Terps for Change Leadership Scholarship

What is Terps for Change? 

Terps for Change (T4C) is a community service-learning program, part of the Leadership and Community Service-Learning office housed in STAMP Student Union. Terps for Change is a unique service organization on campus as it not only pairs students to volunteer with one of the 13 local nonprofits, but also provides weekly dialogue sessions where participants learn the root causes behind the social issues they work with at their volunteering site, foster professional development skills, and reflect on their service-learning experience so they can connect it to life after university. 

Who are the coordinators?

The Terps for Change program includes 200 volunteers and 30 coordinators who lead the dialogue and service experience of these students. The coordinators, our peer leaders, are the heart of Terps for Change as they...

• Plan, create, and execute weekly dialogues-- each with clear learning objectives pertaining to service-learning and social issues.

• Act as the liaison between the program and a specific community partner-- completing site visits, handling volunteer waiver/background checks, and tracking the impact on the community they are serving. 

• Volunteer at site each week alongside their participants as stellar role models.

• Serve as direct peer mentors for their volunteers by meeting with them individually and checking-in on their service experience/other aspects of university life.

• These demands and responsibilities take up a great portion of a coordinator’s week (approximately 10 to 12 hours) and even more during the beginning and end of each semester.

Terps for Change Leadership Scholarship Program 

With the outstanding effort put out by coordinators, Terps for Change has established the Terps for Change Leadership Scholarship to reward and acknowledge their accomplishment both to the community and in leadership. 

• The scholarship will be offered for two Terps for Change coordinators each year who have gone above and beyond on a basis of their commitment and impact to the program. 

  • ​The selection process will include an essay submitted by the coordinator that demonstrates deeper self-reflection of the program experience and meaningful contribution to the the larger community. 

  • Applicants are to be reviewed by an external board who will assess the need, commitment, and excellence of each individual candidate. 

• This scholarship can do so much for our coordinators such as...

  • ​Aid with the costs of higher-education, housing, food, utilities, transportation, ect. 

  • Help coordinators struggling financially so they don't have to juggle part-time jobs with their volunteering 

  • Celebrate and acknowledge coordinators for their 10 hours each week of volunteering and leadership 

"Terps for Change has helped me grow personally and professionally. Volunteering at various sites like a Wider Circle or Magruder Park and then discussing the socioeconomic issues pertaining to them at dialogue has made me more self-aware and open-minded. Additionally, as a coordinator, I have been able to improve my public speaking and facilitating skills in a non-judgemental environment, which I am thankful for as I have always been a shy/introverted person. As someone who is here solely through scholarships and financial aid, having a scholarship would ease the pressure for me to find a part-time/paid job and allow me more freedom/time to volunteer. It would also help coordinators obtain more resources to improve activities in dialogue."

Gifts in support of the University of Maryland are accepted and managed by the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, Inc., an affiliated 501(c)(3) organization authorized by the Board of Regents.   Contributions to the University of Maryland are tax deductible as allowed by law.   Please see your tax advisor for details.