Hi everyone!

SWSA has the honor of being a finalist in every category of the 2026 USG Group Awards—the Innovation Award, Community and Belonging Award, Leadership Development Award, Teamwork and Collaboration Award (alongside Student Council), Student Group Advisor of the Year (through our fantastic advisor, Natalie Sanchez), and Student Group of the Year Award.

We're asking for your consideration in the voting process!

The link for the finalists ballot can be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqh1muUXSi7RGxarS59r506Q_7Y0Jw727wj9Mr695m6ywl-w/viewform

Or at: usglife.com/finalists

Voting started April 16, 2026 and ends April 28, 2026, so please get your votes in before then!

Keep posted for more SWSA events coming soon as we round out the semester, and thank you for your consideration!

Oliver Salter, SWSA President

April 21

BookMarkIt ~ 11 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Library Plaza
Letterpress printing, pamphlet stitching, a book arts display, wrapped mystery books and giveaways, zinemaking and zine swaps, a book drive supporting the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, the Baltimore County Bookmobile, bookish swag, and more!

One Maryland, One Book ~ 5:00–6:30 p.m., 312 University Center
In collaboration with Maryland Humanities’ One Maryland, One Book program, BookFest will welcome Lawrence Burney, the author of the 2026 OMOB selection No Sense in Wishing. Burney will be in conversation with writer Chris Terry (assistant professor of English) about his essay collection. Refreshments will be served!

April 23

WORKSHOP: Understanding Attacks on Libraries ~ 12:00-1:00 p.m., AOK Library Room 259. Registration is required: REGISTER HERE. What should you know about the current assaults on authors, readers, libraries, and librarians? Join Allison Jennings-Roche (UMBC Alum and Associate Director of Digital Initiatives and Collections at The University of Baltimore Library & Archives) for a lunch-and-learn. Lunch will be served. Register today to secure your spot! 

Freedom to Read: Libraries and Our Democracy ~ 5:00–6:30 p.m. — AOK Library Gallery
What can we do to protect the right to read and to ensure access to our nation’s library services? Maryland State Librarian Morgan Lehr Miller will be joined by some of Maryland's most distinguished librarians and advocates for a panel discussion on protecting our rights. Refreshments will be served!

GIVE! Throughout BookFest, we will be raising funds for Friends of the Maryland Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (LBPD), a non-profit that supports the LBPD in its mission to make reading and all library services accessible to Marylanders!

We hope to see you there and please spread the word! 

Monday, April 20th, 12 - 2 PM, Love Your Body Day, Commons Mainstreet 

Join OHP as we partner with SGA's Free Menstrual Product Committee for Love Your Body Day. Stop by our Skin/Mind Connection table to explore how stress/anxiety and mental health can affect the skin. 

Wednesday, April 22nd, 12-1 PM Wellness Wednesday, Commons Mainstreet

Join the Sexual Health and Healthy Relationships Student Peer Health Educators for Denim Day. Stop by to support survivors of sexual violence by writing a patch of support.  

Wednesday, April 22nd, 12- 1 PM, Student Mental Health Conversations, Lower Flat Tuesdays

Join OHP and RIH for student-led mental health conversations. UMBC students will facilitate these conversations. Join for storytelling, crafting and snacks! 

Thursday, April 23rd, 3:30 - 5 PM, Survivor Self-Care Day, WGEC Lounge

Join OHP in supporting the WGEC's Survivor Self-Care Day. Peer Health Educators will host breathing bracelet making.

*All events are open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

URCAD Selfie Contest and Graffiti Wall

For URCAD 30 we are throwing back to 1997 where it all began!

Students are encouraged to “tag” the graffiti wall, take selfies, and post to social media. Lots of fun accessories! Bring your friends and family! Bring your mentor! Open to all attendees! The most creative entries win!

Location: RAC Track

Take a selfie at URCAD and upload it to URCAD social media or email it to aprilh@umbc.edu (by 4/24) to enter to win a gift card to the UMBC Bookstore!

Categories are:

Best Overall Selfie ($100)

Best Selfie with Your Mentor ($50)

Best Selfie with Your Presentation ($50)

Best Selfie with a Family Member ($50)

Best Selfie with Graffiti ($50)

URCAD is this Wednesday, April 22 in the RAC:

URCAD.umbc.edu

Hello everyone! Just a reminder we have our Earth Day Free Farmers Market Today!

