Okay, next up we have Colby, a junior financial economics and computer science double major, who also happens to have some serious school spirit. Colby is gonna tell us about what it means to be a Retriever, why True Grit is the best mascot ever and gets you truly hyped about black and gold. Colby, it’s all yours.
– Thanks, Alex. Back a couple years ago, when I was deciding where to go to college, I really wanted to find a university that not only had great academics, but also had a welcoming community that really took pride in where they went to school, I found that at UMBC. I think a major part of why we as Retrievers feel so connected and proud of our university is because of the experiences and traditions we all get to be a part of. And nowhere is this sense of connection greater than at our basketball games. I mean, sitting in the stands with my friends is just so much fun, what can I say? Whatever level of happiness I may be feeling at that moment is just taking to an absolute nother level when the Down & Dirty Dog Dance starts to play, they bring so much energy to every single game. You’ll even see our mascot, True Grit, dancing around trying to get people excited. He’s one of the best mascots around and honestly, the games would not be the same without him. Speaking of basketball though, 2018, what an amazing year for UMBC. We as the 16th seed beat the number the one seed, UVA. I mean, that was completely unheard of and everybody was talking about this. We’re talking CNN, Fox, ESPN, you name it, UMBC was on it. Though a lot of the headlines sounded different, they all shared one word in particular and that word was history, we made history. UMBC’s given me a lot, it’s given me a great education, I mean, it’s called an honors university for a reason, it’s given me experiences that I will never ever forget and it’s given me connections that I will have long, long after I’ve graduated. I guess what I’m really trying to say here is that if you choose UMBC, you will not regret it at all. That’s my story, back to you, Alex.
– Thank you, Colby, you truly bleed black and gold. I can see why Retriever Nation has such a faithful following and why it’s so fun to be part of the fandom at UMBC. Now that’s a team to roof for. Cheers Colby and Go Dogs.
Next up is Courtney, a junior biochemistry and molecular biology major who also is a standout on the softball field. This allstar is gonna share her story of how she found a place that values her talents, both in the classroom and on the field and offers the support to balance it all. It’s all yours, Courtney.
– Thanks, Alex, hi everyone, growing up I had the dream to play Division I softball while attending a school that let me focus on my academics. As soon as I visited UMBC, I knew it was the place for me. UMBC has given me the opportunity to study what I want while playing the game I love. In my two full seasons here, we won two America East Conference Championships making two appearances in the NCAA tournament. Our school is known for many other sports, including volleyball, two time reigning conference champions, swimming and diving and of course our basketball team, not only do we excel on the field, but our school helps us excel in the classroom. Over the years, many athletes including myself have been awarded elite 18 awards, academic, all district, and all Americans, conference scholar athletes for their respective sports and overall, conference all academic teams, as well as the National Athlete Honor Society. This couldn’t happen without the support staff, including coaches, our trainers, advisors and athletic director and company who work so hard to make UMBC the best environment to be successful on and off the field. They truly want us to be the student and student athletes. Not only does the staff support us, but so do our fellow athletes. We try to attend as many supporting events as possible to support each and appreciate it when other students cheer us on as well. When committing here, it was extremely important to follow my intellectual interest while also playing softball. I found great success because of UMBC’s supportive student athlete atmosphere. And with that, I recommend UMBC to any athlete who doesn’t wanna sacrifice their academics just to play the sport that they love at a high level. That’s my UMBC story, back to you, Alex.
– Courtney, you are truly a superstar. I’m so glad you found such a supportive community where you can explore your athletic talents and your long term academic goals. It’s awesome to know so many people are cheering you on in the stands, bravo, Courtney.
Let’s head over to the res halls to meet Gabby, a senior computer science and game development major who is also a resident assistant in one of UMBC’s living, learning communities. Gabby is gonna tell us all about how some of her best experiences have come from these close-knit communities. Gabby, we can’t wait to hear all about it.
