- November 03, 2025
- By Karen Shih ’09
Take your eyes off TikTok and put down your phone as you walk to class this week—or you might miss out on a chance to win $1,000.
To celebrate the launch of Forward: The University of Maryland Campaign for the Fearless, an audacious bid to raise a record $2.5 billion, generous donors are giving away five cash awards.
“We want students to realize what a campaign is, how it benefits the university and how it can impact them currently and in the future,” said Jessica Lee, director of engagement and outreach for the UMD Alumni Association.
Since major fundraising campaigns frequently extend beyond the length of a student’s time at school, they don’t always understand how it can enhance their journeys or where the funds go. To give them better insight, the Division of University Relations has devised a series of puzzles to share Forward priorities—including student scholarships, beyond-the-classroom experiences and entrepreneurship opportunities—in a fun way.
From today through Thursday, 6-foot-tall letters spelling out “FORWARD” will be set up at different locations across campus, with clues released each day by 9:30 a.m. on the campaign website or the UMD Instagram account. Next to the letters will be a staffed table featuring a puzzle, including riddles, ciphers, word searches or trivia each day that students can complete and submit for a chance to win one of five $1,000 awards; the puzzles will also be available on the campaign website. All currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students are eligible, and submissions will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. each night.
All Terps can also pick up swag like keychains, fidget toys, smartphone wallets and more if they stop by between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day. To gain an extra contest entry, students can also take a selfie with the letters and upload the photo as they submit responses to the puzzles. All five winners will be notified via email on Friday.
“Bring your friends, participate in the activities and spread the word about the campaign,” said Lee. “This is a great way to understand the cycle of philanthropy and think about how you can give back when you’re an alum.”