Summer 2018 Newsletter

Fostering Community and Student Success: Incentive Awards Program

On May 9, 2018, the University of Maryland Incentive Awards Program (IAP) welcomed students, alumni, donors, family and friends to the annual Spring Reception at the President’s House. The event fosters a sense of community and reflection, as the program welcomes incoming IAP students to a program that will change their lives forever.

Reception guests were welcomed by Maryland President Wallace Loh. He urged all of us to reach for the stars as we pursue our goals. IAP alum Shiron Lindsay ’09, also spoke about how her time in IAP motivated her and eventually catapulted her into numerous opportunities that she never believed as a young girl from Baltimore she would ever be able to experience.

Craig A. Thompson ’92, a member of the University’s Board of Trustees and an IAP Advisory Board member, gave a speech that inspired everyone present to approach every moment with a sense of potency. Thanks to IAP, I met a lifelong sister and friend, Zalandria Spann, In her speech she offered her reflections about the positive impact that IAP students and staff had on her University of Maryland experience. Zalandria stressed how we, the IAP community, aided in developing who she is today.

The culmination of the event was the official presentation of the Class of 2022 by our amazing program director and my mentor, Jackie Wheeler Lee. As she introduced the students, Dr. Loh presented each one with his faithful Terrapin pin.

With this being our last Spring Reception as active members of IAP, the event fostered much dialogue and reflection amongst my cohort about the four years we treasure from IAP. From the thought-provoking conversations held at monthly community meetings, to the laughs shared during game nights, and the tears shed at our annual winter retreats, we could not believe that a month later we would be considered alumni of this life-changing program.

I wish I could thank IAP Director Jackie Wheeler Lee a million times for seeing something in the shy girl she met during the interview process and giving me valuable advice during some of my lowest points in our mentor meetings. The class of 2008 has inspired me to give back after seeing them come together after 10 years this past semester to create an award for a graduating senior. The award will help with expenses relating to post-graduate life. I am immensely grateful for my time in IAP, and I cannot wait to give back to the program that has poured so much into me.

*Praise Carson is a member of the Incentive Awards Program. She will graduate in December, 2018 with a degree in Family Science and minors in Black Women Studies and Business. She hopes to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector after graduation.