This event is hosted by an off-campus organization. It is not a UMBC event. We are sharing it with you because of your interest in service.

Want to raise awareness about marine debris? Then participate int he first ever Flash Trash Mob--combining the spontaneity of a flash mob with eco-activism! Silly costumes encouraged! 

Send an email to michelle.leahy@mymanatee.org to be included on the mailing list. Due to the nature of the event there will be no advertising, and only those on the mailing list will be updated about the event. The flash mob will occur in late October so be on the lookout for an email soon! 

• Wow.. I'm speechless. STRiVE 2014 has been one of the best experiences in my whole life. In the period of 5 days I've met 50 of some of the most amazing and diverse people. And now we are all friends. Lifetime experience to remember forever. Thank you so much everyone for such an amazing experience!

• Okay- #STRiVE2014 was AWESOME! I had a great time!

• STRiVE 2014 was one of the best experiences I've ever had! I highly suggest it for every UMBCstudent and I am so thankful to have been a part of this wonderful program.

• I have never felt more eager, inspired, and empowered in my life, and I owe it all to the people I have spent my life with for the past five days.

• Met some amazing people, learned so much about leadership and myself, and made wonderful friends. Feeling tired, loved, and inspired from #STRiVE2014

• STRiVE 2k14. I had no idea what I was getting into when I got there on Monday. Since then, I've made some amazing friends with people I never would have before.

• STRive 2014 was too amazing for words. Every person I meet there was awesome and I look forward to seeing you all when you get back on campus.

• I can't believe that over the course of 5 short days, I would come to know so many great and amazing people from UMBC. 

• I'm speechless after coming back from STRiVE. I wanna thank all of the previous STRiVE grads for telling me about this opportunity. It is easily the best thing that I have participated in during my time at UMBC. In only 5 days, we became good friends and really learned what it means to be a leader by learning more about our values and strengths.

• STRiVE for me was an unforgettable experience. I've learned a lot about myself, and met new amazing and wonderful people. I hope we all move forward with our new found goals and visions, and make something wonderful from them.

• I REALLY enjoyed #‎STRiVE2014! I have made numerous friendships and connections, but I also believe I have learned a great deal about myself. I want to thank all of my new friends that helped me along the way.

• This week made me realize that I really do love UMBC #strive2014

• STRiVE is a PERSPECTIVE DIVERSIFYING EXPERIENCE. I have so much energy and I can't wait till school resumes!! ( I never ever say that) but this is different because I made awesome friends and learned a lot about my strengths and weaknesses. Now I feel limitless and I'm sure we all feel the same way #STRiVE2014

Friday, October 17 was not only our second Retriever Day of the year, but it was also the greatly anticipated grand opening of the Performing Arts and Humanities Building! And indeed, it was a grand day—complete with representatives from the university, the arts community, and policy makers. I was so moved by the event that I’m just going to share with you what other people had to say.

Scott Casper, Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, welcomed us all and declared that this building was going to be a place where we could all ask the important questions, “Who are we? Where do we come from? And, what matters?”

Next, was senior Music major and Linehan Artist Scholar, Erika Koshco who spoke about the shared “hunger to create and grow,” and who has already discovered that the PAHB is a place that will “allow our craft to come alive.”

We received sincere congratulations and recognition for our commitment to the arts from the House of Delegates, with County Executive Kevin Kamenetz foreseeing that UMBC will “quickly become the hub for arts for the region.”

 I learned that Maryland recently passed a law stating that any new building must include a public art installation in its construction plans. UMBC is the inaugural location to enact this legislation, with the help of artist Thomas Sayre and his sculpture, Forum. Sayre was selected from a national search led by UMBC and the Maryland Arts and Humanities Council. Sayre shared that he hopes his sculpture will become a destination and our community will begin to say, “meet me at the earth cast arches.”

The earth cast sculpture by Thomas Sayre.

Jeannie Howe, Executive Director of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance, applauded UMBC and Dr. Hrabowski for making the arts such a priority; “You have placed the arts and humanities on a pedestal at equal footing with STEM programs, right where it should be.”

Just before the official ribbon cutting, and as he proved the practically perfect acoustics of the grand recital hall by not using a microphone, Dr. Hrabowski left us with these words, “Choice, not chance, determines your destiny. We choose the arts and humanities.”

Dean Casper, Erika Koshco, President Hrabowski, and the Ribbon Cutting!