--- title: UMD Breaks Ground on Plaza Honoring Lt. Richard Collins III date: 2022-03-02T13:49:00-05:00 author: University of Maryland canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/umd-breaks-ground-on-plaza-honoring-lt-richard-collins-iii" section: Articles --- # UMD Breaks Ground on Plaza Honoring Lt. Richard Collins III *March 2, 2022* — by [Maryland Today Staff](/author/maryland-today-staff) > Plaque, Unity Mural Planned for ‘Place That Reflects the Best of Us’ *Lieutenant Collins Memorial Event 03022022 JC 6494 1920x1080 2 — UMD President Darryll J. Pines (right) and Bowie State University President Aminta Breaux (left) stand with Richard and Dawn Collins, parents of 1st Lt. Richard Collins III on Wednesday at the site of a planned plaza commemorating the Bowie State student. It will include two walls—one featuring an engraved granite plaque honoring him—and a fountain at the base. The second wall will display the Unity Mural created collaboratively by UMD and Bowie State students, faculty and staff as part of The Clarice's 2017 NextNOW Fest to illustrate peace, justice and unity.* The University of Maryland unveiled plans and broke ground today on a plaza that will honor the life and legacy of Bowie State University student 1st Lt. Richard W. Collins III. The ceremony was held in honor of Collins, a Black man murdered by a white UMD student in a tragedy that sparked years of dialogue over racial strife and a renewed commitment to justice across the UMD community. “We must never forget what happened here on our campus, and we will continue to honor the life of Lt. Richard Collins as we pursue an anti-racist, inclusive culture at our university,” said university President Darryll J. Pines. “Our resolve to carry forth a message of peace has never been stronger. Together, we must educate and empower our community to relentlessly pursue social justice and equity for all. For us, the life and legacy of Lt. Collins is enduring. And now, built in the very landscape of our campus, it will stand forever.” *Rendering of plaza honoring Lt. Richard Collins III* *Rendering of plaza honoring Lt. Richard Collins III* **Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)