Nov. 4, 2022 – As a senior at the University of Maryland 17 years ago, Jennifer Lopez honored her first-grade teacher for being an influential mentor, as part of a then new program called the Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars.
Lopez recalled the hours playing school, imitating Ms. Mary Lee, who taught her in first grade to love children’s books. Lopez went on to become a teacher herself.
Today, bringing a tradition of mentorship full circle, Lopez will be honored at a ceremony honoring Merrill Scholars, where a UMD senior will thank her for teaching him to love to read in her fifth-grade class.
“The late Philip Merrill created this program to build a community of scholars, faculty members and K-12 teachers who recognize the importance of teaching and mentoring the next generation,” said UMD President Darryll J. Pines. “We are grateful for a program that celebrates invaluable mentorship and for the many teachers who have a long-lasting impact on the lives of our students.”
In all, 19 Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars will recognize the K-12 teachers and UMD faculty who helped guide, inspire, coach, tutor and challenge them during their academic journeys. The program awards $1,500 scholarships, which are given in the K-12 teacher’s name to another student from that school district who will attend UMD the next year.
It also highlights the achievements of the graduating seniors, who are selected by the academic colleges and schools with undergraduate major programs. Scholars’ internships and research work ranges from fighting climate change to addressing global mental health disparities.
“These students’ accomplishments are a testament to the power of teachers and mentors in an academic journey,” said William A. Cohen, Associate Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Studies. “The Merrill Presidential Scholars Program is creating an important legacy of teacher excellence—from K-12 through college—that leads to outstanding student achievements.”
Lopez (née Dodge) was in the second cohort of UMD Merrill Scholars, who are selected by the academic colleges and schools with undergraduate major programs.
“I remember wondering whether my first-grade teacher would come for the ceremony, whether she’d say, ‘Jenny who?’” said Lopez. “But now, I realize that she wouldn’t have missed it. It’s one of the greatest gifts to a teacher to say: ‘I remember your class and what you did mattered.’”
Nick Bailey ’23, a double major in operations management and business analytics as well as marketing, said the same about Lopez, who taught him at Westbrook Elementary in Bethesda.
“I remember reading the most I've ever read in my life during those class periods and also how she pushed me out of my comfort zone,” said Bailey.
He was particularly touched by an assignment at the end of fifth grade: Each student had to write a letter to their future self. Lopez saved the letters and mailed them to her students when they finished middle school three years later.
“They would ask themselves questions like, ‘Are we on the iPhone200 now?’ or ‘Did you make that travel team?’ But they’d also write about their goals for themselves,” said Lopez.
The letters were a reminder, too, that their elementary school teacher was still thinking of them, reminding them what they could accomplish, said Bailey: “She cared about every student.”
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For more information:
Laura Cech at 443-286-6402 or lcech@umd.edu
Photos are available.
The Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars for 2021-22 are: