Kick off Graduate Student Appreciation Week by finding your competitive rhythm.

Join us and the Military and Veterans Office for a night of board games, video games, and community.

You deserve a break from the research—come hang out!.

HAPPENING NOW FROM 3-6PM

COMMONS GAMEROOM

To all our hardworking graduate students: we see the late nights in the lab, the endless research, and the dedication you pour into your work every single day. You are a vital part of what makes UMBC move.

Graduate Student Appreciation Week (GSAW) is our way of hitting "pause" on the grind so you can take up space, find your rhythm, and be celebrated for the incredible impact you have on this campus. From wellness sessions to game nights and a formal prom, this week is all about you. You’ve earned the right to relax, connect, and enjoy the community you help build.

FOLLOW OGSL ON myUMBC FOR ALL GSAW INFO!

Pre-GSAW Kickoff Events

TODAY - Game Night with Military and Veterans

• Friday, April 3 | 3–6 p.m.
• Gameroom, The Commons

TOMORROW - Grad Outing to Dave & Busters

• Saturday, April 4 | 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Off Campus

GSAW Event Schedule

Grad Wellness Day | Monday, April 6

• Wellness Tabling 
• 1–3 p.m.
• The Commons, Main Street

• Candle Making 
• 3–5 p.m.
• The Commons, Room 329

• Break the Mold (Pottery & Networking)
• 4–6 p.m. 
• The Commons, Fireside Lounge (with The Office of Health Promotion)

GEARS Research Symposium & 3MT

• Tuesday, April 7 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
• UC Ballroom

Grad Bingo Night

•  Wednesday, April 8 | 4–7 p.m.
•  UC Ballroom
• RSVP & FOLLOW OGSL ON myUMBC

Grad Cultural Day

• Thursday, April 9 | 12–4 p.m
• UC Ballroom

Career Paths by The Graduate School

• Thursday, April 9 | 5–8:30 p.m.
• Fireside Lounge, The Commons

Grad Prom & Awards

• Friday, April 10 | 5–8 p.m.
• UC Ballroom
• RSVP & FOLLOW OGSL ON myUMBC

Note:All programs and events are open to full participation by all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category.

It's the grand finale of Graduate Student Appreciation Week! Put down the red pen and step away from the data—it's time to celebrate the brilliance, resilience, and diverse journeys of our graduate community. Join us for a multicultural evening designed to honor students from all backgrounds and every corner of the world.

This is an event to come as you are and celebrate graduate life in whatever way feels right to you. Whether your style is casual, formal, or cultural, all forms of self-expression are welcome. Expect an atmosphere filled with music, joy, and recognition aswe honor our award winners and the hard work you put in every day.

Follow OGSL on myUMBC and get FREE tickets for Grad Prom & Awards!

There is no pressure and no rules to follow—just an opportunity to be in community and celebrate the global rhythm we've built together. You aren't just a part of UMBC; you are the heartbeat of our innovation. Let's close out the week in style!

When: Friday, April 10 | 5–8 p.m.

Where: UC Ballroom

Hello everyone!

Due to unforseen circumstances, the Retriever Essentials Free Farmers Market has been cancelled. 

We will instead be fully stocked with fresh produce in our pantry for tomorrow morning, 04/03.

We sincerely apologize for any inconviences

Start the official Graduate Student Appreciation Week by focusing on you!

Whether you want to learn about health resources or get hands-on with a creative project, we have a full afternoon dedicated to your mental and physical wellness.

• Wellness Tabling: 1–3 p.m. | The Commons, Main Street

• Candle Making: 3–5 p.m.  | The Commons, Room 329

• Break the Mold (Pottery & Networking): 4–6 p.m. | The Commons, Fireside Lounge 

Follow OGSL on myUMBC for all things GSAW!

Dear Graduate Students,

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) election voting for the academic year 2026–2027 is now open, and we invite you to participate.

