Hello everyone!

Due to the undergraduate graduation, Retriever Essentials will not have our Free Farmers Market today. 

Congratulations to all of our graduates and undergraduates who are graduating! 

Friendly reminder that our next OSP Coffee Chat training is Tuesday 5/27, 11:30 am-12:00 pm. Sign up can be found HERE. 

Thank you!

OSP training team

The Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering congratulates the Class of 2026! Through hard work, dedication, and perseverance, you have achieved an incredible milestone. We can’t wait to see the impact that you will make on the world!

We would also like to highlight and celebrate the following award-winning students.

Outstanding Seniors in Chemical Engineering

Highest academic achievement of seniors majoring in chemical engineering

• Afrah Ahmed
• Mikayla M. Bryant
• Elliot H. Clark
• Trevor Gibson
• Brendan J. Hanlon
• Jasmine D. Ives
• James I. Margulies
• Tyler A. Moody
• Danielle T. Romanowski
• Maaike Swaters
• Miffy Yost

Student Leadership Award

• Diana C. Valencia

Dr. Mariajosé Castellanos, AIChE Faculty Co-advisor, adds, "Diana currently serves as the President of the UMBC AIChE chapter, where she leads with both clarity and collaboration. She works closely with her entire executive board to ensure the organization runs smoothly, fostering a culture of teamwork and shared purpose."

Dr. Neha Raikar, AIChE Faculty Co-advisor, shares, "Diana has been highly impactful as a teaching fellow in ENES 101 and was promoted to the head teaching fellow position. She oversaw the smooth running of the discussion sessions and project hours. She was also involved in creating a new project for 101, particularly the fuel cell component. Having a strong representation of chemical engineering in 101 was much needed. She has motivated a few pre-ChemE students and helped build connections with the department."

Undergraduate Research Award

• Maaike Swaters

Sahar Souizi, Maaike's graduate student mentor in BlaneyLab, shares, "As her mentor, I have been impressed by her initiative, critical thinking, and insightful questions, which have helped our team advance both the fundamental and applied understanding of Donnan dialysis. She is highly motivated and driven to complete tasks efficiently, often going beyond expectations to satisfy her curiosity and deepen her understanding of the project. Maaike has also demonstrated strong collaboration skills and has actively participated in presenting our research at several academic events and conferences. Beyond her technical contributions, she has been a supportive and collaborative member of our research team. Based on her commitment to research, work ethic, and intellectual curiosity, I strongly believe Maaike is deserving of recognition for her research accomplishments."

Dr. Lee Blaney, Principal Investigator of BlaneyLab, adds, "I have been quite impressed with her group meeting presentations due to her (i) expert data analysis and interpretation and (ii) creative ownership of her work."

Has been taken to the Lost and Found at the Commons Information Center on the 2nd floor of the Commons.

Image credit TEDxMidAtlantic, Chris Suspect

As we head into the summer months, we want to let you know that The Essential Space will be transitioning to a reduced seasonal summer schedule.

Beginning June 1st, our temporary hours will be:

• Monday: 11am-3pm
• Tuesday: 11am-3pm
• Wednesday: 12pm-5:30pm
• Thursday: Closed (Free farmer's market 2-2:45 in ACC)
• Friday: 11am-3pm

Please plan your visits accordingly. If you have an urgent need outside of these hours, please reach out to us at retrieveressentials@umbc.edu, and we will do our best to assist you. We look forward to seeing many of you this summer!

Katie King ’26, biology and dance, completed an ambitious double degree, and not only thrived but also became co-captain of the UMBC Dance Team and worked for the admissions office as a Grit Guide. Looking forward, she plans to become a physician assistant, and hopes to find ways to combine her love of both dance and biology.

Q: What attracted you to UMBC?

A: I knew I wanted to double major in biology and dance. I’m planning to go into the medical field, so biology was the route I needed to take, but I have been dancing since I was three. When looking at colleges, a lot of them told me I had to choose, but UMBC allowed me to do both. I was accepted into the Linehan Artist Scholars Program, so that also drew me here—I really love the possibilities and experiences that the program gives.

Q: How did the Linehan Artist Scholars Program impact your time at UMBC?

