The University of Maryland Eastern Shore expanded its campus royalty tradition in 1996 when the Office of Student Life added a “Mr. UMES” competition. He and his Imperial Court play important roles as student-ambassadors through participation in community service for the campus at-large. He also is responsible for such activities as Men’s Week, in which…Read more Mr. UMES
When Toby Rens arrived in Princess Anne in 2001, his goal was to turn around a Hawks’ volleyball program that failed to win a match the two previous seasons. From 1993 to 2000, the program posted a .169 winning percentage. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore launched the fast-paced sport for women in 1983, but teams were inconsistently competitive…Read more Volleyball
“Building on Tradition, Not Resting on One,” is the motto of Iota Phi Theta fraternity, the most recent Greek letter organization to join the National Pan Hellenic Council. When the fraternity was established by 12 young men at Morgan State College on Sept. 19, 1963, it was composed mostly of non-traditional students who had known…Read more Iota Phi Theta
The Nu Delta chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore was chartered in the fall of 1992 with 16 members. Tutoring and mentoring young boys at the Boxing Association was among the early community service initiatives the UMES chapter took on. In keeping with Sigma Gamma Rho’s national ideals, the…Read more Sigma Gamma Rho
The Alpha Mu chapter of Phi Beta Sigma was established in 1935 making it the first to be chartered at the institution then known as Princess Anne Academy. The Afro-American newspaper reported in 1947 that fraternity members welcomed to campus a sister organization, Zeta Phi Beta, which it assisted with community service activities. The article also notes…Read more Phi Beta Sigma
The Delta Mu chapter of Delta Sigma Theta was established at Maryland State College in 1952, but was later disbanded. A Nu Rho chapter in the community was in evidence in the late 1970’s, but the sorority currently has no formal undergraduate presence on the UMES campus. Nevertheless, Deltas were known for engaging in such…Read more Delta Sigma Theta
The Alpha Omicron chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha was established at Maryland State College on April 7, 1951. Well known for raising funds for scholarships and tutoring at local schools, the sorority partners with the Big Sister/Little Sister program in working with local high school girls. Members also hold annual social activities like a ball…Read more Alpha Kappa Alpha
Few Hawks have done more to put the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in the college record books than former baseball player Ira “Dude” Smith. The Chestertown, Md., native was the first player in college baseball history to win back-to-back batting titles when he did so in 1989 (.488) and 1990 (.519). Smith’s 1990 average…Read more Baseball
Modern-day men’s basketball teams at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore measure themselves against a trailblazing standard set during an extraordinary – and controversial – 1973-74 season. The Fighting Hawks were nationally ranked that year and became the first historically black college to be invited to play in the venerable National Invitation Tournament. A charter member of…Read more Basketball
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s athletics department threw its support behind bowling as a team sport for women in the 1990s, a decision that has struck dividends in the early 21st century. From the time the NCAA elevated bowling from club competition to a championship sport in 2003-04, UMES has been among the dominant competitors…Read more Bowling
