For the 21st year, freshmen at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business who are in the Business, Society and the Economy (BSE) program spent their first full day on campus participating in the Annual College Park Scholars Service Day. To date, 18,980 College Park Scholars from all programs have collaborated with 610 community partners and provided over 66,130 hours of volunteer effort. Freshmen are joined by upper class student team leaders, UMD staff and faculty.
On Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, A Wider Circle welcomed more than 80 BSE students to its huge warehouse-sized facility in Silver Spring, Md. They were greeted by Mark Bergel, founder, president and CEO, who challenged the students to get involved. “It is not enough to care ...you have to act and really do something to make a difference and change the course of poverty,” he said.
The students helped the non-profit organize, move and sort household furniture and appliances, clothing and school supplies for Montgomery County residents in need. Last winter, Smith’s EMBA Cohort ’15 organized a clothing drive for A Wider Circle’s newly-opened Professional Clothing Center, delivering men and women’s suits, dresses and accessories to help those just entering the work force.
Service Day is one of the hallmark events of the College Park Scholars. Business, Society and the Economy (BSE) is one of 11 specialized programs offered by College Park Scholars, a by-invitation-only living-learning program for engaged and academically talented freshmen and sophomores. BSE explores the worlds of business and economics – especially their impact on society – by learning business and economic fundamentals, visiting corporate leaders and their business both in Washington, D.C., area and abroad, simulating real-life business models and engaging in team projects and simulations. The program is sponsored by the Robert H. Smith School of Business and welcomes students from all university disciplines. Mark Wellman, clinical professor of management and organization, is the director of the BSE program and Claudia Donnelly serves as assistant director.
For more information, visit: College Park Scholars.
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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.