My Maryland Made Moment: Luca Ward
Luca Ward has embraced every opportunity through Maryland Made, finding a community while preparing for his future beyond lacrosse.
Brady Ruth, Staff Writer
9/22/2026
Luca Ward has never been one to shy away from opportunities.
Whether he’s finding attack lanes on the lacrosse field or setting himself up for success after college, Ward hasn’t let a second go to waste since arriving in College Park.
Through Maryland Made, Ward has maximized his time as a student-athlete, taking everything he can from the resources available to him and using each experience to prepare for lifelong success.
“It’s been incredible,” Ward said. “The types of programs and events that Maryland Made offers have both developed my professional skills and allowed me to connect with a lot of other student-athletes. A lot of times, student-athletes are within their own bubbles on their teams, but Maryland Made helps you interact with a lot of other student-athletes and work on different projects.”
During his time in College Park, Ward has embraced many of Maryland Made’s programs. He was a member of the 2025-26 Gossett Fellows Program cohort and took advantage of every chance to build his professional portfolio during his junior year.
Maryland Made has honestly done an incredible job of shaping my professional skills and academic skills and helping me bridge them all together as a holistic student-athlete.Luca Ward
During his early years at the University of Maryland, Ward watched many of his older teammates participate in Maryland Made and take advantage of its programs. When it was his turn to find a community of student-athletes, Ward found his place through Maryland Made.
His Maryland Made moment came at the inaugural Gossett Fellows Etiquette Dinner. A night at Mulligan’s Grill in Pub — dressed head-to-toe in his best business attire — provided countless lessons that Ward was later able to apply during his summer internship.
“It was a really professional setting that was very applicable to the workplace,” Ward said. “At my internship this past summer, I had a lot of dinners with clients and coworkers, and I applied some of the skills that I learned at the etiquette dinner. A lot of the things I’ve done with Maryland Made have been super applicable to both internships and the classroom.”
Gallery: Maryland Made Etiquette Dinner
Ward transferred to College Park after his freshman year at Holy Cross. The daunting reality of changing his surroundings in back-to-back years was made considerably easier by the immediate support and welcoming community he found through Maryland Made.
“Maryland Made definitely helped out that transition period,” Ward said. “Especially coming to a bigger school like this and adjusting to a new place for a second straight year. The community that Maryland Made offers and the type of networking and professional events that they offer helped me acclimate to Maryland and get to know other student-athletes. It gave me an instant community.”
Now, Ward prides himself on being as well-rounded an individual as possible. He doesn’t let any one aspect of the student-athlete experience overwhelm him or minimize the importance of life outside of sports.
A lot of times, student-athletes struggle with having the athlete part of their life take over their whole personality. Maryland Made does a great job of showing you that you’re not just an athlete, but a holistic person, a student, and a part of a family.Luca Ward
Now a senior at the University of Maryland, Ward’s growth stretches far beyond the lacrosse field. The number of memories he’s made rivals the lessons he’s learned as he prepares for a successful career when his time in College Park eventually ends. His Maryland Made story is one that many student-athletes share, and it’s one he hopes to bring others into.
“I’m always just trying to maximize my time here and take advantage of all the resources I have,” Ward said. “Whether it be Maryland Made, the nutrition staff, the weight room facilities, on-field activities, and utilizing our coaches, there are a lot of great things we have, and those are things I’ve just been trying to utilize. I would recommend other student-athletes to maximize their time here and leave no stone unturned.”
