撸先生

The Opportunities and resources that fuel student success at 撸先生 and beyond are, in large part, due to the generosity of our community.

Through 撸先生's 鈥攁 university-wide, 24-hour, online fundraising challenge鈥攜ou have the power to strengthen areas of 撸先生 that mean the most to you.

鈥溸Ｏ壬�鈥檚 future is yours to shape,鈥� says Kristen McCurdy, Director of Annual Giving in 撸先生's Division of University Advancement. 鈥淵our philanthropic support means that you are strengthening the scholarships, academic and athletic programs, colleges, emergency funds and more that shape our Tigers鈥� success.鈥�

So much of students鈥� experiences at 撸先生 are only possible because of donor dollars. Now, with a versatile new platform, taking part in Big Give is even easier.

鈥淲e鈥檙e really impressed with how efficient the new giving platform is,鈥� says Prabakar Kothandaraman, dean of the College of Business and Economics. 鈥淣ow, you can use payment options like Apple Pay to give to the programs and academic areas you care most about in half the time.鈥�

The new platform also now allows donors to give directly to over 900 different funds with a quick search.

Hear how your support continues to shape student success and new opportunities from the students themselves.

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Promoting interdisciplinary excellence

Research, professional development and career exploration opportunities are ample at 撸先生 for students across disciplines. Honors College and Hill-Lopes scholar Chinenye Ofor 鈥�26 is no exception. 

With a love for STEM and communications, Ofor is fusing her majors in molecular biology, biochemistry & bioinformatics and communication studies to approach her future STEM career through a mentorship lens.

Programs like the Hill-Lopes Scholars are empowering the next generation of STEM professionals to explore careers in molecular biology, astronomy, STEM education and more.

Ofor鈥檚 interdisciplinary success in research, public speaking and mentoring was nurtured by dedicated faculty and staff members in the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics, the College of Fine Arts and Communication and the Honors College.

鈥淣obody starts out college thinking they鈥檙e going to conduct research and host a TED Talk,鈥� Ofor says. 鈥溸Ｏ壬� has allowed me to explore and discover so much, which is really what college is about. Being able to do that in a space where you have the support to do so makes a difference.鈥�

With support from the program and the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics, Ofor participated in funded research opportunities in molecular biology over the summer.

The relationships she built through networking opportunities and workshops fostered growth in the public speaking realm, where Ofor has pursued opportunities such as hosting a talk at TEDxTowsonU and a workshop on journaling.

鈥淓xploration and discovery in combination with community support have really cemented my time here at 撸先生,鈥� Ofor says.

撸先生 puts you ahead. Hill-Lopes showed me what was possible. We have all these different girls with different STEM majors and different experiences. The program showed me that there鈥檚 not only one way or one area to do research in.

CHINENYE OFOR

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Empowering entrepreneurship

When it comes to navigating life as a full-time, working college student, applied scholarships and awards enable students to focus on their professional goals while worrying less about financial stress.

Awards like the Glenn Stearns Scholarship through the College of Business and Economics are enabling aspiring entrepreneurs to balance their tuition costs with investing in their business goals.

Founder of his own car detailing company and business administration major Yannis Carliez applied his scholarship to tuition costs so he could focus more on his business.

鈥淵our business is something you grow yourself. Every dollar I make in my own business is so much more rewarding,鈥� Carliez says. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned how to register as an LLC, how to pay my taxes and applied my coursework to my business in real time. It鈥檚 a perfect baby step to a bigger business I want to start one day.鈥�

The scholarship couldn鈥檛 have come at a more perfect time. I鈥檝e always wanted to be my own boss, and this scholarship feels like a proof of concept鈥攊t demonstrates that I鈥檓 on the right track.

YANNIS CARLIEZ, senior in the College of Business & Economics

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Providing paid professional experiences in the arts

Paid experiences in the arts are often hard to come by, but this year 撸先生 students have that opportunity through the Summer at the Center Arts Festival. The festival provides meaningful, paid roles for 20 students to grow their skills and gain real-world experience.

Students play vital parts in every aspect of the festival, from performing music in the 鈥�1776鈥� production to working on production crews and curating and installing gallery exhibitions.

This year, theatre major Magen Cornacchione is putting her stage management skills into practice by stage managing the festival鈥檚 production of 鈥�1776,鈥� a fully staged production that reimagines one of America鈥檚 defining moments鈥攖he signing of the Declaration of Independence鈥攖hrough a contemporary lens.

Throughout their intensive planning and rehearsal time, Cornacchione and her peers are paid and provided on-campus housing鈥攁 new benefit to student roles made possible this year through donor support.

鈥淪upport empowers them to build confidence, develop their craft and take the next step in their creative journeys,鈥� says Regina Carlow, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication.

Working with such a diverse group of people is so inspiring and meaningful. The talent and dedication that are brought to this program continue to amaze me. I truly believe that this is an experience like no other, and I hope that future students will have the opportunity to work on a show with Summer at the Center.

MAGEN CORNACCHIONE, STAGE MANAGER FOR 1776