Gifts That Keep on Giving

The gift of a scholarship helps a student-athlete with funding for four or five years of a college education.

With other generous gifts, Maryland is helping student-athletes with what comes after.

A lead gift in 2018 from Barry and Mary Gossett has been the cornerstone of a Student-Athlete Development program. The comprehensive program—the Gossett Student-Athlete Center—seeks to assist in career readiness, leadership education and identity development, in concert with traditional academic advising.

“For us, it’s creating a culture that helps our students discover their passion and purpose, while they’re here with us to prepare them for life after college… life after sport,” said Resa Lovelace, the assistant athletic director for student-athlete development.

Student development programming at Maryland existed prior to the Gossetts’ lead gift, and the influx of philanthropic support has helped to expand assistance to student-athletes.

A recent $550,000 gift commitment from the Kubasik Family will establish the Kubasik First Impact Program to help advance the student development programming even further.

Scholarships for student-athletes, funded in part by donations from Terrapin Club members, provide access to athletics and academic experiences but few student-athletes take advantage of career development services for a variety of reasons. Sophomore students, especially those from families new to the college experience, are vulnerable and at risk for low career satisfaction and employability without the proper support. 

"We funded The Kubasik First Impact Program in order to help sophomore student-athletes personalize their future career choices and subsequent degree program selection,” said Jane Kubasik. “Later, these same students can benefit from the career transition services available through the Gossett Fellows program.  These complimentary programs distinguish Maryland Athletics’ dedication to student success in their sport, in their classrooms and in their future careers."

“Private donations have helped us to elevate the program, make it more comprehensive and look at it more holistically,” said Sue Sherburne, senior associate athletic director for academics and student development. “One of the things that’s been really helpful is the integration with athletics and student-athlete development.”

According to Lovelace, Gossett Fellows in the Class of 2021 saw nearly every one of the participants advance either to a job or a graduate school.

“All of those students had their next step figured out by the time they graduated,” she said.

The current plan is for all staff members of the academic advising and development programs to merge into one location that will be housed in Gossett Hall . Many staff members will move from XFINITY Center to join staffers already housed in the former football facility.

A $500,000 gift from the M Club, the Terrapins’ alumni group of former letterwinners, is helping to fund the move and facility renovations including the opening of the M Club Study Lounge for all student-athletes.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have that support from former student-athletes to current student athletes,” said Sherburne. “I feel like the transition to Gossett Hall is so important from the standpoint of staff being able to come together and to provide our student-athletes a place they can go. I think that having a common space is central to pulling us together.”

Sherburne says the integration of academic and development initiatives is important.

“Your major and your academic progress is essential obviously,” she said. “But equally important is how you are developing socially and professionally into adulthood.

“We have you come to us as a teenager, and you’re leaving us as an adult. People are going to expect adult behaviors from you. Let’s figure out what those are and how to get to the next step.”

The Gossett Student-Athlete Center will be a place where Maryland student-athletes can progress toward their next step.

“I try to tell students we’ll give you what you need, but it’s your job to take advantage of the things we have and look where it’s launching you to,” said Lovelace. “We’ve had great success with a lot of students who take advantage of the work we do. And it has launched them into their next phase of life.

“Our unit is here to lift and help our current student-athletes find their next home, their next space, their next passion project … whatever that looks like for them. The private support we receive from Terrapin supporters is key in enabling us to do so.”

Doug Dull (Maryland ’81) was the Associate A.D. for Communications at Maryland from 2003-2012. He is a past president of the College Sports Information Directors of America and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2016. Dull spent nearly 30 years in college athletics and received CoSIDA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.