COLLEGE PARK, MD – Following a highly successful debut effort which saw students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends donate close to $250,000, The University of Maryland will host its second-ever Scholarship Day, a 24-hour giving challenge to support student scholarships across campus. This year's Scholarship Day will take place on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 and features a lower minimum gift amount from 2013 as an added incentive for student participation.

As was last year, donors can choose to direct funds to the university's various schools, colleges and programs, comprising 18 total scholarship options. As an added competitive element, the college, school or program with the highest participation and with the most dollars raised in 24 hours will receive matching funds. Scholarship Day helps to bridge the gap of $80 million in requests for financial aid in 2014.

For more information, visit scholarshipday.umd.edu. Join the conversation on Twitter by following @ScholarshipDay and using the #ScholarshipDayUMD. Watch the stories of students from 2013, whose lives have been changed as a result of scholarships, enabling them to make a significant impact at UMD, at home, and in the broader community.