Impact of a Scholarship: Varun Ram

Growing up as a Maryland native and Terps basketball fan, Varun Ram never thought he would one day represent the team he adored so much growing up. However, through years of hard work and determination, he would one day find himself stepping onto the court for the Terrapins and earning a scholarship which would help propel him to success in the court, in the classroom, and in the professional world. 

“I grew up in Clarksville, Maryland, grew up a Maryland fan watching all those historic basketball teams,” he said. “All I did growing up was shoot hoops and try to do well in school. That was my childhood growing up, and I loved it. My parents were very supportive.”

Coming out of River Hill High School in 2011, Ram was not recruited by Division I programs but he never quit on his dream of playing basketball at the next level. He would ultimately end up taking the prep school route and would go on to play basketball at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. However, Ram still had higher aspirations for his basketball career. 

“I knew I wanted to play college basketball, didn't get recruited anywhere, ended up going the prep school route and went to a school in Massachusetts for a year. I then ended up going to Trinity College for a year, which was great, but Division III basketball in the NESCAC, a competitive conference, wasn't really what I was looking for,” he said.

After spending one year at Trinity, Ram decided to come back home to Maryland with dreams of becoming a walk-on for the Terrapin’s basketball team. 

“Maryland is a great school, the people are great, I had some friends being a local guy going up to high school here,” he said. “But for me, basketball was a big part of my life, so not knowing if that was going to happen or not was tough. When the opportunity came, I was ready. I wasn't okay with my basketball career ending just like that. I felt like I could contribute.” 

Ram would spend the following year (2012-13) in College Park staying in shape and was even invited to team practices. Then one day, Ram received an email he is forever grateful for. 

“I just remember one evening getting an email from one of the UMD compliance offices saying the University of Maryland men’s basketball team requests to add you to their roster. I just remember freaking out, trying to call my mom, dad, sister, and no one was picking up their phones. It was unreal, it was just a dream come true,” he said.

While Ram attended Maryland, he made memories that would last a lifetime both on and off the court. The things he cherished the most were the relationships he built and the impact he was able to leave on the community through team activities, including volunteering for the Special Olympics. 

“I had roommates that weren't athletes, and we had great relationships. It was just so funny; they were living vicariously through me [being on the basketball team.] I was just a regular Maryland student, just a regular Maryland guy,” he said. 

He also remembers playing in the NCAA Tournament and the famous upset over Duke in 2013 as some of his greatest memories on the court. Ram highlighted the unconditional support the team received was something he will never forget.

“Maryland is a flagship university, and to be able to represent the university in a sport I love and a pretty popular sport is just amazing. And the support we got when we were winning or losing was just incredible. It meant the world to me,” he said. “I also just really enjoyed the stuff we did for the community.”

Ram would earn a scholarship soon after he began playing with the team, something he has a lot of gratitude for and feels has helped him reach a great amount of success after basketball. 

“When coach [Turgeon] put me on scholarship, it meant a lot to myself and to my family, who were helping finance my education. It made things easier to not have to worry about student loans. It wasn't just about the money; the donors that supported the scholarship are such nice caring individuals,'' he said. “They just had so much care for us, and I think it meant just as much as the financial support, it was the emotional support.”

Now, Ram lives in Maryland and will begin an internship with Initiate Studios, working in the digital health industry, something he is very passionate about. Upon completing the internship, Ram will be continuing his education at Stanford University and pursue an MBA with the help of the M Club Rodman Postgraduate Scholarship from Maryland. 

Since the beginning of COVID, Ram explained he has been very grateful to spend more time with his family in Clarksville, and his girlfriend Serena who he met in his final year at the University of Maryland. He also used the opportunity to begin a digital health organization, Connect for COVID. 

“Connect for COVID was something a buddy of mine and I put together in DC. It's a national organization but essentially connecting patients with COVID to their loved ones during these no visitor policy periods at hospitals,” he said.

Ram attributes a lot of this success to his time at Maryland and feels forever thankful for the opportunities that arose both during and after his time attending the University.

“The athletic department just understood academics came first, and they allowed us as players to fully drive as students first, and I think that set us up for success even past basketball,” he said. “Just to know my school supports me even beyond my time at Maryland and playing basketball there, it just means the world.”

He added that the memories and support received from the scholarship donors were something he will always remember and be thankful for as it allowed him the opportunity to continue his athletic career while also following his passions off the court.

 “[The donors’] support financially, emotionally, I feel forever indebted and grateful for it, and I thank them for enabling me to be able to pursue my passions beyond basketball,” he said.