May 7, 2025 - Looking Back Guide

The University of Maryland’s Independent Student Newspaper

THE DIAMONDBACK

Looking back guide 2025

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Table of contents

CONTENTS 3 Commencement Schedule 4 Ode to UMD 5

Kermit commencement speaker reactions

6 Senior reflections 7 Senior ‘Pogo stick guy’ FULLY UPDATED AND EDITED BY: Founded 1910, independent since 1971.

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TESTUDO HUGS graduates during the University of Maryland spring commencement ceremony on May 20, 2022. (Riley Sims /The Diamondback)

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commencement schedule

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Commencement Schedule The University of Maryland’s 2025 main commencement will be held on Wednesday, May 21 in SECU Stadium. Guests will be allowed to enter once the gates open at 5 p.m. the student processional is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Each graduate from the summer 2024, fall 2024 and spring 2025 semesters are allowed one personal ticket and six guest tickets at the main commencement ceremony. Tickets are required to enter the event. Children two and under do not require a ticket. The ceremony will also be live-streamed for those that cannot attend in-person.

This year, guests will be required to adhere to a clear bag policy. Tote bags must be no larger than 12” x 6” x 12”, while clutches are limited to a maximum 4.5” by 6.5”. Purses, backpacks and other bags are prohibited from entering the venue.

Campus parking will be free from May 20 to May 23, but this university warns that local construction could cause traffic delays in the area.

ADELE H. STAMP MEMORIAL AWARD Konchok Chophel

LA RAZA UNIDA AWARD Alexa Figueroa

MODEL CITIZENSHIP PRIZES & ELKINS FINALISTS AND MEMBERS OF THE MARYLAND MEDALLION SOCIETY Reese Artero Carter Austin Yara Ayache Hannah Breslau Christopher Celarie Jhennifer Celestino Alva Sophia D’Alonzo Lily Fleischmann Sarang Han Erika Holdren Jahnavi Kirkire Rhiannon Little Abigail Manga Mason Minus Alyssa Orlando Bryant Rivera Cortez Robin Schlesinger Helen Wang Xiao-Lian Warren Kaitlyn Zhou

LINDA CLEMENT OUTSTANDING ADVISOR AWARD Rosemary D. L. Sutter

MODEL CITIZENSHIP PRIZES Yara Ayache Jahnavi Kirkire WILSON H. ELKINS AWARD Reese Artero CAMILLE K. RAJPAT MEMORIAL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY STUDENT JUDICIARY Cassie Laguerre

All graduates are required to wear regalia to the ceremony. Cap decorating is allowed.

For tickets, details and more information about this university’s 2025 commencement, visit commencement.umd.edu.

MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE AWARD Autumn K. Ballard MILDRED & RICHARD LOVING AWARD Melania Driver OMICRON DELTA KAPPA AWARDS TOP TEN FRESHMEN Edwin Cao SriMahi Ghorakavi Braylen Haynes Aine Heron Miles Hubbard Barbara Kaczmarek Riya Khatri Arjun Mohan Taryn Reinhart Priya Tyagi SOPHOMORE LEADER OF THE YEAR Uchechi Mba OUTSTANDING GRADUATE STUDENT ASSEMBLY MEMBER AWARD Nora Shayne E Jameson RESIDENT ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR AWARD Shalom Tsegaye SARAH WINNEMUCCA AWARD Abigail Hardy

CHRISTOPHER CAREY CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD Elise Roen

SPIRIT OF MARYLAND AWARD Jahnavi Kirkire Mason Minus

COL. J. LOGAN SCHUTZ ODK LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD Alyssa Orlando

STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARDS Emma DeBerdine Jaxon Smith

GREEK LEADER OF THE YEAR Jennifer Yeon

In case of a weather delay, this university will move the ceremony to Thursday, May 22, retaining the same hours from the original date.

