Lauren McDonald, a graduate-student attacker and Catonsville native on the women’s lacrosse team, set a new UMBC record with the most goals scored by a player in one season with 62. The previous record was set in 1985 by Laura Robinson, who scored 58. Over the course of their 17 games in the 2018 season, McDonald has averaged about four goals per game. In a game against LIU Brooklyn last season, she made her presence known with a six-goal performance.

Despite her skills and successes in lacrosse, McDonald’s first game didn’t come with a lacrosse stick. Her first sports were soccer and basketball. It wasn’t until she was 11 years old that McDonald picked up lacrosse. As soon as she began playing, though, it seemed to be a perfect fit for her.

“I think I kind of burnt myself out of soccer and basketball,” she explains. “Lacrosse was what was kind of just there for me. So, I started to fall in love with lacrosse because it’s kind of new and exciting.”

This excitement and the newfound love for the sport fueled her throughout her high school years as she excelled, starting on varsity all four years at Catonsville High School. She credits her passion, as a big part of why she joined UMBC. Even with lacrosse now being her main sport, she finds that her skills from soccer and basketball still come in handy.

“I think my favorite part about playing the sport is that it’s a little bit of everything,” she says. “A lot of the skills I learned in basketball I get to use in lacrosse. So, I like that it’s kind of a cross-over of a lot of my favorite sports.”

McDonald’s ability to culminate all her athletic skills is not the only thing that makes her such a great athlete and asset to the team: it’s her outlook on life and upbeat personality that makes her a great player and teammate. The key to her success as an athlete and as a person has been her positive attitude. McDonald, win or lose, focuses on the things that went well rather than any negatives. She believes that there is nothing that one can’t accomplish, even with the busy schedule of a student-athlete.

“You can do it all. You can accomplish all your goals academically, you can get internships, you can get jobs — I work part-time — you can do everything. You can achieve your academic goals and your athletic goals and never give up on that,” she says.

Because of this belief, McDonald’s athletic and academic goals are very high. They’re so high that she pushed herself to graduate in three years and is now in the master’s program with the Geography and Environmental Science department at UMBC. Even with all the school work and time on the field and in the weight room, McDonald still manages to have a part-time job with the environmental consulting company, Versar.

Versar works to ensure that people that hire them are maintaining the environmental laws and regulations that the state of Maryland have put in place. McDonald, an environmental technician for the company, works to get companies and the government to hire Versar, advertising their skills and services. While she enjoys the work that she does, she is looking to grow out of her position and into something more challenging as she gains more experience doing the work and more knowledge through her studies. McDonald’s dream position isn’t in environmental consulting, however, it is in the Maryland state government.

“I’d love to work for Maryland Department of the Environment one day,” she says. “I grew up here, I’ve lived here my whole life. I think that’s a really good way to have an impact because you get to have an impact on the laws that are being made and being implemented and how they’re implemented.”

With such drive and motivation across athletics, academics and life, there is little doubt that McDonald is bound for great things in the coming years. Even after she finishes her lacrosse career at UMBC this year and her master’s program next year, McDonald will have left behind a message to not only student athletes but to all UMBC students that there is nothing you can’t accomplish.

Editorial intern Briana Franco ‘19 explores a unique art installation just a metro ride away from campus. Pictured above, Hana Fubuki by artist Akiko Yamashita.

Finally making an appearance, Washington D.C.’ s Sakura cherry blossoms recently reached their full bloom on April 1st. With boldness and vulnerability wrapped up into one much-anticipated flower, their arrival was an unforgettable sight.

Alas, their delicate petals will be gone before most have had the chance to witness them, but along with the cherry blossoms comes the warm, breezy weather of spring and the opportunity to easily and comfortably venture off of the UMBC campus to experience Artechouse’s current art exhibition: In Peak Bloom.

In Peak Bloom explores the life of the Sakura tree and our connection to its short life and fragile beauty. If you are unable to visit DC in time to witness the city painted in shades of rosy pink, the blossoms of Artechouse, showing until May 27th, could just be the next best thing.

Located a short walk from the Smithsonian metro station, and open since 2017, Artechouse offers visitors “experiential and technology-driven work” created by celebrated artists who push the boundaries of immersive art. A modern, edgy space, with clean lines, crisp white interior and purple fluorescents illuminating its corridors, the building works as a blank canvas, preparing the audience for complete absorption into the installation experience.

This season’s exhibit of In Peak Bloom highlights women in the arts as they pay artistic tribute to the “ephemeral” quality of the blossoms. Boasting five unique spaces, the venue invites its guests to soak up the entrancing work at their own pace and in a way which suits them.

Hang out in the interactive gallery where your body creates Hana Fubuki or a “cherry blossom blizzard,” by artist Akiko Yamashita. Step into the Enchanted Garden where augmented reality (AR) brings Japanese folklore to life. And if you happen to be over 21, check out Artechouse After Hours, where their bar serves up delicious cocktails in an innovative AR setting.