– Thanks, Alex. Ever since I was a kid, I loved playing video games on various gaming consoles and devices with my friends. I couldn’t stand not interacting with people and I always felt a need to keep learning. To this day these things have stayed with me, especially computers, learning and people. Not so surprisingly, I’m now pursuing these passions at UMBC. I am an RA or residential assistant for the Honors College Living Learning Community where I also spent my first year. Living learning communities or LLCs are places or floors in our housing communities where students can live with a more specific group of people with similar interests. UMBC’s LLCs are focused on topics such as humanities, STEM and women in technology to name a few. The best part of his experience was living with like-minded people who are from all sorts of walks of life and have different ideas and values. We are forever united through the Honors College and as very academically focused students. Today, I live with more first year honor students and I get to help facilitate and form my own connections with them and help them adjust a college life. UMBC offers all sorts of opportunities to live on campus and get to know people with similar interests and really flourish in your completely different living environment. Getting to live with other people and participate in extremely fun events and bonding moments together really makes applying to LLCs worth it and creates friendships that last throughout your entire college career and beyond. I really learned that who you end up living with makes a huge impact in your life. I found friends in this LLC who understand me and help me grow as a person. That’s my story, back to you, Alex.
– That was awesome, Gabby. It feels like there’s really something for everyone at UMBC especially when it’s so easy to find like-minded people to hang out with after class, talk about lifelong memories and friends, not to mention plenty of late night snacks. Great job Gabby.
Next up is Giuliana, a junior computer science and theater major and also a tutor in the Writing Center. Now, Giuliana is super smart and curious. So they’re gonna tell us all about the amazing academic support system UMBC provides every single student. Don’t be surprised if Giuliana gets you excited about studying, you’ve been warned.
– Thanks, Alex, hello, everyone. Academics have always been a significant part of my life, but growing up as an autistic kid in a military family, I never really had the most consistent education. So when I started applying to colleges, I made sure to prioritize academic support and student disability services. Even from the first semester of my freshman year, it was clear to me that UMBC prioritizes its students. From math and science tutoring to peer led study groups, it’s never a challenge to find help for my more difficult courses, whether I need one-on-one assistance or just have a quick question on a homework problem. UMBC’s Academic Success Center always has what I need and the support doesn’t stop with technical courses either. UMBC has an amazing Writing Center, that’s actually where I work. We help students at all stages in the writing process, whether you need assistance with brainstorming or just one another pair of eyes to look over your final draft, we’ve got your back. And all the UMBC’s tutoring services are offered both in person and online. And it’s not just the tutoring staff who are amazing. I’ve yet to meet a professor who isn’t willing to sit down with me and help me out. One of my former professors is even acting as my faculty mentor for a research project I’m working on. When I started at UMBC, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to keep up with the work. I didn’t know if I’d be ready to make that shift to college level material. I thought I’d be left all on my own to sink or swim, but looking back, I know I couldn’t have been further from the truth. UMBC is above all a community that cares and is willing to put in the time and effort to make sure that every student has the chance to soar. Back to you, Alex.
– Wow, Giuliana, what an amazing story. Not only are you taking advantage of incredible resources like the Academic Success Center, but you’re also helping other students succeed. What a rockstar, well done, take care.
Now we’re off to the Commons, aka, Student Activity Central to meet Maggie, a junior political science major. If you’re eager to connect with other students through clubs, cultural activities, leadership opportunities or performance groups, look no further than UMBC where there’s something fun happening 24/7. Take it away, Maggie.
