The Department of Geology at the University of Maryland is growing stronger every day. We're recruiting world-class faculty and talented students. Our prolific research teams are making discoveries in the geological, environmental, and planetary sciences, and exploring new frontiers in rapidly emerging fields. We have one of the best geochemistry programs in the world. And we're all working together to consolidate our position as one of the top geology departments in the nation.
But, to reach this goal, we need your help.
In this tight economy, the support of alumni and friends like you is key to our success. Your contribution is sincerely appreciated. Your tax-deductible donation will help us strengthen our program with faculty and student recruitment tools, state-of-the-art facilities, and enhanced fieldwork opportunities for our undergraduates, as well as innovative outreach programs.
Your generosity benefits our students in many ways. Tax-deductible gifts to the department can be made online through the UMCP Foundation website for the following Geology Accounts:
William Smith Endowed Program Support Fund
To celebrate our 50th anniversary in a meaningful way, we need your help in establishing a new, general endowment fund. Thanks to the generosity of a distinguished alumnus, we have the lead commitment to establish the William Smith Endowed Program Support Fund in Geology. This will enable us to advance priority initiatives and respond to program opportunities not normally covered by other sources---such as growing and sustaining the Field Camp Program. But, we need your help to raise $50,000 in matching funds---to make this possible. Please consider making a gift to this endowment. Gifts of any amount will be greatly appreciated.
To support the William Smith Endowed Program Support Fund, click the button below:
Geology Student Endowment
The Geology Student Endowment was created in 2015, and as it grows it is providing an annual income that is used to help support a variety of endeavors including undergraduate scholarships and field work, undergraduate and graduate student research, and undergraduate and graduate student attendance at scientific conferences.
To support the Geology Student Endowment, click the button below:
Geology
This account provides funds that are immediately accessible to be spent for critical needs and targeted spending. Funds from this account have been typically used to support undergraduate scholarships, including field camp, as well as teaching equipment, such as modern petrographic microscopes.
Giving to this fund provides immediate support to the Department.
To support the Geology Operating Account, click the button below:
Additional Opportunites
Peter B. Stifel Geology Senior Thesis Endowment
During his time at the University of Maryland, Peter B. Stifel became the proud father of the Geology Senior Thesis program. Stifel believes that the senior thesis “provides students significant experience in personal growth, especially in the form of responsibility and self-confidence that can enhance not only their university experience but their professional careers and later life.” Geology alums frequently state that the senior thesis was the most valuable part of their undergraduate coursework. Gifts to this fund further research and discovery by our undergraduates.
Marc Lipella Scholarship
Marc Lipella graduated with a degree in Geology in 2004 (he completed his senior thesis with Drs. Rudnick, McDonough, and Ash). He subsequently worked as a research assistant at the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution while he also pursued his love of music as lead guitarist in the group Zen Black. Tragically, Marc passed away in September of 2011 and his parents have set up a foundation in his honor to provide scholarships to worthy students.
For over 10 years, the foundation has hosted an annual golf tournament in Marc's honor. Proceeds generated from that endeavor produced funds that have provided scholarships to over 40 undergraduates in geology, thereby bettering their educational experience and providing opportunities they may not otherwise have been able to undertake.
George and Rosalind Helz Distinguished Lecture in Geology
George R. and Rosalind Helz established the George and Rosalind Helz Distinguished Lecture in Geology on September 15, 2014 to support an annual lecture in the Department of Geology in the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences.
This lecture brings internationally recognized and renowned scholars to the University of Maryland for an extended visit where they interact with faculty and students, elevating our program and showing off our University.
To compete with the top departments in the nation, we need to offer endowed professorships. Endowed professorships will allow our faculty to follow new research directions with undergraduate and graduate students before these topics are mature enough to seek external funding from, e.g., the National Science Foundation. Endowed professorships also provide faculty with funding to cover the costs of sending these students to conferences to present their cutting-edge research to the scientific community at large. If this opportunity interests you, please contact Irene I. Lukoff at ilukoff@umd.edu or (267) 257-0318.
To give online:
Visit: giving.umd.edu
For more information about other ways to make a gift to the Department, including stock and/or wire transfer please contact: Irene I. Lukoff (ilukoff@umd.edu; 301.405.4572)
To give via check:
Please make check payable to: University of Maryland College Park Foundation, or UMCPF
indicate the Department of Geology & fund (if you know it) on the memo line and mail it to:
Office of Gift Acceptance,
4603 Calvert Road, College Park, MD 20740.
Matching Gifts
Supplement your gift by taking advantage of your employer's matching gift program--a way to quickly and easily increase your gift. For information about matching gifts, please visit matchinggifts.com/umd.