LORDE – O’LEARY AWARD Allison Li

JAMES H. KEHOE & ETHEL KESLER AWARD Kaylin Baumiller JAMES OTIS WILLIAMS CULTURAL LEADERSHIP AWARD Rhiley Jones JOHN B. SLAUGHTER OUTSTANDING SENIOR AWARD Afia Obeng KIRWAN AWARD Dhruvak Mirani

STUDENT WELLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY AWARD Kathryn Wolfthal THE WILLIAM L. THOMAS STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION AWARD Reese Artero UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GRADUATE STUDENT DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD M Pease (Doctoral) Ciara Kyler (Masters) VERA CRUZ-KOCHIYAMA AWARD Imaan Shikoh

UMD honored outstanding students, faculty and staff on May 4, 2025 at the 44th Annual University Student Leadership Awards Banquet.

We congratulate them on their outstanding contributions!

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Ode to the University of Maryland

ODE TO UMD

By Jade Tran I Diversions editor I’ll miss the swarms of red, yellow and black splashed across hoodies, hats and sweatpants on the way to class, a not-sosubtle reminder that I attend the University of Maryland.

I’ll miss yelling the occasionally expletive-filled insults to the opposing team at football games.

And I’ll miss the smell of freshly cooked dining hall food, especially when I walked nearly a mile to get the closest thing to the college version of Michelin-star dining. Shoutout Yahentamitsi Dining Hall.

I won’t forget the electric scooter handlebar bell’s threatening ring as it sped past me on the way to exams, or the alarm test that pierced the air at exactly 11:55 a.m. on the first Wednesday of every month.

And I won’t forget the Shuttle-UM buses, delayed, absent or skidding by, barely audible over the nonstop Purple Line construction noise.

I’ll miss it all.

After years of cramming myself into a shoebox-sized room with a roommate or two, I learned to find solace in the little things. On a campus of 40,000 people or more, the chaos and comfort sticks. I can’t help but let them stain my memory for as long as I can.

I hope they stain forever.

It all forms a messy, beautiful puzzle of invaluable joy from four short years — memories that I’m begging myself

never to forget.

I don’t want to let go of the little, seemingly annoying things, not because they’ll add flair to the stories I’ll tell my kids one day, but because they’re charmingly tied to the people I love most.

The Maryland merch reminds me of my roommate and the black “UMD” sweatshirt she wore constantly, the aggressive chants of “Fuck Penn State” from high school friends I traveled to college with and the shared dining hall meals with my sophomore-year roommates, some of whom now share an ‘1106’ tattoo with me on our right arms, permanently marking the time we spent in our Charles Hall suite.

Every part of these four years, the good, bad and ugly, is balanced with a delicate memory, and every memory is tied to someone I love, on a campus I’m heartbroken to leave.

Among those memories are the softer ones, the ones from McKeldin Mall, the heart of our campus.

We chased 70-degree days in shorts and tank tops, laughter carried on the breeze.

We stretched out on itchy grass that pokes through carefully-placed blankets, surrounded by lovers, friends, foes and even past versions of ourselves. Most wear headphones, but somehow it always feels like we’re listening to the same playlist.

Even beyond the evergreen friendships and mall grass, I

POST-BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS Complete graduate school prerequisites: Science in the Evening Hearing and Speech in the Evening

postbacc.umd.edu EXTENDED STUDIES | exst.umd.edu

found a quiet connection on the benches at the Memorial Chapel, shaded by a sweeping willow tree.

Beneath each bench are handheld journals filled with pages of thoughts from people I may never meet.

I wrote in nearly every journal and found comfort in that shared, anonymous space. I read about someone’s failed exam and about breakups that shattered someone’s world, and the hopeful words they left behind for an ex.

There was community, unspoken but deeply felt.

Being a senior feels a lot like the bridge in “Ribs” by Lorde, like the fleeting breeze that brushes across scattered blankets on McKeldin Mall, like the blur of faces you pass every day on a commute to class.

And suddenly you realize you’ll never see them again.

Being a senior feels terrifying, but this university is a forever kind of home. It’s not just the basketball games, tailgates or the matching Terrapin Red jerseys that keep us connected.

It’s the quiet moments, when time slows down and everyone shares a slice of their world.

That’s what makes this place worth remembering. That’s what makes it worth shedding a tear over when I toss my cap in the air.

And for everyone walking the stage: slow down, appreciate the beautiful chaos of it all. Let it stain your memory, too.