– Thank you, Alex, hi on my name is Magdonica, Maggie for short and my first time visiting UMBC was actually during my junior year of high school and right off the bat, I was amazed at the community and the interactions I saw here on campus. In addition to all the activities and the drive that the students had and right there and then I knew that UMBC was gonna be a big contend of my choice of university. I’m not exaggerating when I say that there’s always activities happening here on this campus any time of day. So what’s it like being a Retriever? Well, soon as you’re interested in everything from food, culture, the arts, the athletics, anime and so many other hobbies. You may also enjoy festivals, concerts, parties, open mics and comedy performances at our campus-wide events, such as Quad Mania and Homecoming. I attended Homecoming this year and it was really fun to see the bonfire, the carnival and even the puppy parade. I am part of the Filipino American Student Association, where we like to share Filipino culture and host cultural events where we perform. There are more than 250 other clubs and organization here on campus or you can even start your own. Our student events board works hard to ensure that you have something to do at all times. There’s no reason to sit in your room all weekend, even if you’re just coming out for the free pizza. There’s everything from movie nights to bus trips, bingo to karaoke. Life at UMBC is never dull, I love the sense of community that I’ve developed here with my fellow students. And not only is it easy to find something to do, it’s also easy to find others who share the same interest. Back to you, Alex.
– Wow, that is awesome, Maggie, there’s so much to choose from. I loved hearing about how you found such a great connection with the Filipino American Student Association. And wow, that pumpy parade at Homecoming looks incredible. I’m coming back next year for that one. Looks like you’re having such a great time here. Thanks again for sharing your story, Maggie, take care.
Next up, we have Logan, an athlete and a senior mechanical engineering major. She spent the last two summers learning how to be a flight test engineer with the Navy. How cool is that? Logan’s gonna tell us all about it and how UMBC helped her find the opportunity in the first place. Logan, it is all yours.
– Thanks, Alex, hey, y’all. Growing up I knew I wanted to be an engineer and played Division I college softball. Going through recruiting process, many schools turned me away because of my difficult major. UMBC was one of the only schools that allowed me to do engineering and play Division I college softball. UMBC encourages exploration of all types and learning that gives students valuable experience beyond the classroom. Our Career Center and Striver Center, help students find great opportunities for service learning and internships. The past two summers I’ve had the opportunity to intern as a flight test engineer for F-18s at NAVAIR in Potomac River, Maryland. I’ve assisted in writing test plans, conducting flight tests and I’ve presented results to a group of Naval test pilots and engineers. This experience was amazing and I planned to return NAVAIR to learn more. Another great thing about UMBC is that you have so many job opportunities all around you. The campus is close to Baltimore, Washington and even Philadelphia and New York. And because of our partnerships with so many great companies, students have easy access to unique opportunities to learn their fields. Our students complete amazing experiential learning experiences all across the country, putting what they’ve learned in class to work and internships, service learning programs, site specific research, and more. I’ve seen my self mature and develop into an intelligent and confident young woman and I’m so excited to see where my future leads me as an engineer. Throwing it back to you, Alex.
– Thank you, Logan, what an amazing experience. It seems like UMBC’s Career Center and Striver Center are both really great at helping students find experiences where they can learn while doing. You’ve clearly got an amazing career ahead of you, Logan. Thank you and take care.
Next up, we get to meet Mohamed who’s earning a masters in teaching English to speakers of other languages or TESOL. He’s gonna tell us about his path to UMBC and how he’s found a community that supports students at all stages of life. He’s so inspiring and I can’t wait for you to hear his story, take it away, Mohamed.
– Thanks, Alex, hey everyone. After years teaching English on my country, Egypt, I thought the right time had come to take my academic experience to the next level regardless my age. So I searched for programs in different universities in the States, but I found UMBC the most accommodating since I believe in education at all stages of life. The university staff helped me throughout my application process and it felt like I heard them saying, come and apply Mohamed, we want you in the family. Then I got admitted to the master’s program. The university provides program centered in helping returning and late finishers like myself complete the degrees. At UMBC you find professors who provide support and the friendly classroom environment. Even my colleagues never made me feel like an alien. They were eager to learn about my culture and let me mingle in theirs. This accommodating environment encouraged me to bring my family from Egypt and the UMBC community helped me and my family to settle and guided me to enroll my daughter in a public school. This academic and personal support made me feel home away from home. The Career Center offers career fairs where you can find employers that help you learn more about your employment chances after graduation. And when it comes to preparation for real world job and practical training, UMBC provides every possible means of support. It’s great to be part of such a wonderful community that values my experiences, throwing it back to you, Alex.
