Impact Of A Scholarship: Regis Whittington

Years after former wide receiver Regis Whittington hung up his helmet for the last time, he is still making an impact on the lives and careers of student-athletes at the University of Maryland. 

The 2013 graduate currently is the Vice President of the M Club, a foundation that provides former Terrapin athletic letterwinners the opportunity to continue to be involved in Maryland Athletics. 

“With the M Club, my main goal is to help as many former and soon to be former student-athletes prepare for their transition into the post-college-sports world,” said Whittington. “Whether that is helping with a resume, interview prep, or connecting them to someone I believe would help them get into their field, any way I can help I am willing.”

Whittington’s drive to help others following similar footsteps as he did to succeed stems from his gratitude for the opportunities he came across while a student-athlete on campus and his scholarship.

“If I did not attend Maryland, I do not believe I would be as far along professionally, mentally, or financially as I am today in any way, shape, or form,” he said.

Whittington joined the team as a walk-on his junior year after two years as a regular student at Maryland. It wasn’t until his senior year that he became a scholarship student-athlete. Being an out-of-state student is no small financial undertaking, and for pocket money he used to work at the Eppley Recreation Center on campus in between classes, lifting, and practice.   

“Once I was put on scholarship I felt like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders and my parents shoulders, knowing that for my final year we didn’t have to worry about anything financially when it came to college,” he said. 

Whittington credits his scholarship for allowing him the time to go on job interviews, focus more on class, and thoroughly enjoy his final year as a Terp.

“Even the smaller benefits such as being able to eat dinner and breakfast with my teammates, instead of walking across campus [to work] after morning workouts or practice. It all mattered greatly,” he said.

Whittington grew up in Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania, a town just 20 miles south of Philadelphia. As a young athlete who desired to play in college, Maryland was always on his radar.

“I had dreamed of being a Maryland student-athlete since I was in middle school,” he said. “When I was in seventh grade I promised my parents I would earn a scholarship to an ACC school while we were taking my brother on his college tours. From that day forward, I worked tirelessly to attain that goal.”

Whittington currently lives in Columbia, Maryland, and works for Alertus, a technical company, as a regional account sales manager for the West Coast. He also holds his mortgage license, and actively helps friends and family looking to refinance or purchase a home. 

He says the connections he made on and off the field at Maryland are ones that have led him to the job opportunities he’s had today.

Whittington’s first job in the mortgage industry came from a company that was a sponsor of the Military Bowl that Maryland played in a few months prior. His current company was founded by a Maryland alumnus. His branch manager in the mortgage world is Louis Berman, who is not only a close friend, but is also a former Maryland football student-athlete.

Although his professional career is deeply intertwined with Maryland athletics, Whittington reflects even more fondly on the friendships and memories he made while a student-athlete.

“Some of my best friends came from the 27 teams we had at the time. My family went beyond just the football locker room,” he said. 

“Lying on the locker room floor before practice watching SpongeBob, having pillow fights in hotel rooms with our position group during away games, and having cookouts at our off-campus house for the team. These are the memories I think about the most and cherish when I remember my years at Maryland.”

Whittington has grown from a hard working student to a successful alumnus with a passion for bettering the lives of fellow Maryland student-athletes. A feat that was largely made possible, he says, by what he learned while being a Terp.

“Being a Maryland student-athlete on scholarship not only meant that I was part of a family of men and women I had watched since I was a child, but also it validated all of my hard-work and the sacrifices I made.”