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Kermit announcement reaction

‘Goofy’ or ‘a Maryland institution’: UMD students react to Kermit as commencement speaker

By Oliver Mack and Katherine Schutzman | Staff writers

University of Maryland students are excited and confused about the March 26 announcement that Kermit the Frog will address graduates at the 2025 commencement ceremony.

Kermit was first introduced by university alum Jim Henson in 1955 and is part of The Muppets, a musical ensemble of fictional characters. Matt Vogel, Kermit’s puppeteer since 2017, is expected to voice and perform the character at commencement, according to The Guardian.

“It’s very exciting,” senior physiology and neurobiology major Jonah Goldfarb said. “Kermit the Frog is a Maryland institution.”

Some students were intrigued by the announcement, while others debated the value of

having a puppet address the graduating class.

Senior aerospace engineering major Nico Lussier said he grew up watching movies and television shows featuring Kermit. He expects the puppet may discuss graduates’ “journey in life” and “always having hope and looking forward and looking for the positive things.”

“This is a character that’s been a part of my childhood,” Lussier said. “Hopefully, it’ll be an uplifting message.”

Henson introduced Kermit when he was a student at this university and went on to create numerous characters featured in The Muppets and Sesame Street before his death in 1990.

Senior government and politics major Riley

A Statue of kermit sits in front of Stamp Student Union on March 31, 2025. (Alexa Yang/The Diamondback)

Lowther, who sometimes watched The Muppets Show with his parents, said he was surprised by the choice and a bit disappointed at first. His immediate reaction was that having a puppet as a commencement speaker is silly and pointless.

“As it’s gone on, I actually kind of think it’s fun because, you know, it’s unique,” Lowther said.

Sophomore information science major Guy Saltsman said while he would enjoy attending this year’s commencement ceremony to see Kermit in action, he would not be satisfied if he were the one graduating.

“It’s a bit too goofy,” Saltsman said. “Having someone that comes out of [this university] and doing something more influential with their life might be more beneficial because they’ll have a more creative speech.”

Senior Jack Collier recognized that some of his peers were disappointed by the announcement. People may have wanted a more traditional speaker as opposed to a puppet, he said.

But Collier thinks that Kermit’s address is a unique tribute to this university’s history and will be a memorable experience.

“I don’t think any other person will have a Muppet as their commencement speaker,” the finance and information systems major said.

Senior neuroscience major Abem Addis said he thinks Kermit will give a comedic commencement speech worth going to.

“I was debating even going to the main commencement, but now I feel like I should, just because I want to experience this,” Addis said.

“It should be good.”

Students also speculated about the logistics of having a puppet speak on stage. Some anticipate that Kermit’s puppeteer will be hidden on stage.

Senior psychology and anthropology major Chiara Sforza said she thought the puppeteer would be hidden under a table or tarp, with Kermit sticking out on top.

“If I could actually see Kermit, the actual Muppet, speaking, and they do it right, I think it’s gonna be really great,” Collier said. “If it’s some video screen or AI thing on the screen, I think it’s gonna be terrible.”

senior reflections

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Seniors reflect on their time at UMD

By Keira Hardesty I Staff writer With graduation just a few weeks away, seniors are beginning to reminisce on their time here at the University of Maryland.

Four graduating students gave The Diamondback a sneak peek into their experience at this university. From cherished memories to words of advice, they were eager to share how this university changed their lives.

Jessica Kalmowitz Kalmowitz, a communication major, started her freshman year knowing no one. She became even more nervous when she found out she’d be living in Kent Hall, a suite style dorm on South Campus, instead of one of the high rise dorms that typically house freshmen.

When her and her roommates needed help putting up LED lights during move-in, they decided to knock on the door across the hall to ask the boys living there for help.

From that moment on, Kalmowitz had a friend group, one she described as similar to the titular 20-somethings in Friends.

“It was us against the world, and we did friendsgiving together, we went ice skating together, we literally did everything together,” she said.

While half of the group has already graduated, Kalmowitz continues to remain in touch with all of them, and has this university to thank for these lifelong friendships.

Her advice to younger students is to take advantage of the resources the school offers, whether that be through the career center, academic advisors or platforms such as Handshake, which helps students find jobs and internships.

