Students Enjoy Pancakes at Stacks on Smith

Ask any one of the nearly 200 undergraduates at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business if having a belly-full of pancakes, eggs, sausage, and fruit helps with end-of-semester projects, studying for final exams and all-around stress relief – and the answer will be a resounding YES! The students flocked to Van Munching Hall’s Executive Meeting Room on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2017, to enjoy the evening feast hosted by the Undergrad Program Board.

“Stacks on Smith” has proven to be a very popular annual event at the Smith School. Originally conceived as an opportunity to honor and thank seniors who might be taking their “final” final exams, no student was turned away if they brought a smile and an empty stomach. Fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility to support each other, especially during stressful times, is a goal of many events organized by the Smith Undergraduate Program. Smith faculty and staff volunteered to serve, donning red aprons and white chef hats and freely shared words of encouragement for students to take back to their study halls. 

With final exams set to begin the next day, the timing of the event was perfect. Another stress-relief tactic used during the event was providing crayons for students to fill in a cartoon with Testudo asking, “This winter break, I will………”  The answers were as diverse as the choices for pancake toppings.

“Visiting Hawaii, Japan and Charlotte,” wrote Ashley.

“Be looking for a job,” said Eric.

“Learn jiu-jitsu,” added Aaron.

Oru will be “attending the National Retail Conference.”

Jacob may be the busiest of all. He wrote, “Watch “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” at least 10 times.

We all wish Nick the best of luck as his winter break plans are to “find the next Bitcoin.”

As the evening came to a close, a few left-over pancakes and sausages were packaged up and given to students, who probably devoured them later that night. Besides the aroma that lingered throughout Van Munching Hall, the hope is that the positive and encouraging message of “Stacks on Smith” would give Smith students a boost to help them get through finals time.

- Claudia Donnelly, Smith Undergrad Program