Classroom and Lab Renovations and Equipment

Equipping Minds — and Classrooms — for What’s Next

When you invest in classroom and lab renovations, you’re helping students gain the tools and experiences they need to succeed in a world defined by innovation. Your gift turns ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments that prepare the next generation of thinkers and leaders.

GIVE TO THIS INITIATIVE

Classroom and Lab Renovations and Equipment

With exceptional faculty and academic staff comes the need for modern, well-equipped spaces that foster excellence in teaching and learning.

Renovating labs and classrooms ensures access to updated technology, relevant research tools, and hands-on learning opportunities that prepare students for success.

Each renovation represents a direct investment in the academic experience — transforming traditional spaces into vibrant, adaptable environments that promote creativity and engagement.

Upgraded classrooms feature flexible furniture, advanced HyFlex technology, and dynamic layouts that allow students and faculty to connect, collaborate, and learn in new and exciting ways.

Investment Range:

Renovation costs range from $25,000 to $250,000 for labs and classrooms.

Naming Opportunities

Donors also have the opportunity to name an unnamed classroom or lab in honor of a beloved faculty member, family member, classmate, or themselves.

START YOUR GIFT CONVERSATION

Together, we will design more cutting-edge academic spaces to encourage and deepen the learning experience for students and make an unforgettable first impression that reflects the innovation and excellence of a McDaniel education. ”

PRESIDENT JULIA JASKEN

Homecoming Week

Celebrate the Spirit That Connects Generations

Your generosity helps McDaniel keep its most cherished traditions alive while inspiring new ones to grow. Support for Homecoming ensures that every student has the opportunity to experience the joy, pride, and connection that define life on the Hill.

GIVE TO THIS INITIATIVE

Homecoming Week

Few traditions capture the spirit of McDaniel quite like Homecoming. It’s a week when generations of Green Terrors — past and present — come together to celebrate pride, friendship, and belonging. Homecoming unites students, alumni, faculty, and the broader McDaniel community, transforming the campus into a vibrant hub of energy and excitement. Through this celebration of shared identity and tradition, McDaniel’s spirit shines brighter than ever.

Homecoming Week at McDaniel is a celebration of pride, tradition, and connection. Throughout the week, students will take part in Greek Week competitions, SGA-led Spirit Week events, and a variety of activities that showcase creativity, unity, and school pride. The energy builds toward the highlights of the week: the Homecoming football game and a Homecoming concert. By combining tradition with fresh, student-driven experiences, Homecoming Week strengthens campus bonds and creates memories that last long after graduation.

Invest in the Traditions That Unite Us All

Homecoming is more than just a week on the calendar — it’s a celebration of everything McDaniel stands for: community, tradition, and the shared experiences that connect generations of students and alumni. By supporting Homecoming, donors help preserve a legacy of pride while giving today’s students the opportunity to create memories they’ll carry for a lifetime. Planned updates to Homecoming Week include: 

Homecoming Concert

The planned Homecoming concert will be the heartbeat of the week, bringing the entire campus community together for an unforgettable night of music and celebration. Supporting this event helps McDaniel attract high-quality performers and produce a concert experience that rivals those at much larger institutions. It’s more than entertainment — it’s a shared moment of joy that connects students, alumni, and friends through music and school pride.
Planned Investment: $100,000

Greek Week

Greek Week showcases the leadership, creativity, and community service of McDaniel’s fraternities and sororities. From spirited competitions to philanthropic initiatives, these events encourage teamwork and friendly rivalry that build character and campus unity. Supporting Greek Week helps sustain the traditions that strengthen McDaniel’s sense of family and belonging.
Planned Investment: $25,000

Renovations to North Village Courtyard

Bring New Life to North Village — One Gathering at a Time

Your gift will help transform North Village into a welcoming, engaging space that inspires community and connection. Every contribution brings us closer to a campus where students can gather, celebrate, and make lasting memories — right in the heart of McDaniel.

GIVE TO THIS INITIATIVE

Renovations to North Village Courtyard

The heart of a great college experience often beats outside the classroom — in the shared spaces where friendships form, ideas flow, and memories take root. McDaniel’s outdoor spaces play a vital role in creating that sense of connection, offering students places to unwind, recharge, and belong. Revitalizing the North Village Courtyard will transform a familiar area into an inviting hub for community life that reflects the energy and spirit of McDaniel students.

Life at McDaniel thrives when students have spaces that bring them together outside the classroom. North Village is home to many juniors and seniors, and plans are underway to transform its courtyard into a lively outdoor destination. The new courtyard will offer a welcoming place to gather, relax, and build community. By supporting this project, you are helping create an environment that enriches campus life, fosters connection, and enhances the McDaniel experience for years to come.

Invest in the Outdoors Where Students Come Together

These upgrades will breathe new life into North Village, creating an outdoor environment that balances relaxation, recreation, and connection. The redesigned courtyard will be a place where friendships grow, ideas are shared, and the McDaniel spirit shines brightest — a true reflection of campus life at its best.

Planned Investment: $50,000

Picnic Tables

Durable, welcoming picnic tables provide the foundation for connection — a place where students can share meals, study together, or simply enjoy time outdoors. These tables will encourage conversation and camaraderie, turning everyday moments into opportunities for friendship and collaboration.

