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Two recent graduates from ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵapp University will spend a portion of next year teaching in, learning in, and experiencing cultures abroad. Andersen Herman ’25, a chemistry major from Fruitland, and Vicky Vazquez ’25, an English for Speakers of Other Languages and Spanish major, were both chosen as recipients of the 2025-26 Fulbright Student Award. Three additional SU semifinalists were closed as alternates for the program, including Stephora Alberi ’25, Masha Goncharenko ’25, and Kelly Mitzel ’24.

Freeman Arts Pavilion has announced a new arts education initiative in partnership with ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵapp University to introduce elementary students to music through ukulele instruction. The pilot program, developed in collaboration with ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵapp University’s Dr. Louise Anderson, gives Buckingham Elementary School in Worcester County with a full classroom set of ukuleles and teaching tools. According to the Freeman Arts Pavilion, the program is intended to last at least five years, with plans to expand to additional schools across the Delmarva Peninsula.

¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵapp University’s TRIO Student Support Services Program recently celebrated the 2024-25 academic year by honoring 42 of its students with year-end awards. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the program plans and coordinates services with campus and external partners, and provides support and enrichment programs that help participants develop academic, interpersonal, career, civic engagement and social skills they need for success at SU and for the rest of their lives.

A local business owner is firming up plans for her winnings in ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵapp University’s Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation Shore Hatchery Competition. Nicole Blackwater was awarded $10,000 to enhance her store, Blackwater Apothecary, in downtown ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵapp. “It’s a very prestigious entrepreneur competition," she said. "We’re going to use the funding from it to expand our business …. I hope that has a ripple effect on other businesses downtown. We hope that we’re able to expand enough to hire more employees, and more employees mean more foot traffic, and we hope that flows out to our business neighbors, as well."

Governor Wes Moore announced that the Maryland Higher Education Commission will provide $1 million in grants to 11 colleges and universities to support new career paths for displaced federal workers. Through the Teacher Quality and Diversity Program, institutions of higher education can help federal workers secure jobs in education through targeted training, licensure support, and school district partnerships. Institutions receiving awards include ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵapp University - "USM Consortium Alternative Certification Pathway."

Nine hundred ninety-nine undergraduates made their way across the stage as part of ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵapp University's 100th Spring Commencement ceremony. Excitement was in the air as undergraduates kicked off the next chapter in their lives. The ceremony marked the first time in many years that Commencement was held on the SU campus, taking place at Sea Gull Stadium.

The 2024 season was a great one for Dan Quinn and the Washington Commanders. He hopes to build off the huge year and follow it up with another in 2025. Before really getting to work on that, Quinn was invited to be the commencement speaker at ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵapp University; he played on the defensive line there while in college. True to football guy form, Quinn capped off his commencement speech with an epic four-word, NSFW message to all the students: "Let it f---ing rip."