If you’re an art or technology buff or if you’re simply looking for something different to do in our nation’s capital, and possibly get some social media worthy pics, Artechouse will not disappoint.

To get to Artechouse, jump on the UMBC bus to BWI Marc train station and take it into Union Station where you can transfer to the Smithsonian stop. It’s just a few minutes walk from there. Click here to check out the website for ticket information.

Photographs by Briana Franco ’19 for UMBC Magazine.

Per President Hrabowski’s April 14, 2018, Budget Update, this year’s budget includes a two percent (2%) faculty and staff cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) beginning January 1, 2019.  We received further notification that eligible employees will receive an additional 0.5% increase and a $500 bonus on April 1, 2019.  The following outlines how these increases will be applied:

• Regular faculty and staff, Contingent II and Graduate Assistants will receive the 2% COLA effective January 1, 2019.  An additional 0.5% COLA will be awarded effective April 1, 2019.
• A one-time $500 bonus will be awarded to all regular faculty and staff, as well as Contingent II employees effective April 1, 2019.  The bonus will be pro-rated for part-time employees (e.g., .50%= $250, .75%=$375, etc.).  Graduate Assistants are not eligible for the one-time bonus.  
• Contingent I employees will not be eligible for the COLA or one-time bonus.

The January 1, 2019 COLA will be reflected in the paycheck issued January 25, 2019.  The April 1, 2019 COLA and bonus (for those eligible employees) will be reflected in the paycheck issued April 19, 2019.  The Human Resources Department will send a separate communication to campus departments regarding the processing of these actions.

 Questions regarding the COLA may be submitted to the HR Help link.

The University System of Maryland’s Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (USM LSAMP) announces the opportunity for undergraduate scholars currently enrolled at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Frostburg State University, or Towson University to participate in programming to enhance their summer research experience. If selected, you will join a community of undergraduate researchers, attend professional development seminars, and be eligible for a financial award totaling up to $3,000 over the course of the program. Undergraduate scholars who work with distinguished STEM faculty within the University System of Maryland qualify for the award. Student scholars conduct research over a minimum of eight weeks per summer under the direction of a faculty research mentor.  

Applicants may apply for research opportunities in any of the following NSF-classified STEM disciplines: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Geosciences, Mathematics, Physics/Astronomy, or technology areas associated with the preceding fields (e.g., biotechnology, chemical technology, engineering technology, information technology).

To be eligible for the research program, applicants must be:

• A US citizen or permanent resident at one of the aforementioned institutions

• In good academic standing

• Members of racial and ethnic groups that have been historically underrepresented in STEM disciplines. All students are welcome to apply

• Students who have no previous research experience

• Underclassmen who have less than 60 credits

Program Requirements:

• Engage in research with distinguished STEM faculty within the University System of Maryland for a minimum of eight weeks beginning on Monday, June 10th 2019.
  
  
• Attend an orientation session on Monday, June 3rd from 11:00am - 12:30pm.
  
  
• Attend weekly programming on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11:00am - 12:30pm.
  
  
• A one-page journal entry will be submitted each week based on your experience 
   
  
• A 3-5 page culminating reflection will be submitted at the conclusion of the research experience.    
  
  
• Submit a log of their time completing research every two weeks.
  


• Awardees will be required to present a research poster and/or a give a presentation of the project results at the USM LSAMP Fall Research Symposium at the University of Maryland, College Park.  Students must attend and engage with the entire conference. Research presentations at other conferences can be substituted with prior approval on a case-by-case basis.  
  
  
• Students are also encouraged to present at URCAD and SURF at UMBC or the Annual Research Symposium at the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. 

Please note: The NSF USM LSAMP logo and funding disclaimer must be included on the poster or presentation.

Application:

We ask that undergraduate scholars completely fill out and submit the following USM LSAMP Research Program application form. The submitted application is due no later than Monday, April 29th, 2019.

The digital art movement is ever-growing and one digital artist at UMBC is using his art to promote a good cause. Graphic design major Liam Garrett, a junior at UMBC, is working to spread the word about the plight of endangered species while also asking the viewer to reflect on themselves as depicted in the pieces.

Each of the pieces in his series is inspired by different aspects of nature. Garrett draws upon these nature metaphors to create powerful pieces. In the first piece of his series, “Endangered Animals #1: Tiger,” the head of a tiger stands fiercely with its flame-like fur blazing against the black background. The fur on the tiger mimics flames to represent the fierceness of the predator, therefore, comparing the strength of the tiger to that of fire.

“Endangered Animals #2: Elephant” presents the viewer with an elephant composed of autumn trees. The entire scene emanates a sense of sadness; the elephant is alone and is fading away, coupled with the melancholy falling of leaves from trees. The metaphor between the falling of leaves in autumn and the declining elephant population allows the viewer to make a personal connection to the piece. Most viewers have witnessed autumn and experienced the dissipation of the vivacious plant-life colors that disappear as the joy of summer fades away. However, in nature, the plant-life will always return in spring, but the same cannot be said for the elephant population unless humans act to protect these beautiful animals.