Grills

Adding grills will transform the courtyard into a vibrant gathering spot for cookouts, celebrations, and student events. Whether hosting a club social or an informal dinner with friends, these spaces will foster traditions that strengthen the bonds of the McDaniel community.

Fire Pits

Fire pits create warmth — both literally and figuratively. They’ll offer a cozy focal point for small groups to gather in every season, creating a sense of belonging and shared experience that defines campus life.

Pavilion

A pavilion will serve as the centerpiece of the new courtyard, providing shade and shelter for gatherings large and small. This flexible space can host student organization meetings, performances, or casual get-togethers, making the courtyard usable year-round.

Adirondack Chairs

Comfortable Adirondack chairs will give students a place to relax, reflect, and connect with one another between classes or at the end of a long day. Their inviting design makes the courtyard not just a pass-through space, but a destination for community.

Reaching New Heights Together

BY DEBBIE DALE SEIDEL ’84 & ETHAN SEIDEL

Home / Archives for tdunsmore / Page 2

We have both been connected to McDaniel College for decades — Ethan beginning in 1969 and Debbie in 1980. Throughout this time, we have seen McDaniel grow and evolve in so many ways.

Yet at its core, the essence that is McDaniel remains unchanged: The one constant over the decades has been the focus on our students.

As co-chairs of Reaching New Heights: The Campaign for McDaniel College, we are asking you to join us in helping to provide new generations of students with even more opportunities to succeed.

Over the years, we have had the great fortune to interact with McDaniel students in a multitude of settings — as advisors to student organizations, sororities, and fraternities; as coaches; as participants in the college band; and as career advisors, mentors, teachers, and more. We have learned firsthand how special McDaniel students are and how much higher our students can climb with the right support.

The impact we each have when we invest in the college goes far beyond providing a particular building, classroom, or laboratory. These gifts of time and treasure make the entire enterprise possible. Tuition alone cannot provide all the resources needed to deliver a top-quality, accessible education.

Your philanthropy and volunteerism are essential for McDaniel College to continue to thrive and be recognized for the variety and excellence of its programs and its ability to change the lives of its students — whether through experiential learning, supporting our distinguished faculty and staff, academic support services, intercollegiate athletics, or the vibrant extracurricular programming that makes students’ time on the Hill so special.

Each of us can do so many things during this campaign to support McDaniel. Whether that’s through philanthropy or volunteerism, we ask our community of alumni and friends to re-engage with McDaniel and provide the critical support needed for the college to reach new heights together.

As co-chairs of Reaching New Heights: The Campaign for McDaniel College, we are asking you to join us in helping to provide new generations of students with even more opportunities to succeed.

DEBBIE DALE SEIDEL ’84 & ETHAN SEIDEL

Co-Chairs of Reaching New Heights: The Campaign for McDaniel College

So many of our memories on the Hill revolve around the time we spent and the people we met here. The Alma Mater says it, but it’s true: “College ties can ne’er be broken.” The memories and relationships made in college stay with us forever. We are confident the Reaching New Heights campaign will help not only financially strengthen the college but also refresh and deepen these memories and relationships — and secure them for future generations of McDaniel students.

Debbie Dale Seidel ’84 And Ethan Seidel are the co-chairs of Reaching New Heights: The Campaign for McDaniel College. Debbie has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2023 and was president of the Alumni Council from 2017-19. She was honored with the College Service Award in 2024. Ethan began working at McDaniel in 1969 as a professor and administrator before retiring in August 2021 as Professor Emeritus of Economics and Business Administration.

The Learning Commons @ Hoover Library

The Learning Commons @ Hoover Library

Home / Archives for tdunsmore / Page 2

CENTRALIZING ACADEMIC SUPPORT

This fall semester, students were welcomed back to the Hill with a new home for student success, academic excellence, and innovation: The Learning Commons @ Hoover Library. The renovations to the library began at the end of the fall 2024 semester with the goal of creating a one-stop shop for all student support needs.

“This innovative hub brings traditional library services together with IT, Student Success and Support, the Writing Center, STEM Center, and Student Accessibility and Support Services in a centralized location,” says Christine Moran, associate vice president of student success. “The convergence of these services provides a thriving ecosystem, streamlining support mechanisms for students, providing a holistic and convenient approach to fostering academic and personal growth, and ultimately equipping students for success.”

These upgraded facilities not only enhance the current student experience but also provide a tangible and compelling representation of the quality of a McDaniel education to prospective students and families who will carry the college’s reputation for academic excellence and innovation into the future.

“The Learning Commons @ Hoover Library represents McDaniel’s commitment to integrated student support and academic excellence,” says Provost Flavius Lilly. “By uniting our key resources and services in one space, we create a collaborative environment that enhances learning and empowers every student to succeed.”

The $3.6 million renovation was supported by donors including current McDaniel trustees Charles A. Boehlke Jr. ’78; Marjorie Rankin Kimble M.Ed. ’86 and Jeffrey Kimble M.Ed. ’84; Millard Mazer ’83; and Robert Pick ’92, P’25; along with James Francis ’84 and the late Jean Andrews Richards ’45 and Donald Richards.

The STEM Center and Learning Commons underscore that all disciplines, methods, cultures, learning styles, and workways are welcome, available, and supported at McDaniel.”

BOB PICK, ’92, P’25, McDANIEL COLLEGE TRUSTEE