Dear Friends and Colleagues:

We have much to celebrate as we close out another academic year across our campuses.  The Foundation can be proud that our work stewarding philanthropic funds for the each of our client institutions has made the academic journey possible for many bright and deserving students.  Thank you for your efforts, which will pay dividends in the form of young talent for years to come.

Speaking of celebrations, my heart was warmed by the outpouring of pride and affection for Chancellor Kirwan at the rescheduled Carnegie Academic Leadership Award dinner on May 13.  I think you will agree that it was a first-class event.  Gov. Martin O'Malley and U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer delivered tributes during the formal program. Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, served as master of ceremonies. I want to take time to recognize both Board members and staff who planned and organized of the event and carried it out with such professionalism.  I especially want to thank Clifford Kendall, Chair of the Board of Regents, who spearheaded this effort.

The event kicked off A Matter of Degrees: USM Leading the Way in College Completion, a focused effort to increase Maryland's college-educated population from 41.1% to 55% by 2020.  To date, we have raised more than $1.8 million to supplement the $500,000 Carnegie Award, bringing the initiative total up to nearly $2.4 million.  A Matter of Degrees will: build a strong pipeline of students prepared to attend college, particularly among Maryland's growing population of minority and disadvantaged students; increase opportunities for student success after admission; and support degree completion for those who have left school due to financial need.

To this end, the funds will support Way2GoMaryland, the USM's college preparedness outreach initiative to Maryland middle school students; the USM's course redesign effort for "gateway" courses, which often are oversubscribed and lack faculty contact; and through scholarship assistance.  Thanks to all who supported this exciting and worthwhile effort. 

As always, please contact me at raley@usmd.edu with any questions or comments.

Sincerely,  

Leonard R. Raley