In “Endangered Animals #4: Polar Bear,” a weather map of global warming and smog pollution is shaped to depict the head of a polar bear. Garrett states, “The polar bear is made of how I actually think we are as a society right now. Half of it is made of smog, and the other half is made of global warming, and those two sides kind of represent the one side that’s trying to be more informed about their cause and then the other side that just wants to produce and just wants to pollute …”

“Endangered Animals #4: Polar Bear“ helps remind viewers of the effect of their carbon footprint. Global warming is often mentioned in the news and policy-making, but sometimes the effects of global warming on Earth’s animal population is forgotten. By depicting the global warming map in the shape of a polar bear, the viewer is forced to confront both the issue of global warming and its consequential effects on the polar bear population.

The most striking piece in the series, “Endangered Animals #3: Giant Panda” overwhelms the viewer with a chaotic combination of shapes, colors and enormous amounts of detail. When glimpsed over, the piece appears to simply be a giant panda head, but if the viewer looks closely, they can see the many different features that make up the image.

The head of the panda is encased in the winding branches of a bonsai tree contained in a pot. On one of the limbs of the bonsai, a string of panda bears climbs toward a crack in the background. Garrett explains that this represents the confusion surrounding the captivity of panda bears. In this piece, Garrett creates an artificial habitat with abundant plant-life; however, amid this utopia that technically meets the needs of the pandas is an overall sense of dissatisfaction. The pandas are trying to escape captivity, thus leaving their man-made “utopia.”

This is similar to what occurs in zoos. The panda population is declining all the while growing more dependent on humans to survive. Zookeepers attempt to replicate the panda’s natural habitat, but, at the end of the day, the animals are still in an enclosure. Endangered animals are stuck in a lose-lose situation: if they remain in the wild, the populations are likely to become extinct, and if they remain in captivity, their lives become restricted to their enclosure.

Garrett’s series on endangered animals reminds today’s society that our actions have consequences on the animals we share the world with. When asked what message he would like his viewers to take away, Garrett said, “I want them to see that I’m trying to reflect who we are … how we feel, our generation, about these things with my art. I don’t want it to be as much about me. I want it to be a reflection about … how we feel.”

This is an installment in The Retriever’s new creative writing section.  If you would like to submit your creative writing or art for possible publication in The Retriever, please contact pawsforartsubmissions@gmail.com.

This post includes a correction of the print version printed on April 10 which stated the title of an art piece was “Endangered Animals #3: Panda.” The title of the piece is “Endangered Animals #3: Giant Panda.”

Bloomington, MN –

For four years, Joe Sherburne dazzled UMBC fans with his superb shooting skills and his tenacious defense. He led a team that started out with four wins in his freshman year, to three consecutive 20+ win seasons, and two post-season berths, including the Retrievers historic upset over Virginia. Through all that, Sherburne has not been able to make money from basketball. But, on Friday that would all change.

Sherburne was selected to play in the 3X3U National Championship in Minneapolis, MN. The 3X3U is a tournament where athletes from every D1 conference compete against other conferences for the chance to win $100,000. As a representative of the America East conference, he had the opportunity to play alongside longtime foes John Carroll and JR Lynch from Hartford and Ernie Duncan from Vermont.

The tournament was held at the world-famous Mall of America. It was quite the spectacle as in the center of the massive rotunda in the middle of the mall was half of a basketball court. Players bustled about the mall throughout the day as dozens of games took place in front of a large crowd, who hovered above them as they stood at the railings on the four floors above.

The games were quick, which kept the action exciting. Each game lasted 10 minutes, or until a team scored 21 points. There was also a 12-second shot clock, which forces players to take contested shots, long-range threes and shots with bad looks. At times, this made the play look somewhat messy, but for the most part, it seemed to produce shots that kept the crowd in awe.

In the first game, the America East would be unable to contribute much to the amusement of the crowd. The quick pace and unfamiliar format seemed to be a rough adjustment for the team as they scored just six points against the Big South conference.

But in the second game, the America East seemed to really find their rhythm. In a tightly contested game against the WAC, they were able to come out on top 21-17. In that game Sherburne scored his first points of the tournament, scoring 4 points and adding 10 rebounds.

In their third game, they fought hard against the SEC. They were able to trade baskets until the game was tied at 14, but the SEC went on a 4-0 run. The America East tried to climb back into the game, but an unfortunate two-shot foul behind the arch gave the SEC the win 21-16.

Though the team failed to make it to the round of 16, they did not end the tournament empty-handed. In their win against the WAC, the team won $1,000. They were given the bag of money and threw it up in the air as they celebrated their win.