A: My experience began with the first-year seminar, and that class really helped me get more exposure and awareness to the other arts. As a dancer of many years, I really only stuck to dance, so I never really dove into the music or the theatre sides, and I didn’t know a lot about visual arts at all. That class really helped open my eyes—we did skits, we had to learn how to play music. In the second year, we had to do service hours, and that was rewarding. I did service hours within the dance department, and it was nice to feel like I was giving back to a bigger cause. The different trips that we got to go on with the Linehan program were super fun—twice to New York and once to Philly, to visit art museums and see performances. I was also in the Living-Learning Community in Harbor Hall, living right next to everyone in my cohort.

Q: Can you share more about your dance and biology double major?

A: I knew I wanted to be in the medical field since I was little. My dolls would be wrapped in casts, and I bought my own crutches when I was 7 at the pharmacy! At the same time, I’ve been dancing since I can remember. For a while, I thought of going into physical therapy, combining my dance and biology backgrounds. Now, I’m thinking of becoming a physician assistant. Both dance and biology have been passions, and I haven’t wanted to give up either one. I worked in a physical therapy office for 5 or 6 years, and there I got the idea to specialize in dancers. So that was the route I thought for a while until I switched to physician’s assistant, but I’m hoping at some point those fields intercross.

Q: How did being a Grit Guide impact your experience?

A: During my freshman year, I joined the UMBC Dance Team to get more involved on campus, and the coach said that the admissions office was hiring. I was brought on as a visual and performing arts tour guide for dance, but later became a general tour guide, and it shaped my entire experience at UMBC. I’ve done it for four years now. Working with professional staff, I gained skill sets that I’ll be able to use in the future, especially if I go into the medical field or work with the public again.

Q: What motivated you to join the UMBC Dance Team?

A; At the start of my freshman year, I didn’t join anything—I thought I needed to get acclimated. But by November, I was bored! I’ve never been the kind of person who isn’t involved—I have to be going all the time. So I decided to try out for the Dance Team, and I was accepted. It was a super fun experience. During my last two years, I was co-captain for the team and built so many friendships. I love basketball and used to play, but had to give it up for dance. With the Dance Team, I could both dance and watch basketball, and this year they won championships—life was good! It was probably my favorite part of college.

Q: How did you maintain a work-life balance?

A: I prioritize sleep, and get eight hours every night. My calendar is my best friend, truthfully. A lot of my shifts for tour guides were in the mornings, and then I had classes, and then rehearsals at night, and then a 3 or 4-hour block at the end of the night where I would do homework. I didn’t do a lot of hanging out in general besides those things—my social time was being at those events and at work.

Q: Were there faculty or staff who made a difference for you?

A: Definitely Ann Sofie Clemmensen—I call her my school mom! She was my dance advisor, but also became my unintentional biology advisor. At the start of my freshman year, we sat down, and she helped me plan out all four years, saying, “We’re going to get you out in four years, both degrees done.” We planned everything out. We met all the time, and I text and call her all the time. She’s always been there. 

Q: What are your post-graduation plans?

A: I’m applying to physician assistant school and hope to start somewhere in January. Over the summer, though, I’ll be visiting Portugal, Spain, England, France, and Switzerland. I’m so excited—I haven’t been to Europe.

Q: What advice would you give to new students?

A: My advice would be to stay true to yourself and always go after what you want. I was told many times that I couldn‘t do both degrees, and then I found a way. Get involved. That changed my whole trajectory here at UMBC. It’s hard to get out of your shell sometimes, and hard to put yourself out there, but it’s so rewarding, especially here. Step out of your comfort zone!

Greetings,

Attached you will find an updated calendar and information regarding OPSSC FY26 fiscal year end deadlines. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

The OPSSC Team

Howard County Law Days of Summer 2026

The event is open to all high school, college, and post-college students interested in law and law-related professions.

Dates: June 25, July 18, and July 28

Time: 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM 

Location: Howard County Circuit Courthouse, Ellicott City, MD

• Spend the day at the courthouse and have networking opportunities with legal professionals from organizations such as the Howard County State's Attorney's Office and the Office of the Public Defender. 
• There are three dates this summer - June 25, July 18, and July 28.
• You can attend all, or some, of those days to have the opportunity to watch court cases and meet and learn from judges, lawyers, and other court partners.
• The event is free, with lunch provided.
• Note: You do not have to be from the Howard County area to attend.

Please see the attached flyer has a QR code to register for the event. 

For details, please visit

https://retrieveressentials.umbc.edu/