Before casting your vote, please use your UMBC email account to access the candidate videos and take a few minutes to review them so you can make an informed decision:
Drive Link: Senator Nominee Speeches

How to Vote:

1. Visit the voting page: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/officialgsaelections
2. Log in to your myUMBC account.
3. Under the Posts section (as shown in the screenshot), you will find:
   • A post for your respective college’s Senator election
   • A post for the Student Affairs Senator election
4. Accept the invite to vote (if you haven’t already) and open both posts and
5. Cast your votes as follows:
   • Select and rank your top 4 candidates for your college Senator position.
   • Select and rank your top 4 candidates for the Student Affairs Senator position.

Important Notes:

• Please ensure you vote in both posts (your respective college and Student Affairs).
• Follow all voting guidelines and respect the election process.

Voting is open now and will close on Sunday 5th April 2026 at 5:00 PM.

Your participation is important in shaping graduate student representation at UMBC. We encourage you to review the candidates and cast your vote.

Best Regards,

Reena Kale and Neil Kpamegan

Election Committee Co-Chairs.

Hi Everyone!

As said in the newsletter, our Free Farmers Market for today and next week will be held in the Center for Wellbeing. We hope to see you there!

Hello everyone, we hope you’ve had a great semester so far! We’re half way through already!

----

Updates and Events:

The Global Pantry Initative:

We’re expanding our pantry’s flavors from around the world to highlight different cultures in our diverse community! For the month of April, we will be offering ingredients from West African and East Asian regions. Stop by and explore while supplies last!

Free Farmers Market Temporary Room Change on 04/02 and 04/09:

Thursday, April 2nd & April 9th. Center for Wellbeing

Our Free Farmers Market for the first two weeks will be in the Center For Wellbeing from 2:00pm - 2:45pm!

Special Earth Day Free Farmers Market

Monday, April 20th 12-1pm. Commons Terrace.

We’ve partnered with Chartwells, Student Success Initiatives, and the Office of Sustainability to bring you an additional Free Farmer’s Market during the Earth Day Fair! This market will be outside on the Commons Terrace and will be our biggest market yet.

Money Smart Week Session - How to make it work: Smart ways to use campus and community resources:

Wednesday, April 15th 12-1pm. Commons 318.

We’re hosting a session to teach how to navigate campus and community resources. We understand that a good budget can only get you so far when it’s stretched thin. We’re here to tell you that you’re not bad with money, we’re experiencing a challenging economy. With that in mind, you can still make it work by taking advantage of existing resources both on and off campus!

----

Data:

In the month of March, we’ve distributed 8.3k lbs worth of food and other household essentials, with over 2k visits to our pantry! This also includes calculations from our Free Farmers Market on Thursdays, our mini pantry in the police station, and vending machine.

----

Suggestion Box:

To improve our services, and try to address everyone's different needs, we would love to hear your feedback!

https://forms.gle/oUvd1EaMcmmasKFn8

----

Thank you so much for taking the time to read  our newsletter.

If you have any questions about what we provide, volunteering opportunities, or general inquiries, feel free to email us at retrieveressentials@umbc.edu at any time!

Sincerely,

The Retriever Essentials Team

Take a break from the mid-week grind for one of our favorite traditions: Bingo Night! Join the GSA and the OGSL for an evening of prizes, snacks, and good vibes.

When:Wednesday, April 8 | 4–7 p.m.

Where:UC Ballroom 

Get your ticket today!

FOLLOW OGSL ON myUMBC FOR ALL THINGS GSAW!

We're taking the Graduate Student Appreciation Week celebration off-campus! Join your fellow grad students for an afternoon of arcade games and food at Dave & Buster's. It's the perfect Saturday reset before the full week of events begins.

Space is limited for this off-campus excursion, so please make sure to RSVP at the link below to secure your spot!

• When:Saturday, April 4 | 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

• Where:Off Campus

• RSVP: https://forms.gle/vYrSWN3WCgcLYMJg6

FOLLOW OGSL ON mUMBC FOR ALL THINGS GSAW!