Giving Day returns to the University of Maryland on Thursday, March 3, giving all members of the Robert H. Smith School of Business community the opportunity to boost their contributions through several hourly contests held across campus. From noon until 2 p.m., the Smith faculty and staff’s donations will be eligible for an extra $3,000 prize to be awarded to the Smith School - if they can donate the most money of any on-campus unit within that timeframe.

WeCook, a new tech company that brings personal chefs into people’s homes to stock their refrigerators with meals for a low subscription fee, was the big winner in the Feb. 16 Pitch Dingman Competition. The first-place win came with a $15,000 prize that the startup plans to use for marketing.

WHAT: The Eighth Annual Social Enterprise Symposium WHERE: Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland WHEN: Friday, March 4, 2016 | 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Join the Center for Social Value Creation and the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the Eighth Annual Social Enterprise Symposium (SES) on Friday, March 4, 2016. Covering a range of topics from corporate sustainability to social entrepreneurship, SES explores the role of business in creating economic prosperity and lasting social and environmental change.

Business leader, Navy veteran and Smith School benefactor Leo Van Munching Jr. ’50 died on Feb. 14, 2016, at his home in Darien, Conn. He was 89. Van Munching Hall, home to the Robert H. Smith School of Business and the School of Public Policy, bears his name.

Bill McDermott is a fantastic storyteller with tremendous energy. The CEO of SAP enthralled an audience of students, alumni, faculty, and staff at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business with tales of his life experiences. From his first entrepreneurial venture, to his most memorable sale, to his an overhaul of the worst branch at Xerox, to what he learned from a terrible accident, McDermott had his audience on the edge if their seats.

The Smith Master Student Association (SMSA) hosted a Chinese New Year celebration in Van Munching Hall on Friday, February 5, 2016. More than 140 specialty masters students, staff, and faculty at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business attended to enjoy the authentic Chinese food and celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Monkey.

On February 5, 2016, student club officers of the Smith Master Student Association (SMSA) and affiliated clubs participated in a day-long LeaderShape Catalyst session at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. LeaderShape is a national organization specializing in higher education leadership development programs.

UPDATE: Evan Lutz appeared on Shark Tank on Jan. 8, 2016, and received a $100,000 investment from Robert Herjavec for a 10 percent stake in Hungry Harvest.

Wondering what news articles were most popular with Smith Terps in 2015? Check out the top seven news stories of the year from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.

On Dec. 20, 2015, 700 students graduated from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business with bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. The commencement ceremony was held at the Xfinity Center, University of Maryland’s College Park campus. “The occasion of your commencement is a time to celebrate journeys, to celebrate beginnings and endings, and all the amazing things that happened in between,” said Alex Triantis, dean of the Smith School, in his opening remarks. “Today, we will look back on your journey and look forward to your future.”