– What an incredible journey Mohamed. It’s so inspiring to hear about what you’ve experienced at UMBC and it sounds like you’ve got a really wonderful career ahead of you. Best of luck, Mohamed, that was absolutely excellent, cheers.
Speaking of home, let’s meet Grace. One of Cincinnati’s homegrown talents, a recent graphic design graduate, Grace took advantage of UC’s co-op program and its longstanding corporate partnerships to begin her career, while she was still a student. Grace, tell us more about the queen city.
– Thanks Alex. Welcome to the city of Cincinnati. This place is so special to me. Not only is it my hometown, but also where I chose to go to school and start my career. If you’re not from around here, you may be surprised to learn that it’s not flat farmland. We have beautiful rolling hills, many with impressive views of the Ohio River. A vibrant downtown, and an amazing riverfront. Cincinnati is known for its festivals and celebrations. Like Blink, an art and light show that takes place all across the city and beyond. Or the Taste of Cincinnati, where you can discover new restaurants, and try interesting food. Or the Reds opening day parade, which is almost like a holiday for the entire region. And while the University of Cincinnati is a true distinct campus, it’s nestled in an urban setting near the Cincinnati innovation district, just a few minutes away from downtown. Cincinnati students have ample opportunity to explore a city life, with UC transportation shuttles running to and from campus on the weekends. We’re so close to all that Cincinnati has to offer that there’s always something to do, both for fun and for professional development. In fact, Cincinnati was ranked the number one city for new college grads. You can catch a big league game and root for teams like the Reds, the Bengals, or FC Cincinnati. Or you can enjoy our thriving art scene, with top rated museums and theaters. Growing up I always knew that UC was the best place to be for hands-on learning and a top notch education. Cincinnati’s focus on experience-based learning means that students graduate with all the tools they need to thrive. As a graphic designer, knowing that I would get experience before I graduated, was what really drew me into UC. I also loved that I had such an incredible campus right at my fingertips. And now I’m even more in love with Cincinnati than I was when I grew up. I started my career here, and I even got engaged to a fellow Bearcat. We’re both passionate UC fans, and we’re so excited to start our lives in the city where we met. Truly, there is something here for everyone, and I hope you love it just as much as I do. Back to you, Alex.
– Grace, great job. It’s so much fun to hear how someone like you, rediscovered their own hometown. We’re sure that you and your fiance will continue to create unbelievable memories here.
ay, now let’s head over to UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub, where industry meets university. It’s the perfect place for Andrea to tell us about being an accomplished alumna, and a tireless advocate. In other words, a Bearcat for life. Tell us more, Andrea.
