The Campaign Brief Great Expectations University of Maryland
 January-February 2008      
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Upcoming Events

Jan. 29: Art from the Ashes: In Stabiano, Exploring the Ancient Seaside Villas of the Roman Elite
6:30 p.m., The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Jacksonville, Fla.
Sponsored by the Southeast Region volunteers, invited guests will see a beautiful exhibit of art from the ruins of ancient Stabiae and hear comments from the vice president of the Restoring Ancient Stabiae Foundation USA. To RSVP and learn more, call 301.405.4643.

Feb. 7: Reception and Pre- Performance Discussion
The Battle for the Pentagon Papers: From the Sources
5 p.m. Reception
6:30 p.m. Discussion, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
Invited guests will hear from Ben Bradlee and Daniel Ellsberg in a pre-performance discussion focused on the infamous Pentagon Papers followed by a riveting radio-docudrama. For more information, call 301.405.ARTS.

Feb. 16: Alumni Association Valentine’s Day Party
6 p.m.–11 p.m., Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center
Romance will abound at Maryland during a Valentine’s evening of dinner, dancing and live music. RSVP at www.alumni.umd.edu or for more information, call 301.405.2939.

Feb. 19: Terrapin Pride Day
Noon–2 p.m., Miller Senate Office Building, Annapolis, Md.
Join Terps across the region at the Maryland State House to rally legislators and to garner support for the University of Maryland and higher education as a state priority.

Feb. 24: Florida Crab Feast
4 p.m., Rustic Inn Crabhouse, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Enjoy a fun feast of crabs and good company with other Southeast region volunteers. RSVP is required. Call 301.405.2939 for more details.

Mar. 12: Alumni Association Networking Reception
6 p.m. –9 p.m., NYMEX World Financial Center, New York, N.Y.
Join the Smith School of Business and the Alumni Association for a NYMEX-sponsored networking reception. For more information, call 301.405.2939.

Major Gifts, Major Impact
Loyal Terp Targets Gift to Academics and Athletics

Picture of Barry Gossett and Dr. Mote giving a thumbs-up
President Mote with Barry P. Gossett (right)
arry P. Gossett has been a sports fan all his life. As a young boy growing up not far from the University of Maryland campus, he marveled at athletic giants like Jack Scarbath and Bob Pellegrini.

From sports to business success, today he is chairman and CEO of Acton Mobile Industries. “I work in a sales environment, where you have to depend on other people,” says Gossett, “I always go back to what I learned as a manager of an athletics team, that teamwork can be applied with the academic skills learned in the classroom.”

A former chair of the University of Maryland College Park Foundation Board of Trustees and current member of the Board of Regents for the University System of Maryland, Gossett has built a significant part of his life around the university. The marriage of athletics and academics is Gossett’s passion, and it is reflected in the commitment of $10 million to the Great Expectations campaign made with his wife Mary, and his brothers Ken and Patrick.

Picture of Gossett Football Team House
Gossett Football Team House
Of the Gossetts’ gift, $8 million goes to athletics for basketball and football coach endowments, improvement of athletic facilities including Gossett Football Team House and an athletics director endowment. The income generated from the endowments will provide long-term resources to support the basketball, football and overall athletics programs. Also, $1 million of their gift is directed to general scholarships with special consideration for students with a record of community service and involvement in scouting. Another $1 million supports the University of Maryland Incentive Awards Program, for students who have overcome significant life challenges to achieve academic success.

Students from Northwestern High School in Prince George’s County stand to benefit from an additional effort undertaken by the Gossetts. The family has graciously allowed the university to put forth a challenge for donors to match up to $1 million dollar-for-dollar. The combined $2 million will fund a perpetual endowment providing full scholarships for four Northwestern High School students each year. Gossett, who along with his brother Ken graduated from Northwestern High, hopes the challenge will encourage Northwestern and University of Maryland alumni to pass along some of the benefits of their education by contributing to this fund.

A major supporter of the Incentive Awards Program since its inception, Gossett is excited about the Northwestern High challenge saying, “The scholarship gives current Northwestern students an opportunity to dream about what they would like to do.”

As a campaign co-chair of Great Expectations, he believes donors have something to gain. “By connecting them with the student-athlete or student in the classroom, the donor will get a much better understanding of his investment. And the student will understand that the donor cares about his or her succeeding in life. It’s not just about writing a check.”


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Published by the University of Maryland 2007