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The Year in Pictures: 2022

From the Building-Opening Boom to Students’ Special Moments, See Our Best Images

By Maryland Today Staff

students celebrate at New Student Welcome

Trinity Abeng Allsop '26, center, was all smiles as the class of new first-year students posed for a group photo on McKeldin Mall during the New Student Welcome in August. Fresh from move-in, attendees enjoyed a barbecue catered by Dining Services, grabbed a copy of the “M Book” and played yard games.

Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle

If you've visited the new Trader Joe's in College Park this fall, then you've experienced a taste of 2022 at the University of Maryland, and that's not just a reference to the grocer’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups.

This has been a year of growth and variety—a crisp paper shopping bag of many flavors and experiences.

Finally out of the darkest shadow of the pandemic, UMD has spent the last year introducing new foundational pieces for student and community life, including launching the Terrapin Commitment to cover tuition and fees for eligible students and completing three major building projects: the Heritage Community of two residence halls and the popular Yahentamitsi dining hall, the School of Public Policy Building and the E.A. Fernandez IDEA Factory.

The university also set out its ideals and aspirations for the next decade in a new strategic plan that prioritizes excellence, inclusion, collaboration, impact and service. That’s already in action in a range of ways, whether providing campus housing and other resources to refugee families from Afghanistan rebuilding their lives, or launching the $30 million Grand Challenges Grants initiative that will support ambitious, discipline-meshing research initiatives.

Relive the year with some of some of the University of Maryland photo staff’s favorite images from 2022.

Maryland "M" over the new Heritage Community
Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle

The opening of Johnson-Whittle Hall, named for two pioneers who forged a path for Black and African-American Terps for generations to come, marked the completion of the Heritage Community, which includes Pyon-Chen Hall, honoring alums Pyon Su and Chunjen Constant Chen, and Yanhentamitsi Dining Hall, named in honor of the Piscataway People. The honorary namings are one of the initiatives that President Darryll J. Pines announced on his first day in office.

Pines addresses crowd at commencement
Photo by John T. Consoli

In the beginning of a new tradition, the graduating classes of Summer 2021, Winter 2021 and Spring 2022 came together for Commencement in May at Maryland Stadium. Best-selling “Wimpy Kid” series author and illustrator Jeff Kinney ’93 shared lighthearted stories from his own time as a UMD student, and President Darryll J. Pines addressed graduates and their guests, saying, “Your experience here at the University of Maryland has changed you. It has made you stronger and wiser. The world needs you, and you are ready for it.”

Theoretical physicist Nicole Yunger Halpern in steampunk attire
Photo by John T. Consoli

Theoretical physicist Nicole Yunger Halpern, a University of Maryland and National Institute of Standards and Technology researcher, dons a steampunk costume for a photo shoot in preparation for the release of her new book, “Quantum Steampunk: The Physics of Yesterday’s Tomorrow.” She’s one of the leaders of a new $2 million project, the Maryland Quantum Thermodynamics Hub, which will be based at UMD and bring together researchers from several universities to meld 19th and 21st century physics together to study how energy flows in quantum systems.

Marching band practices on Chapel Field
Photo by John T. Consoli

The Mighty Sound of Maryland marching band members spend as many as 12 hours a day together during Early Week, an intensive seven days of practice before classes begin each fall. Associate Director of Bands Andrea E. Brown (foreground) leads students as they learn school songs, pregame, halftime and post-game performances.

fencers compete in wheelchairs
Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle

UMD Fencing Club Vice President Noah Hanssen ’23, right, thrusts his épée toward fellow club member Nicko Kioutas ’24 during practice in the School of Public Health Building. The club’s new accessible frame, which holds two wheelchairs steady at the proper distance and angles, allows international parafencer Hanssen to safely compete.

student holds baby terrapin
Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle

Elementary education major Lauren Taylor ’23 holds one of three baby terrapins being raised at the College of Education, where they’ll serve as teaching tools for the 2022-23 school year before being released back into the Chesapeake Bay in the summer. Amy Green, director of the Center for Science and Technology in Education, and Assistant Clinical Professor Angela Stoltz received the hatchlings from the Terrapin Education Research Partnership (TERP), and are developing curricula and assessing the impact of incorporating the terrapins into the classroom on the teachers in training.

Maryland men's lacrosse team celebrates
Photo by Zach Bland/Maryland Terrapins

The Maryland men's lacrosse team completed a perfect 18-0 season to claim the 2022 national championship in May with a 9-7 victory over seventh-ranked Cornell. The Terps, including all-time leading point- and goal-scorer Logan Wisnauskas (#1) stormed Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn. after their win.

pile of oyster shells on a boat
Photo by John T. Consoli

Seafood company owner Casey Todd, steering the boat, prepares to dump tens of thousands of oyster shells near Crisfield, Md., to help young oysters thrive at the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay. The bay's once-bountiful shellfish populations were devastated by overharvesting and disease, but now, University of Maryland researchers are developing new robotic technologies to revive the centuries-old industry.

students take a selfie in the College Park Trader Joe's
Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle

Aleena Illahi ’26, left, and Shafa Alam ’26 take a selfie in front of one of the murals at the new Trader Joe’s on Baltimore Avenue, which opened in October. The transformation of Greater College Park continued with the openings of several student housing projects along Baltimore Avenue, including Aster College Park (which houses the popular new grocer), the Nine and Tempo.

sparks fly as student works a piece of metal
Photo by John T. Consoli

Rebecca Cosgrove '22, a double major in studio art and art history, works a piece of metal in Professor John Ruppert's class, “Elements of Sculpture: Steel.” It’s part of the Arts for All initiative, which partners the arts with the sciences, technology and social justice to spark dialogue, understanding, problem solving and action.

night shot of Baltimore Avenue
Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle

The E.A. Fernandez IDEA Factory, left, with bright vertical lights, is one of several new buildings that opened at the University of Maryland in 2022. Dedicated in May, the $67 million building is designed to foster technology innovations and advances through collaboration across engineering, the arts, business and science. It’s home to the Quantum Technology Center, the popular student business incubator the Startup Shell, the Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center (funded in part by Lockheed Martin), the ALEx Garage dedicated to student competition teams and more.

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