On March 5, the Tall-Wiedefeld Society (TWS) announced its fourth-annual grant winners. In total, $25,200 in grants was awarded to seven 撸先生 programs that benefit primarily, but not exclusively, the advancement of women. This year鈥檚 awards marked the largest funding total disbursed since the society launched in spring 2022.

TWS honors 撸先生鈥檚 women leaders, builds community and creates a permanent legacy to address the needs of young women at 撸先生. The awards are made annually in March, which coincides with Women鈥檚 History Month and International Women鈥檚 Day on March 8.

TWS is a growing collective that supports positive change through philanthropy and education, named after two prominent and influential leaders in 撸先生鈥檚 history: Lida Lee Tall and Mary Theresa Wiedefeld. Together, they guided 撸先生鈥檚 growth for more than a quarter-century (1920鈥�47).

鈥淢y wife Elaine and I are both members of the Tall-Wiedefeld Society, a community of people with a true passion for making a difference,鈥� says Mark R. Ginsberg, president at 撸先生. 鈥淔unding these important programs is proof of the transformational impact society members have on our 撸先生 community.鈥�

2026 Grant Award Winners

Engineering-focused summer camp with highly engaging science projects ($5,000)

Jia-An Yan, Professor, Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences

Grant support will establish an engineering-focused, one-week summer camp at 撸先生. Twelve middle school students will develop highly engaging, hands-on science projects鈥攊ncluding building a wirelessly controlled solar car or wind turbine, creating a fruit-powered battery and designing an electric motor鈥攁nd allow for exploration of various scientific principles like renewable energy, physics, chemistry and engineering. By actively involving 撸先生 students and young campers, the proposed camp will enhance 撸先生鈥檚 visibility within local communities, allowing 撸先生 to play a significant role in fostering the next generation of engineers and scientists.

Sonia Kovalevsky Day 鈥� Math Outreach for Middle School Girls ($4,200)

Sandy Spitzer, Chair and Professor, Department of Mathematics

The mathematics department aims to more deeply engage with the community to advance mathematics education across the region. So we will hold the inaugural Sonia Kovalevsky Day (SK Day) in fall 2026. SK Days, named for Sonia Kovalesky, the first woman to earn a doctorate in mathematics, is a national outreach program organized by the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM). Universities invite young people to campus (particularly aimed at middle school girls) for a day of mathematics enrichment activities, mathematical community and identity-building.

National Girls and Women鈥檚 Sports Day Expansion Initiative ($4,000)

Dahne Brown-Boyer, Director of Student-Athlete Experience,

撸先生 athletics will expand its annual National Girls and Women's Sports Day celebration into a comprehensive community and educational engagement event. This program builds upon the successful mini youth clinic and game-day celebration, which has drawn 400鈥�600 participants annually over the past two years.

GIVE Technology Capacity ($3,000)

Carrie Grant, Associate Professor, and Zosha Stuckey, Professor,  Department of English

Grant-Writing In Valued Environments Project (G.I.V.E.), a repeat grant winner, is a B撸先生 initiative in Towson University鈥檚 English department. It advances students鈥� professional writing and community engagement skills by connecting coursework with the real-world needs of small, under-resourced nonprofits in Baltimore City and County.

Unearthing 撸先生鈥檚 History ($3,000)

Christian Koot, Chair and Professor, Department of History

The Unearthing Towson鈥檚 History Project positions student researchers as agents of change in the development of a more authentic university history by connecting alumni and the wider community with the university. Learn more about the project. 

鈥�1776: The Musical鈥� ($3,000)

Louise Miller, Executive Director, Summer at the Center, Center for the Arts

鈥�1776: The Musical鈥� reimagines one of America's defining moments, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, through a bold, contemporary lens. A concert version of the play is presented as part of the Summer at the Center Arts Festival and will feature a multiracial ensemble of female actors portraying the nation's founders, reclaiming a narrative historically told exclusively by men.

Women in Sport ($3,000)

Jordan Carr, Assistant Director, Competitive Sports, Campus Recreation

Towson University Campus Recreation is launching the Women in Sport Initiative to create pathways for women to pursue careers in sports officiating and administration. This project addresses the severe underrepresentation of women in officiating鈥攐nly 18% nationally and 14% at the high school level in Maryland鈥攄espite significantly higher female participation in youth sports.

Learn more about the Tall-Wiedefeld Society鈥檚 grant program by clicking here or emailing .

For media inquiries, email Jamie Abell at .

About Towson University

Towson University is Maryland鈥檚 university of opportunities. With more than 150 years of experience pushing possibilities, 撸先生 is a nationally recognized leader in inclusive excellence, social mobility, research and discovery. As the largest university in greater Baltimore, 撸先生鈥檚 momentum is always accelerating, with nearly 20,000 students and nearly 200 bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences and applied professional fields. Located amid one of the East Coast鈥檚 cultural and economic epicenters, 撸先生 is a beacon and powerful catalyst in the Mid-Atlantic, partnering with hundreds of businesses and organizations, impacting communities and fueling change. 撸先生 meets the holistic needs of each student to achieve success, a result of a deeply inclusive culture with a focus on equity among all students, faculty and staff.