Sounds of a New Start
UMD Welcomes—and Welcomes Back—Terps for Fall 2022 With Loaded Lineup of Events
Trinity Abeng Allsop '26, of Hyattsville, Md., center, is all smiles as the freshman class poses for a group photo on the mall during the New Student Welcome on Friday. Attendees could also enjoy a barbecue catered by Dining Services, grab a copy of the “M Book” and play yard games.
Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle
The rumble of yellow move-in carts, the cheers from the stands at Maryland Stadium and the fanfare of the marching band rehearsing its pregame show supplied an upbeat soundtrack of Fall Welcome Weekend at the University of Maryland.
In cars and SUVs stuffed with their still-in-the-wrapper gear, over 4,700 freshmen—and thousands of other students—and their families arrived on campus over the past few days to begin the academic year and get to know the campus, and each other.
At the New Student Welcome picnic on Friday evening, President Darryll J. Pines advised Terps to “stand up and be counted” over the next four years.
“Take the classes that will challenge your preconceptions and grow your perspective. Join a student organization and make your voice heard. Show up to athletics events and arts performances and cheer on your peers. Wander our campus, explore Greater College Park and Washington, D.C., and always say hello to the strangers who could one day turn into your lifelong friends,” he said.
On Thursday and Friday, students moving into residence halls overcame the steamy heat, crowds, traffic and the jitters, pumped up with hope and excitement to begin a new adventure at Maryland. Near the new Heritage Community, University of Maryland police directed vehicles into orderly rows for unloading, student volunteers distributed chilled water bottles and hits like “Day ‘N’ Nite” by Kid Cudi and “Replay” by lyaz created a festive atmosphere.
One of the parents preparing to say goodbye was Carey Reise, of Bel Air, Md., whose oldest son Tyler, a studio arts major, was moving into Pyon-Chen Hall. “I think he’s completely ready. This is the next phase and truthfully–‘excited,’ that’s the best word I have,” she said as she headed to the new Yahentamitsi Dining Hall for lunch with her husband and younger son.
Maryland Athletics welcomed students to cheer on the Terps at men’s soccer, volleyball and field hockey games, while the Department of Resident Life, Division of Student Affairs organized dozens of events all weekend. Those ranged from the informal—open recreation at the Outdoor Aquatics Center, movies at the Hoff Theater, billiards and bowling at TerpZone and midnight Frisbee on McKeldin Mall—to formal gatherings for cultural groups, Student Entertainment Events’ Moonlit Music Concert and FreeFest.
The Saturday event on the Mall was packed with giveaways, fun activities and information about resources at UMD. Freshman mechanical engineering major Michael O’Neill walked down the steps of ODK Fountain with a bag of swag and surveyed the landscape around him. “It’s massive,” said O’Neill, a member of the Clark Scholars Program. “Thirty thousand undergraduate students sounds like a lot, and then you see it in person. It’s a lot to take in.”
It may be big, but Patty Perillo, vice president for student affairs, promised it would be a nurturing environment as well.
“If you hear nothing else I say to you tonight, I want you to remember this: This is a campus community that cares deeply about you,” she said Friday at New Student Welcome. “I care about you. We are committed to your success, and we will do all that we can to create the conditions for you to reach your full potential. We want every Terp to thrive!”
Dylan Manfre M.Jour. ’23 and Mayu Mishina contributed to this article.
Photo by John T. Consoli
Ethan Fabyan ’25, a criminology and criminal justice major, moves into Montgomery Hall on Friday–with the help of both a handy cart and his dad, Chris Fabyan.
Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle
Robert Alford of Baltimore, left, frames the perfect shot of his wife, Lisa, daughter Alisa Alford '26–and belongings and room accouterments that promise a heavy lift for all involved—as the new freshman moves into Pyon-Chen Hall on Friday.
Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle
Marsha Redmon of Potomac, Md., right, helps her daughter Ariadne Dimitoglou '26 set up her room in Johnson-Whittle Hall, the university’s newest residence hall, on Friday. It’s named for Elaine Johnson Coates ’59, the first African American woman to earn an undergraduate at UMD, and Hiram Whittle, the first African American student admitted to the university, in 1951.
Photo by John T. Consoli
Public Leadership Scholars build and deploy a floating wetland at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park on College Park Scholars Day. They also removed about 90 pounds of weeds and invasive species, removed about 100 pieces of trash from the riverbanks, and more. Nearly 1,000 freshmen in the living-learning program (plus 100-plus sophomore peer mentors) participated in the annual event, providing 4,184 combined hours of volunteer work across 22 sites in Greater College Park. Service Day helps new students develop a sense of community while bettering their community, and reinforces the program’s values around service and active learning.
Photo by Hong H. Huynh
Gabriela Forero-Gomez was one of the members of the Environment, Technology and Economy program who harvested 500 pounds of basil and 200 pounds of butternut squash on College Park Scholars Service Day at Terp Farm in Upper Marlboro, Md., on Friday. The basil haul should supply all of the pesto served in UMD’s dining halls this year, while the squash will be served in the dining halls and donated to the Campus Pantry.
Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle
University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines, center, pauses to take a selfie with a member of the Mighty Sound of Maryland during the New Student Welcome on McKeldin Mall on Friday evening. The marching band’s members had arrived on campus a week in advance for Early Week, an intensive week of marching and music prep, which culminated on Friday with a parade from The Clarice to Maryland Stadium for their first run-through of this season’s pregame show.
Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle
With Terp gear sure to be a wardrobe staple in the coming years, Daisy Tran '26, left, of Germantown, Md., and Sarah Dubsky '26, center, of Carroll County, Md., check out sweatshirts in the University Book Center in the Stamp Student Union on Friday night. VIP Night there for new students featured one-on-one help with textbooks, special discounts on Terp gear and gifts and free gifts.
Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle
Briana Washington '26, center, of Upper Marlboro, Md., lines up a shot during a game of pool with Tobias Sanders '26, left, of Silver Spring, Md., at TerpZone on Friday night. The game hub was a popular hangout spot—and an oasis from the heat—all weekend.
Photo by Hong H. Huynh
New and returning Terps shook off the sweat and filled McKeldin Mall during Saturday’s FreeFest, which featured free swag and fun activities like music, dancing and henna tattoos, along with plenty of information for students about resources available to them on campus.
Photo by Mackenzie Miles/Maryland Terrapins
Terp fans let loose wearing the school colors and flying the state flag as the Maryland men’s soccer team takes on New Hampshire at Ludwig Field in College Park on Thursday. The 20th-ranked Terps knocked off the No. 9 Wildcats 2-1 with goals from Hunter George and Griffin Dillon.
Photo by Hong H. Huynh
Queensley Oligie ’26, of Columbia, Md., chats with Tonya M. Brown ’97, a Black Alumni Board member, during FreshCon, the university’s largest welcome event for African American students, held Saturday at the Stamp Student Union.
Photo by Chris Esmele/Student Entertainment Events
Five hundred Terps dialed up the energy and danced with indie pop singer-songwriter Maude Latour, brought to campus for Student Entertainment Events’ Moonlit Music Concert on Saturday night at the Stamp.
Photo by Hope Llansó/RecWell
Students hit the sand for some volleyball on La Plata Beach during University Recreation and Wellness’ “RecWellcome” on Sunday. Terps could also explore sunset yoga, a club sports information fair, an open climb and challenge course, and other lawn games.
Photo by John T. Consoli
Members of UMD’s Class of 2026 joined together in a sideline-to-sideline M on the field at Maryland Stadium during Saturday night’s B1G Show, a crash course in Maryland pride. It included learning the fight and victory songs and the season’s first dropping of the giant Maryland state flag.
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