Impact Of A Scholarship: Alexandra Cimino

Alexandra Cimino had made up her mind during recruitment that the school with the most valuable scholarship offer would earn her track and field commitment. Money was essential for her because she saw firsthand the crippling effect college debt could have on a student and their family.

"My brother went to a super expensive school," Cimino said. "He was taking out loans and my parents were paying for some of his schooling as well. I knew that I wanted to get as much money as I could because I have this opportunity. I'm an athlete."

But once the Westwood, New Jersey native arrived on Maryland's campus in 2013, she quickly learned her scholarship was about more than just a dollar amount and eliminating debt. It was also about finding her place—not just within the track and field program but in the College Park community.

"College is a very shaping period of your life, and I love that I got to be at Maryland," Cimino said. "I always loved being a Terp; I will always be a Terp."

Thanks to the support, resources, and opportunities that came with being a student-athlete at the University of Maryland, Cimino took advantage and put herself in a position to develop her passion and create a bright post-graduation future.

Cimino, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten hurdler and sprinter, graduated from Maryland in 2017 with a degree in marketing and management.

She currently owns and operates SolMedia, a social media company that assists with social media marketing and content strategy. Cimino helps businesses maintain a strong social media presence with unique digital marketing. So far, her clients include the Philadelphia Marathon, multiple restaurants, gyms, and other health and wellness companies.

A critical factor in Cimino's success with her company is the foundation laid at Maryland with the help of her athletic scholarship. As a student, she connected with like-minded marketing students and turned their skills into a business opportunity for them all.

"When I was a senior at Maryland, I joined a group of students in an entrepreneurship class to start this company called FroDoh, which was a frozen dessert company," Cimino said. 

After joining FroDoh as Chief Marketing Officer, Cimino oversaw all social media, marketing, branding, and event management. The group's hard work and progress paid off, eventually leading them to secure an investment from Maryland alum Jason Cohen.

"With the investment, we were able to work on (FroDoh) full time after we graduated, and I started doing some freelancing on the side to make a little extra cash with social media marketing," Cimino said. "So that's how I got started with social media marketing. It definitely stemmed from my connections at Maryland and what I studied at Maryland."

Cimino's scholarship allowed her to build her resume and experiences without the typical stressors that plague the average college graduate.

"It was just a huge blessing that I was able to pursue other avenues knowing that I didn't have crazy student loans to pay," Cimino said. "I wasn't stressed out about 'oh, I need to secure a job out of college'. I was able to pursue riskier avenues and continue on with FroDoh."

Cimino's scholarship benefited not only her professional development but her personal relationships as well. She quickly found a family and community with her track and field teammates shortly after arriving in College Park.

"We were all one big happy family," Cimino said. "I had some of my coaches from New Jersey, so it was easy to connect with them. We were lucky enough to be a school with a men's and a women's team so we always all hung out together. The relationships and connections I made with the people at UMD are still some that I have and cherish to this day."

Cimino also used her time at Maryland to serve her fellow student-athletes and work alongside donors and athletic department staff, which made some of her student-athlete experiences possible.

She joined the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), where she was able to help enhance the student-athlete experience by acting as a liaison between them and the athletic administration.

"Being on that committee was great, just working with individuals behind the scenes to have an effect on the experiences of my fellow athletes at Maryland was super cool," Cimino said.

Her time with SAAC included a term as Vice President, where she was able to take on a leadership role. One of her most significant projects was organizing multiple "Terps Got Talent" talent shows, which raised money for children's medical centers. Cimino remembers all the hard work that went into those talent shows, from finding judges, equipment, acts, and social media promotion and marketing.

"That was an awesome experience because it gave me a leadership opportunity," Cimino said. "I learned a lot about leading and how to manage a committee. It was such a big production and I had never done anything like that before, but the shows turned out great."

When she arrived at College Park, Alexandria didn't know her University of Maryland scholarship was about to shape her life. But, instantly, her scholarship became about more than just money for school and graduating debt free.

Thanks to donors, administrators, and athletic department staff at Maryland, Cimino used her scholarship to grow and develop as a professional and a person. For that, she is forever thankful.

"I'm super grateful for the donors that made my experience possible," Cimino said. "I still don't think I truly grasp the magnitude of it. I'm continuously realizing how grateful I am for that scholarship and for the opportunity."