College Park, Md. – June 22, 2009 — The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business today announced a $250,000 gift to create the Ernst & Young Freshman Fellows Orientation Program and endowment. The gift will support orientation programs and presentations for Smith’s two-year Freshman Fellows program, an innovative combination of cohort-style classes, experiential learning, co-curricular activities and events that create a cohesive learning community linking students, faculty, staff, corporate partners and alumni.
“This gift is part of a 30-year relationship and history of support Ernst & Young has generously made toward building a future generation of business leadership and accounting excellence at the Smith School,” said G. “Anand” Anandalingam, dean of the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. “The network of Smith School alumni at Ernst & Young offers a valuable dimension to our engagement, providing a rich repository of knowledge and relationships that benefit Smith School students past and present.”
“We are excited to continue our strong tradition of support for the Smith School and partner with the school on the Freshman Fellows Orientation Program,” said Anthony Calderazzi, University of Maryland campus coordinating partner at Ernst & Young.
“The orientation program is the student’s first exposure to the Smith School and the truly innovative Freshman Fellows program. We look forward to bringing the experiences and insights of our professionals to orientation to help shape and enrich this already outstanding program.”
Ernst & Young’s giving to Smith totals more than $1 million. Past gifts have gone toward the construction of an Ernst & Young classroom, creation of two Ernst & Young professorships and the establishment of student scholarships. The firm is traditionally one of the top campus recruiters among undergraduate students with many Smith School alumni establishing successful careers.
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About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.