Endowed scholarship and award donors and recipients are also profiled on our UM Celebration of Scholarships Website.

We appreciate your consideration and interest in creating an endowed or annual scholarship or award. Thank you for helping us to improve the student experience at Maryland and literally change lives, so our students in turn will continue to change their communities and the world for the better.

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