Court Classic Brings Smith Community Together

Faculty, staff, students and alumni came together on Feb. 24, 2017, for the second Court Classic at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. In a single night the differences in class years, majors and fraternity memberships were all forgotten as teams competed in a basketball tournament organized by the Undergraduate Program Board.

“We won our first game. It was a crazy game,” said Smith School accounting major Conner Haaf ’17. “It’s a lot of fun representing my fraternity and playing with my friends.”

Harris Block ’20, a tournament coordinator, said the new tradition is designed to develop a strong sense of community among those affiliated with the Smith School. “It brings people in the business school together,” he said.

Many spectators cheered on their favorite teams, and some turned the event into a family affair. “I wanted them to see what college life is like,” said international business major Marwin Glenn ’17, who brought his family. “I feel excited that my family can join and experience the Smith effect.”

The winning team, the Tropics, won the final game against the Alumni Champions, 19-10. Members of the championship team included marketing major Zach Misischia ’19, finance major Jacob Burden ’19, finance and international business major Ryan Goldberg ’19, finance and information systems major Rob Askes ’19, communications and marketing major Adam Frankel ’19, finance major Shawn Brosko ’18 and finance major Brad Schuler ’19.

The Tropics players were not the only ones who enjoyed the event. Professors and many others did as well. “It’s fun,” said Brian Horick, assistant dean of undergraduate studies and organizer of the faculty/staff team. “I have to keep up with the students. You have people cheering for you, which you don’t normally have.”

— Mamayaa Opoku, Smith School communications writer