Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD) features research, scholarship, and creative work carried out by UMBC undergraduates. Student work is shared through oral presentations, posters, artistic exhibits and performances, and film.

Over 250 presenters participate annually. Researchers work with faculty mentors on independent research, or research that is part of the mentor’s on-going projects.  They are from all disciplines, and can be working on a thesis, capstone project, part of a scholars or honors program, or they can be unaffiliated with other programs.

Students who have received Undergraduate Research Awards (URA) for the previous year will be presenting their findings. The UMBC Review, UMBC’s annual peer-reviewed research journal, which features academic papers written by UMBC undergraduates, makes its debut at this event- stop by and get your copy! Come hear the alumni keynote speaker talk about their experiences after UMBC, and how being an undergraduate researcher benefited them.

UMBC is unique in providing this opportunity for undergraduate students to conduct and present their research in a professional and supportive setting.  Students get valuable feedback from their peers, faculty, and staff, and practice their public speaking and presentations skills.  This campus-wide celebration of achievement affirms UMBC’s commitment to the twin goals of research and a distinctive undergraduate experience.

For the past few seasons, baseball analysts and pundits tabbed the Washington Nationals as one of the favorites to win the World Series. On paper, it is not hard to see why. Their roster is filled with top level talent in their lineup and their pitching staff. However, they always seem to underachieve. Since their ascent from the basement of the National League East, the Nats oscillate between losing in the Division Series and missing the playoffs altogether. For Washington, 2017 is more of the same.

Fangraphs projects the Nationals to win 91 games this year. Looking at the roster, it is hard to argue against them. They improved on a lineup that ranked eighth in MLB in runs per game. They traded for center fielder Adam Eaton, replacing Ben Revere’s atrocious 49 OPS+ (100 is league average). A full season of young shortstop Trea Turner (.937 OPS) also represents an upgrade over the departed Danny Espinosa and his .209 batting average.

Eaton and Turner join a talented lineup headlined by left fielder Bryce Harper. The 24-year-old saw his numbers from his MVP 2015 season, as teams stopped pitching to him. Still, Harper posted a healthy .814 OPS.

Harper will have plenty of help. Second baseman Daniel Murphy rode his hot streak in the 2015 postseason to a career season in 2016, slashing .347/.390/.595. Jayson Werth and Anthony Rendon also turned in solid seasons and hope to do the same in 2017.

The talent surplus also extends to the pitching staff. Last year, Washington ranked second in MLB in starters ERA. They should remain near the top with Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg at the front of the rotation. Scherzer was outstanding last year, he pitched to a 2.96 ERA and struck out 11.2 batters per nine innings.

Strasburg also served as a strikeout machine, also fanning 11.2 per nine. The former first round pick finished with a 3.60 ERA, but his 2.92 fielding independent pitching suggests he had some bad luck. The Nats are more than just a two man rotation. Tanner Roark, Joe Ross, and Gio Gonzalez provide steady, if not unspectacular support for the two aces.

Washington got good production from the bullpen last year. Nats relievers ranked second in MLB in ERA. However, this group recieved a slight overhaul over the offseason. Chief among them was the promotion of Blake Treinen to closer after the departure of Jonathan Papelbon. Treinen pitched to a 2.28 ERA, but now must get outs in tougher situations this year.

There is no reason to think that the Nats will finish anywhere other than first or second in the NL East. The New York Mets and their superb pitching staff will give them a run for their money, but Washington should still win the division. Ultimately, people will judge them on their playoff success, whether that is fair or unfair.

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Mark 10:45 (NIV) - “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 19:10 (NIV) - “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke 7:34 (NIV) - “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’”

These are three ways that the New Testament completes the sentence, “The Son of Man came…” The first two (Mark 10:45 and Luke 19:10) are statements of purpose. They answer the question, ‘Why did Jesus come?’ He did not come to be served, but to serve, to give his life as a ransom, and to seek and save the lost. This third statement (Luke 7:34) describes his method. How did Jesus come? He came eating and drinking.

Jesus came right into the heart of our existence, into the very thing that gives us life and fellowship - our eating and drinking together. It is in this precious moment where food reminds us of our basic needs and our Provider that Jesus reveals to God’s grace to us. We all need grace. And God has made His grace known through Jesus Christ. In greatness and generosity, God enters into our lives and ‘feeds’ us with His Presence.

How has the Son of Man come in your life? Today, let us thank the Lord for seeking and saving us, for coming into the very core of our lives (the eating and drinking of life) and bringing to us His grace and mercy. Let’s us ask for a deeper desire to be with Jesus, to seek His Presence in the midst of our everyday tasks and interactions. And let’s pray that we also be those who participate in this precious means of God’s grace - welcoming others with generous hearts.

-TR

This March, the UMBC men’s basketball team experienced their first taste of postseason basketball since 2008. The Retrievers participated in the College Insider Tournament, reaching the semifinals before falling to the Texas A&M University-Corpus Cristi Islanders. In victory as well as defeat, the Retrievers showed what made them a such a good team this season, and what they need to work on moving forward.

UMBC entered this tournament as one of the best offensive teams in the nation, overwhelming opponents with their three-point shooting. In their victories over Fairfield University, Saint Francis University (PA), and Liberty University, the Retrievers scored over 80 points, extending their record to 16-1 in such games. Those three games showed the Retrievers attack at their best, moving the ball around swiftly and finding the open shooter for threes.

In all three wins in the CIT, the Retrievers shot no lower than 38 percent from three-point range. When the Retrievers offense is at it’s best, few teams have hung with them. The problems arise when the shooting runs cold and the scoring slows down.

UMBC shot just 41 percent from the field and 26 percent from downtown in their loss to the Islanders. Their best three-point shooters, senior forward Will Darley and sophomore forward Joe Sherburne shot just 5-for-17 from deep. Their anemic shooting led to just 61 points from the Retrievers. When they scored fewer than 70 point this season, they went 2-5. When the Retrievers struggle to score, they have to rely on their defense to win games, a questionable proposition at best.

During the regular season, the Retrievers ranked near the bottom half of the country in points allowed per 100 possessions, opponents field goal percentage and opponents three-point percentage. Even if they do not face some of the better offenses in the country, they still give up extended runs and keep teams around in games.

Take the game against the Islanders for instance. The Retrievers went into halftime with a five point lead. Texas A&M Corpus Cristi proceeded to outscore the Retrievers 50-27 after the break to secure the victory. They shot 48 percent from the field and 43 percent from long distance. The Islanders are far from a great team (140th in offensive rating, 117th in defensive rating) but they still exploited the Retrievers greatest weakness.

Needless to say, the Retrievers still have room for improvement. That said, they gained valuable experience taking part in a postseason tournament and advancing to the semifinals. Even though they did not reach the finals, this is something they can build on heading into next season. With most of their players returning in 2018, they are set up to be a contender in the America East next season.

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