The Campaign Brief Great Expectations University of Maryland
 March-April 2008      
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Upcoming Events

Mar. 27: Clark School of Engineering Alumni Reception
6:30 p.m., Stanford Park Hotel, Menlo Park, Calif.
West Coast region engineering alumni will join Interim Dean Herbert Rabin for a networking reception and program featuring a presentation by the McKinsey Global Institute on its groundbreaking study, “Curbing Global Energy Demand Growth: The Energy Productivity Opportunity.”

April 6: Start Your Engines–Colonnade Society and the A. James Clark School of Engineering Event
3–5 p.m., Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building
Colonnade Society members and engineering alumni are invited for an afternoon of car racing inspired events highlighting the Maryland student organization that builds Formula and Baja race cars for national competitions. Racing demonstrations and special guests, including Jay Gerst of Dale Earnhardt Inc., will enthuse the speedway fan in every guest.

April 12: Alumni Association Awards Gala
5:30 p.m., Orem Alumni Hall, Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center
Alumni and friends gather for this annual celebration when the University of Maryland Alumni Association honors individuals who have excelled in professional and personal endeavors or service to the university.

April 23: Celebration of Scholarships
11:30 a.m., Orem Alumni Hall, Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center
The power of scholarships is celebrated at this annual event that brings together endowed scholarship donors and recipients to help forge personal connections. Featured speaker is David Hillman, CEO of Southern Management Corporation, benefactor of the Hillman Entrepreneurs Program for Prince George’s County students. For information call 301.405.6826 or email rnaples@umd.edu.

April 26: Maryland Day
10 a.m.–4 p.m., Campus-wide
Come join the fun at this 10th annual open house with more than 400 free events celebrating the diversity of our campus. Explore a wide range of events for the entire family.

May 8: 5th Annual Clark School Baltimore Networking Event
6–8 p.m., The Engineers Club, The Garrett-Jacobs Mansion
Baltimore area engineering alumni are invited to reconnect with friends and hear from Vice President for Administration Doug Duncan about the East Campus Revitalization Plan taking shape in College Park. For more information call 301.405.3870 or email gbrannan@umd.edu.

May 15: Terps Take Los Angeles
6–8 p.m., Hillcrest Country Club, Los Angeles, Calif.
LA Terps don’t want to miss this annual gathering of the Maryland family featuring Men’s Head Basketball Coach Gary Williams ’68 and more. RSVP by May 5.

SAVE THE DATE
June 7: Scholarship Benefit–Pirates of Penzance
7:30 p.m., Kay Theatre, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
Support scholarships for performing arts students and enjoy this popular Gilbert and Sullivan production with special guest performer Robert Fischell, benefactor of the Fischell Bioengineering Department.

Building First-Class Learning Environments
New Practice Facility to Help Golf Teams Get in the Swing

Susan and John Holman
Susan and John Holman
ohn E. Holman III ’78 is a true fan of Maryland Athletics and can be found cheering in the stands at most basketball and football games every year. But he couldn’t be happier now that he’s also able to champion varsity golf, a sport for which he has a personal passion.

Along with his wife Susan ’81, John has committed $220,000 to help construct a dedicated practice facility for the exclusive use of the men’s and women’s golf teams. The Holman Short Game Golf Facility will be located near the fourth hole of the University of Maryland Golf Course.

“The only thing available to the teams for practice is the driving range,” says Holman. “There is no true practice area to improve their short- or mid-range game.” An avid golfer, Holman has played some of the most famous courses around the world, from Pinehurst in North Carolina, where he plans to retire, to Pebble Beach in California, to St. Andrews in Scotland. He knows that consistent practice of specific shots is the key to success.

Golf Practice Area
A preliminary look at the proposed short game facility (click to view larger image)
The Holman Short Game Golf Facility remedies a long-standing need at Maryland and provides the essential components of a successful collegiate golf program. Set for completion by September 2008, it will feature three practice greens for putting, chipping and pitching, plus multiple fairways providing approach shots up to 100 yards. Multiple fairway and green-side bunkers will allow players to simulate the types of shots encountered in match play.

“Having your own facility means being able to practice any type of shot you want,” says Tom Hanna, head coach, men’s golf. “[It] will allow us to dial in our distance, control and accuracy, which is critical to shooting lower scores.” Jason Rodenhaver, women’s golf head coach, notes that a player with a good short game can save strokes and win more matches.

“I am very happy to be in a position to support this project; my wife and I love giving back to Maryland,” says Holman. “We hope the teams will maximize use of the facility and that it will greatly improve their ability to compete overall and attract more strong players to the university.”

Sophomore Brendan Tracy playing golf
Sophomore Brendan Tracy playing golf
Holman’s memories of his time as a student have kept Maryland near and dear to his heart. “My friends and I often say that if there were four years in life we could do over, we’d all pick the four years we spent at Maryland. Those were great times with basketball and football really taking off. Lefty Dreisell was here as basketball coach and Jerry Claiborne came in to coach football. It was all a lot of fun.”

Holman and his wife are passing this passion on to their four children. One son is a junior computer science major at the university and “the other three are eagerly awaiting their opportunity to go to the University of Maryland as well.” In the meantime, look for the whole family in the stands cheering Terps teams to victory.

Learn how you can help make Great Expectations, The Campaign for Athletics a success. Contact Don Miller, 301.314.7073.
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Published by the University of Maryland 2008