We will be located at the Commons Terrace, and will be from 12:00pm - 1:00pm. It will consist of produce items such as apples, bananas, peppers, etc., with a couple of other household/personal care necessities.

Be sure to bring your bags/boxes, and we hope to see you there!

Hello everyone!

Retriever Essentials will be closed today for our Earth Day Free Farmers Market event. Be sure to stop by!

Start your morning the UMBC commuter way.

Join us for breakfast with fellow commuters and connect with helpful on-campus resources. There's no better way to kick off your day!

Good Morning Commuters (GMC) takes place every Tuesday from 8:30–11:00 AM *except one a month when Good afternoon Commuters (GAC) is held* and is complimentary with your Commuter Gold Card.

Gold Cards are a one-time purchase per academic year and can be bought at any GMC event (cash only):

• $5 for Commuter Students

• $10 for Residential & Graduate Students

We can't wait to see you there!

https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/ocss/events/149342

The UMBC Graduate Experiences, Achievements, and Research Successes (GEARS) Research Symposium showcases our students’ creativity, collaboration, and scholarly excellence. The annual event brings together faculty, staff and undergraduate and graduate students from across disciplines to discuss research, engage in meaningful dialogue, and celebrate innovation and real-world impact.

The 2026 symposium was held on April 7, 2026. 

Best of COEIT award 

A highlight of the symposium is the presentation of awards across four categories, including the “Best of COEIT Award,” which was presented this year by COEIT Dean Jeanne van Briesen.

This distinction is reserved for students who demonstrate not only technical mastery but also the ability to articulate the real-world impact of their work.

This year, the Best of COEIT Award was presented to Dharani Nadendla, a master’s student in data science, for her presentation of research conducted with Dong Li, assistant professor of computer science and electrical engineering, “ULTRASOUND WATERMARK: Real-time Acoustic Watermarking for Voice Scam Protection on Smartphones.”

The other awards presented at the ceremony were:

• Best of CNMS – Kushani Mendis, Ph.D. student in chemistry
• Best of CAHSS – Kaitlin Worzalla; B.A./M.S. in Geography and Environmental Systems
• People's Choice Award - Francheska Burrola; B.S. in Biological Sciences
• Provost's Choice Award - Aeon Kaplowitz, B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 

Why GEARS matters

The GEARS Symposium also offers all UMBC students the opportunity to engage with campus leadership, expand professional networks, and gain recognition for their scholarly contributions. The primary goal of GEARS is to shine a spotlight on the commitment and dedication of graduate students, who often spend years working behind the scenes in laboratories and research environments.Photo: Chaturya Yarradoddi stands in front of her poster presentation: "Analysing the impact of  Financial Aid and Academic Pathways Preparation on Graduation using AI" (Photo courtesy of Yarradoddi)

Among this year’s participants, Chaturya Yarradoddi, a master’s student in data science, showcased a predictive AI model designed to analyze financial aid strategies and identify reliable predictors of student success. Reflecting on her experience, Yaradoddi shared:

“This project has taught me as much about myself as it has about data science. From merging messy datasets to deploying a live dashboard, I’m proud of the rigor we brought to the process and the conversations it sparked with fellow researchers."

From posing an initial research question to developing a functioning learning system, Yarradoddi’s research journey highlights the process of translating complex problems into informed decision-making tools that was on display through the GEARS Research Symposium. The event underscores the converging roles of technical analysis and human-centered inquiry in advancing scholarly development and meaningful societal impact.

Hey SACNAS fam!!

Tired from school or work? Come destress at our Canvas Painting event today in ILSB 201 from 12–1 PM. Bring yourself, your friends, and some positive vibes!
Supplies will be provided.
We hope to see you there!

Studio available for Summer June 1 -Aug 15. Private entrance, parking and bath within walking distance to campus. Prefer female grad student. Includes laundry and utilities. Privately owned owner occupied home.

Monthly rent $800 and a security deposit of $400.00 due prior to move in.

Text 443-690-0992 to arrange an appointment.