InsideSMCM for Parents and Families - January 26, 2023

Dear Parents & Families,

We trust your student had a wonderful holiday break and is re-energized for the spring semester. With this issue of the Parent & Family Newsletter, we’re introducing some new content in the hopes of better connecting you with the campus community. We include our first “Seahawk Spotlight” student profile and an update on a significant campus safety project. If you have any ideas for topics or features you’d like to see, please let us know at communication@smcm.edu - we’d love your feedback!

We have a lot of exciting activities lined up on campus, with many opportunities for your student to see and hear world-class acts and speakers.

Seahawk Spotlight
"I Made a Plan"

Emily Vance, an English and international languages & cultures (Spanish) double major in the Class of ’25, has a calm demeanor that belies a laser-sharp focus on her academic and career goals.

Emily wanted to major in English because it was a subject she enjoyed and performed well in. Concerned for her future, Emily’s mother told her she could major in English if she had a career plan. “So, I made a plan,” said Emily. “I can go into editing and publishing.”

So far, Emily has found St. Mary’s College the perfect place to put her plan into motion. In particular, she has found that internship opportunities – part of the Honors College Promise – abound at SMCM. “One of my roommates has a sustainability internship, I have [a writing] internship, another one of my roommates has this internship where she catalogs artifacts down at Point Lookout [State] Park,” Emily recounted. “That type of [internship] is so easily accessible here.”

Emily credits her writing internship with the Institutional Advancement unit at the College with helping her gain the skills she will need in the real world. “It’s broadly under marketing and communications, but there is editorial work,” she explained. “You’re taking this article and cutting it down to its bare bones, you’re changing it grammatically and doing shortened, new versions for something else.” She also likes the broad range of writing and editing assignments that have come her way, allowing her to hone different skills in her field. “All of my friends at bigger schools haven’t had the opportunity to do anything like that yet,” Emily adds.

Emily plans to continue her studies by earning a graduate degree before entering the publishing field. As a first step, though, St. Mary’s College turned out to be the right fit. “It’s affordable and I’m getting my money’s worth,” she concluded. That is an astute observation from a student who clearly has her future in mind.

Route 5 Traffic and Safety Improvements

Construction is well underway with phase two of the Route 5 Traffic and Safety Improvements project which consists of a pedestrian and bicycle trail from St. John’s Pond to the College’s North Field recreation area. The trail will include a 700-foot-long boardwalk across the marsh and protected wetlands at Wheritt pond, also referred to as Fishers Creek. This project is funded by a Transportation Alternatives Grant from the Federal Highway Administration and the State Highway Administration.

Construction for phase one of this project began in 2014 and included the realignment of the Trinity Church Road entrance at Route 5, brick paved sidewalks, bicycle paths, architectural lighting, and relocation of the northern crosswalk at Trinity Church. The second phase was delayed several years due in part to rigorous environmental reviews by a myriad of state and federal agencies.

The north field recreation area is often utilized by the College and community, largely for club sport practices and contests.The boardwalk offers a much safer option for pedestrians to access the recreation area as opposed to walking along that particular stretch of Route 5 as it has no shoulder or lighting.

From the Office of Student Success Services (OS3)

Please join us on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 at 7 p.m. for the next Parent/Family Zoom Webinar: "Summer Plans: More Than a Suntan." Staff from the Center for Career & Professional Development, Office of International Education, and the Office of Student Success Services will share information on summer internships, study abroad, and summer school.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://smcm.zoom.us/j/83410865234
Meeting ID: 834 1086 5234
Passcode: 393900

From the Office of Alumni Relations

From Friday, February 10 - Monday, February 13, you are invited to run, walk or jiggle your way through SMCM's Valumtine's Virtual 5K. This event is all about celebrating the Seahawk community from wherever you are, showing love for St. Mary's College of Maryland, and keeping those healthy New Year's resolutions alive.

This event is free and open to all SMCM supporters, including students, parents and even pets! However, registration is required, and donations for the Alumni Legacy Scholarship are much appreciated. After signing up, you can complete your 3.1 mile course between February 10-13 from a location of your choosing. Afterwards, submit your results and photos at the 'Finish Line' for a chance to win great prizes.

Not very fast on your feet? Not a problem! You can still win a $25 Campus Store gift card with the 5K photo contest. Plus, everyone who crosses the Finish Line will receive a 5K logo magnet, regardless of their time.

News & Events

The break did not slow down the news cycle the past month. Dr. Katie Gantz, longtime faculty member, was named vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty. In other news, students in the museum studies program built a skiff using traditional, colonial-era construction techniques and donated it to Historic Sotterley. See the complete roundup in the Newsroom or below for more stories.