– Thanks Alex. Hi there, I’m a Bearcat who graduated from the University of Cincinnati more than 10 years ago. Attending UC was a life-changing experience, so much so, that I’ve been an active alumna ever since. UC is a unique place where you can leave your legacy. And I chose to attend the University of Cincinnati because I felt I could do just that. Specifically, I studied marketing and international business, the perfect major and minor to bring together my analytical and creative interests. I also had the opportunity to participate as a co-op with the Nielsen Company, doing marketing research and analytics for consumer goods companies. I ultimately joined the Nielsen company full-time as my first job after college. When I wasn’t in class, or studying, I was leaving my mark by getting involved in multiple campus organizations. I mentor other students in the African-American Culture and Resource Center. And I also spend time as a resident advisor to 40 honors freshmen in Daniels hall. A full circle moment as Daniels was my residence hall freshman year. My professional day-to-day closely resembles one of my favorite classes at UC, the LiveWell Collaborative course, which brought together business, engineering, and design to build products for the over 50 set. My commitment to the University of Cincinnati has only grown after graduation. I’m proud to be one of more than 300,000 living alumni across the globe. UC alumni strive to make a positive difference in our communities, empowering diverse people, perspectives and ideas. There are so many paths to becoming a Bearcat, regardless of who you are or where you come from. UC’s regional campuses, UC Claremont and UC Blue Ash are great places to start. And lifelong learners can find opportunities online and on all UC’s campuses. It’s true what they say, forever a Bearcat. And I look forward to continuing to live Bearcat proud today, tomorrow, and always. And that’s my Bearcat story. Now back to you, Alex,
– Andrea, that was fantastic. Learning about how your co-op at the Nielsen company, helped launch your career is truly inspiring. And with all the different pathways to becoming a Bearcat, there’s obviously nothing standing in the way of someone who wants to follow your footsteps, or blaze a new trail. Thanks again for that inspiration, Andrea. Wow, University of Cincinnati, what an incredible place. I’d like to thank all the impressive students, and alumni who took the time today to take you on this Bearcats journey. We’ve learned a lot haven’t we? From being the birthplace of co-op, to this award-winning campus, to the amazing city it calls home. Cincinnati is truly a great university, alive with culture and opportunity. So that’s it from me. Now it’s up to you to find out more about the University of Cincinnati, and all it has to offer for yourselves. And hopefully we’ll see on campus real soon. Cheers everybody.
Next, we’re heading over to historic Nippert Stadium, in the literal center of Cincinnati’s campus. Where April is going to give us some idea of what it’s like on Bearcats game day. A communication and interdisciplinary studies major, April is focused on political science, and women’s studies, when she’s not entertaining the crowd with the Bearcats band, take it away.
– Cheers Cincinnati, Cincy will win. Thanks for the intro Alex. I like to make the joke that I live a double life. By day, as the undergraduate student body president and the Joseph A. Staker Student Life Center. And by game day, as a feature twirler in the UC Bearcat bands. I came to UC not knowing what I wanted and expected from college. But this all changed when I took my tour of campus, and I felt that click that my school counselors and parents told me I would always feel, when I found my fit. From this moment on, I set my sights high to do everything and anything I could here at UC. Through my two UC roles, I’ve been able to see and experience the spirit ruckus and excitement our campus has to offer. There’s nothing quite like it. Let me try to give you an idea of what spirit and tradition at Cincinnati is all about. Football game day brings our campus to a new level, with Nippert Stadium at the center of it all. They say, you can feel the excitement before you hear the roar, and it’s true. Nippert ranks as the third loudest college stadium in the nation, which speaks to the intensity of the Bearcat fans, as our capacity is just over 40,000. As the second oldest college stadium in the nation, Nippert has been bringing together friends, family, faculty, students, and alumni, for over a hundred years. And night games are the best, we call them Nip at Night, and it all starts at the Sigma Sigma tailgate with music and our signature cheer, “Down the Drive”. The Bearcat mascot is there, of course, entertaining the crowd. And my best piece of advice, is to take a step back and to soak in the atmosphere. I promise it’ll be one of your most favorite memories. And if you’re not a football fan, don’t worry. There’s plenty of ways to cheer Cincinnati, at Fifth Third Arena for our basketball and volleyball teams, to our baseball stadium, and Gettler stadium for our soccer and track and field teams. Here at UC, once you believe that you are the next and next lives here, the possibilities are endless. Passing the baton back to you Alex.
– April, got some heat on that thing. April, that was amazing. I can imagine what an adrenaline rush it must be to see and hear those spirited fans from the 50 yard line. Of course, April would be the first to tell you, that UC’s division one sports, go far beyond the gridiron and the hardwood, from swimming, to diving, to lacrosse, to tennis, to golf, Bearcats compete at the highest level. That was awesome.