The Shriver Center has given a whole new meaning to the phrase “a public university.” Named in honor of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver, the Shriver Center has helped UMBC establish unprecedented University-community partnerships, by drawing on the resources of higher education to develop creative solutions to complex social problems.

The Shriver Center’s Executive Director John Martello has been one of the the campus’s leading advocates for service-learning projects and an energetic proponent of the engaged university, drawing students, faculty, and community members together to address issues ranging from childhood lead poisoning to juvenile delinquency, truancy, and school drop-out. More than 1,000 UMBC students annually are placed in internships and service-learning positions through its initiatives, including the nationally acclaimed Choice Programs for at-risk youth.

The Shriver Center is also home to several scholarship programs, including the France- Merrick Scholarship Program, the Governor’s Summer Intership Program, the Maryland Department of Transportation Fellows Internship Program, and the Pfizer Scholarship Program. Additionally, the center oversees the Young Scholars Program for exceptional pre-college-age students who attend UMBC.

On the graduate level, the center operates the Shriver Peaceworker Program, which through study, community service, and ethical reflection, enables former Peace Corps volunteers to adapt their third-world experiences to the challenges of urban America.

Since its founding in 1993, the Shriver Center has grown to include a staff of more than 300, with programs in 13 field offices across Maryland and in 10 other states.

More information about the Shriver Center may be found on its Web site: www.umbc.edu/shriver.