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When the Scholars Citation Class of 2020 arrived at the University of Maryland in fall 2018, they were wide-eyed freshmen who took part in the usual rites of passage in Scholars: Service Day, excursions related to the annual theme, a kickball tournament the spring of their freshman year. And, while the 984 students’ second year in Scholars fell during the program’s 25th anniversary, “that year turned out to be anything but ordinary,” observes Scholars Executive Director Marilee Lindemann. In March of their second year, the UMD campus shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and these students faced an abrupt pivot to remote learning.

The following article originally appeared in Maryland Today: We’re scrolling instead of unfolding the paper, barking commands at speakers to play music and now, turning video games from slacker pastime to competitive sport. What better way to navigate this new marketing terrain than Generation Z? FOX Sports University teamed up with College Park Scholars’ Business, Society and the Economy program this semester to develop marketing campaigns for a new gaming-focused joint venture from FOX Sports and social broadcast company Caffeine: Caffeine Studios. The 21 freshman and sophomore participants made their presentations to Caffeine and network executives this week.

Two graduates of the College Park Scholars program have channeled their entrepreneurial passions in the launch of their new food truck business. The Q Truck officially launched Sept. 2, along with several other popular trucks from the DMV area. Former Environment, Technology and the Economy Scholar David Engle and senior Business, Society and the Economy Scholar Chris Szeluga decided to start this new business venture soon after new legislation in Prince George’s County allowed food trucks in designated Food Truck Hubs, Engle said.