Maryland student-athletes partnered with Team IMPACT to put on a virtual scavenger hunt in celebration of the end of the school year.

The event was led by Maryland's own Team IMPACT fellows Belle Bressler of the field hockey team and volleyball's Maddie Naumann, along with Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Director Julia Reicin of the cross country and track and field teams. 

Team IMPACT is a program that matches children with serious and chronic illnesses from children's hospitals and has them 'sign' on with college athletic teams. It's a mutual experience that is a continuation of care for the kids, and a leadership development tool for the student-athletes. 

As part of the scavenger hunt, the 'teammates' were asked to find different objects around their homes and share stories about them with the group.

"We had them find five things in their house and share with their breakout room. It was a great chance for us to get to know the matches and for them to get to know us better" said Bressler, a sophomore, who is a member of the One Maryland Leadership Academy. "We asked them to find things like: something that reminds them of Maryland, something that reminds them of their family, and something that reminds them of Team IMPACT."

The three Team IMPACT kids who participated in the virtual hunt are matched with the men's basketball team (Ben Snyder), the football team (Cal Taylor), and the softball team (Lily Matarese), but student-athletes across all sports joined in on the fun to support the cause.
  "This scavenger hunt was a fun way for the kids to get up and move around and connect with their teammates but also a great way to get to know people," said Team IMPACT Regional Executive Director Josh Walker. "It was a great way for athletes to get to know the child on their teams and also a great way for the child to get to know their teammates."

The event was a great success for both student-athletes and Team IMPACT teammates. Walker cited a lot of positive feedback from parents and family members of the kids involved who were grateful for the chance to continue to work with the teams after such an isolating year. 

"I think having the online experience has been really nice to connect with them since we can't have them in person. I think everyone on the call just enjoyed the hour we had together" said Bressler.

"I'm super grateful to be a part of this organization because I'm able to see the positive impact it has on the kids and the event really shows that," said Naumann, a junior. "Everyone that was on the call was able to see how much happiness something as simple as a zoom event can bring to them."

For nearly a decade, Maryland Athletics has supported Team IMPACT, but last fall they took their relationship to the next level. The Terps became the first elevated official partner of Team IMPACT by starting a fellowship program.

"Team IMPACT Fellows represent our organization on their campuses, and collaborate with the athletic department and greater campus community to raise awareness and increase program participation," said Walker.

Walker said the Terps have become a template that the organization uses as they look to expand their partnerships with other schools across the country.

"We're very grateful to the Terps and to Maryland," said Walker. "One thing I said to the student-athletes that night was that it's not an exaggeration to say that the Terps are leading the way for the whole country right now and that's something we're really grateful for."