If Jo Anne Sabas ’77 could give you a piece of advice, she’d pass along something her father, Captain Samuel Joseph Sabas, once said to her: “You can lose your job, you can lose your home, you can even lose your health, but when you earn a college degree it can never be taken away from you.”

Jo Anne knows just how true those words are. From an early age, her father encouraged her pursuit of knowledge, and later on inspired her to make a lasting mark with a planned gift to UMBC.

Sam Sabas grew up in grinding poverty in south Chicago doing back-breaking work to support his mother, younger brother, and sister. His hard work also paid for his sister’s catholic high school tuition. He continued to support his family until he married. He then supported successfully a wife and two daughters. It wasn’t until much later in life that he had his chance at higher education. At 63 he retired as a sea captain to become a full-time college student. He graduated with honors from a two-year college.

So when Sam told Jo Anne she needed an education, she believed him. In fact, it was at his urging that she decided to return to school. At UMBC she was a non-traditional student—a decision that would leave its mark on her for the rest of her life. Thanks in part to her education, Jo Anne was able to strike out on her own as a writer.

“I got a sterling education from UMBC. I just think that UMBC is such a fine university,” Jo Anne says. “I am proud to be a graduate.” Several years ago, she decided to establish the Jo Anne Sabas Scholarship Endowment, an endowment that will benefit non-traditional students who are majoring in English or who include English with another (double) major. The endowment was inspired by her father.

“My father gave me that chance to return to school,” she says. “The credit really belongs to him.” So she decided to give someone else that opportunity.

Jo Anne knows what it’s like to try to squeeze getting an education into an already hectic life. While at UMBC, Jo Anne worked full-time for the then Dean of Social Sciences. “Because I was non-traditional, I couldn’t get involved in activities. I took courses during lunch time. I took courses at other colleges and transferred the credits to UMBC,” she says. “When I got down to the last 18 credits, I was bone tired. I took a four-month leave of absence from my job with the Dean’s permission and finished,” she adds. She would like to give another non-traditional student the support needed to make it through the tough moments.

Chad Cradock knows a little something about commitment.
Each weekday morning he arrives at the UMBC Natatorium at 6:30 a.m. ready to lead the first of two team practices of the day. Each evening the 1997 psychology grad goes home to his wife and three small children.
In between, he devotes himself to UMBC, not only as the university’s championship swimming and diving coach, but as an alumnus and donor — and someone who understands how it takes the efforts of the entire team to make things happen.
“As we continue to win more and more, it’s important that we not take it for granted,” said Chad, who each year works with his student-athletes on letter-writing campaigns to raise money for everything from the team’s new record board to new uniforms. “My old coach said, ‘don’t rest on your laurels.’ We always have to look to the future.”
Originally from Barrie, Ontario, Chad came to UMBC on a swimming and diving scholarship. He enjoyed a stellar career from 1993 to 1997, after which he immediately was named assistant coach of his former team. In 2001 he became the second head coach of the program, winning nine consecutive conference championships, including seven straight America East titles, while the women have won four conference crowns.
He was named to UMBC Athletics’ Hall of Fame in 2004 and Chad and his staff have been named Coach and Coaching Staff of the Year six times, as well, including being named 2010 America East Coaching Staff of the Year. He is also the 2010 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year for the Social and Behavioral Sciences, as named by the UMBC Alumni Association.
Besides the hard work with his student-athletes — whose grades are outstanding, he says with pride — Chad is an outspoken advocate for giving back. As he sees it, supporting UMBC is a way of showing his pride in a place that made a major impact in his life — both as an athlete and as a student — and a way of investing in students who will benefit for years to come.
“I’m still close with my teammates, and most of them are donors, too, because I think we all had such a good experience here,” he said.
“I have every reason to give. My athletes deserve my support, my program deserves my support and the University deserves it. I don’t know what my life would be like without UMBC.”

Chad Cradock knows a little something about commitment.

Each weekday morning he arrives at the UMBC Natatorium at 6:30 a.m. ready to lead the first of two team practices of the day. Each evening the 1997 psychology grad goes home to his wife and three small children.

In between, he devotes himself to UMBC, not only as the university’s championship swimming and diving coach, but as an alumnus and donor — and someone who understands how it takes the efforts of the entire team to make things happen.

“As we continue to win more and more, it’s important that we not take it for granted,” said Chad, who each year works with his student-athletes on letter-writing campaigns to raise money for everything from the team’s new record board to new uniforms. “My old coach said, ‘don’t rest on your laurels.’ We always have to look to the future.”

Originally from Barrie, Ontario, Chad came to UMBC on a swimming and diving scholarship. He enjoyed a stellar career from 1993 to 1997, after which he immediately was named assistant coach of his former team. In 2001 he became the second head coach of the program, winning nine consecutive conference championships, including seven straight America East titles, while the women have won four conference crowns.

He was named to UMBC Athletics’ Hall of Fame in 2004 and Chad and his staff have been named Coach and Coaching Staff of the Year six times, as well, including being named 2010 America East Coaching Staff of the Year. He is also the 2010 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year for the Social and Behavioral Sciences, as named by the UMBC Alumni Association.

Besides the hard work with his student-athletes — whose grades are outstanding, he says with pride — Chad is an outspoken advocate for giving back. As he sees it, supporting UMBC is a way of showing his pride in a place that made a major impact in his life — both as an athlete and as a student — and a way of investing in students who will benefit for years to come.

“I’m still close with my teammates, and most of them are donors, too, because I think we all had such a good experience here,” he said.

“I have every reason to give. My athletes deserve my support, my program deserves my support and the University deserves it. I don’t know what my life would be like without UMBC.”