History

College Park Scholars, under the direction of Dr. Nancy Shapiro, welcomes its first class of Scholars to four programs: Arts; International Studies; Life Sciences; and Science, Technology and Society.

Scholars was the brainchild of William E. “Brit” Kirwan, then–president of UMD; Ira Berlin, then–dean for Undergraduate Studies; Patricia Mielke, then–director of resident life; and Linda Clement, then–director of undergraduate admissions. The program created a partnership between academic affairs and student affairs.

Pictured at the 1994 Cumberland Hall ribbon cutting are (l–r) Shapiro; Dan Fallon, then-provost; former State Senator Arthur Dorman; Kirwan; a Life Sciences Scholars student; and Robert Hampton, then–dean of Undergraduate Studies.

Scholars adds three new programs: Advocates for Children*; Environmental Studies (now Environment, Technology and Economy); and Public Leadership. Pictured are Scholars students from Advocates for Children and other programs meeting with Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer in the mid-2000s.

First annual Service Day takes place.

American Cultures* (later Cultures of the Americas) is added to the roster of Scholars programs.

*The Advocates for Children and Cultures of the Americas Scholars programs concluded in 2007, after having awarded 616 and 866 academic citations, respectively.

With a grant from the Fund to Improve Postsecondary Education, Scholars' “Discovery” program launches a course on research that would eventually connect students with the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and University Special Collections.

Scholars launches its annual Academic Showcase (pictured).

Science, Discovery and the Universe joins the existing eight programs.

Dr. Katherine McAdams, associate professor in the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, is appointed Scholars executive director, as Nancy Shapiro (in photo) moves on to become associate vice-chancellor for academic affairs for the University System of Maryland.

Scholars is recognized as an exemplary living-learning community by the American Association for Higher Education’s Joint Task Force on Student Learning

Scholars launches Business, Society and the Economy, its tenth program.

Scholars adds two programs: Earth, Life and Time (now Science and Global Change) and Media, Self and Society.

Arts Scholars launches its Arts Fair, now ArtsFest and a regular part of annual Maryland Day festivities.

The Maryland Association for Higher Education honors College Park Scholars as an innovative and effective program and “a natural lab for innovation and experimentation.”

U.S. News and World Report ranks UMD's living–learning initiatives, of which College Park Scholars is the largest, third in the nation in its first assessment of “Programs that Work.”

Greig Stewart joins Scholars as the new executive director, stepping down from his associate dean position in the Philip Merrill College of Journalism.

A Maryland Governor’s Proclamation and a House of Delegates Citation recognize Scholars’ 10th Annual Service Day.

Lakeland STARS, an afterschool tutoring program started in 1996 for local elementary school students, receives a Certificate of Appreciation from the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism.

Scholars adds Global Public Health to its array of programs. Pictured are students from the first cohort at their 2012 citation ceremony.

Scholars launches the Justice and Legal Thought program.

Dr. Marilee Lindemann, associate professor of English and founding director of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies, becomes Scholars’ fourth executive director.

More than 250 alumni and friends gather together in celebration and recognition of College Park Scholars' 20th anniversary.

Scholars introduces its annual theme to engage students in a shared intellectual experience.

Scholars student group Scholars Promoting and Revitalizing Care (SPARC) launches “30 Days Too Late” campaign, helping to generate momentum for the UMD’s Counseling Center to add five new positions to meet students' mental health needs.

Scholars student group Scholars in Action (pictured with then–UMD President Wallace Loh) is recognized by UMD's Office of Community Engagement with the Making a Difference Award.

Scholars celebrates its 25th anniversary with a year of special events and activities. Pictured are Wiliam E. "Brit" Kirwan (third from left), then–UMD president under whose leadership Scholars was founded, and three of Scholars' four executive directors (l–r), Nancy Shapiro, Marilee Lindemann and Greig Stewart.

Scholars receives Congressional citation recognizing a quarter-century of academic innovation, interdisciplinary thought and social engagement. Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin (center) presented the citation during a Scholars event on civic engagement. Also pictured are Wallace Loh, then–UMD president, and Susannah Washburn, director of the Public Leadership Scholars program.