After graduation, Kalmowitz plans to stay in

Senior communication major Jessica Kalmowitz stands in front of a tree located next to the chapel on April 24, 2025. (Clare roth/The Diamondback)

Washington, D.C. for a few weeks to attend a music festival, before embarking on a monthlong trip through Southern Europe.

Hall said she’ll miss the campus and the friends she’s made from her time here. After graduation, she plans to paint professionally and work in art museums.

Olivia Benevento “I would say Maryland has really impacted pretty much every facet of my life, and I’ve seen myself grow as a person in so many ways,” said Benevento, a criminology and criminal justice and psychology major.

Some of her favorite memories come from being a tour guide, an experience that helped her overcome her fear of public speaking and gain confidence in herself. Interacting with prospective students and families has been a highlight of her time at this university, she said.

Taking classes and joining clubs at this university also helped her realize her passion for victim advocacy. Students should push themselves to get involved and make an impact on campus, because putting yourself out there can help you learn more about yourself, she said.

“I realized that I could tackle different issues and different life challenges,” Benevento said.

After graduation, she will be exploring various state parks before working as a paralegal in Washington, D.C.

Jasmine Hall As a transfer student from community college, Hall, an American studies and studio art major, wasn’t sure she’d like Maryland due to its large size.

A favorite memory from being at this university was attending the First Look Fair, which made her feel like she was in the movie Pitch Perfect. Being able to take specific and fun classes that she wasn’t able to take at community college was another highlight, she said.

Hall said her time at this university taught her to be bolder.

“I think I was so used to being like, ‘OK, if something’s difficult, or if I don’t feel like it’s easy to talk to somebody I should just not.’ And I think being in like, a big environment like this … I feel like that was good for me,” said Hall.

Her advice to younger students is “you get out what you put in.” She said students should develop relationships with professors and work hard on projects, because it will make you more excited about your classes.

Jasmine Hall, a senior studying American studies and studio art, poses for a portrait near the Memorial Chapel on April 25, 2025. (Sam Cohen/The Diamondback)

Arsalan Siddiqui Siddiqui has spent the past six years at this university and will be completing his master’s degree in bioengineering this semester.

He described his time at this university as “absolutely phenomenal.”

Siddiqui was able to form long-lasting friendships while being a part of the Muslim Student Association on campus, which he was a member of for all six years.

He served as the president of the University System of Maryland Student Council, where he was able to build his confidence, leadership and public speaking skills. He was also able to initiate a scholarship for graduate and undergraduate students that he still helps to oversee.

After college Siddiqui will be working at a company he co-founded with the Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices during his time as a student, where he will be developing a medical device that helps patients after they have their esophagus removed.

His advice for younger students is to branch out and to prioritize academics while also giving yourself grace during times of difficulty.

“Don’t be afraid to try new things,” Siddiqui said. “Try your best to jump outside of your comfort zone and make the most out of your time.”

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pogo stick guy

Meet ‘Pogo Stick Guy’: How Ajitesh Kaladi bounced his way to campus fame

By Emely Miranda-Aguilar | Diversions reporter Ajitesh Kaladi has been “jaunting” — his term for bouncing from place to place on a pogo stick — since childhood.

After seeing his neighbors with a pogo stick, he used his birthday money to buy one at Kmart. As he got older, he pushed himself further, eventually pogo-ing all the way to his high school and back.

Now, the senior immersive design major prefers to jaunt around campus in his free time.

He’s often referred to as the “Pogo Stick Guy,” and as his campus fame grew — especially after appearing in a Barstool Maryland post that garnered more than one million likes — Kaladi began experiencing social anxiety from being recognized, stared at or filmed.

“Over time, you just learn to not care.

It’s not easy,” Kaladi said. “It’s easy for me to say now, but during the time, before I would go pogo for like 10 to 15 minutes, my

heart would just be pounding. But the thing is, as soon as I start jumping, the anxiety just goes away.”

Camryn Streib, who graduated from this university last spring, met Kaladi through their immersive media design major.

Streib recalled a project he once did on pogo-ing and virtual reality.

“I’ll see [him] on like Barstool UMD or something, and then I’m like, ‘That’s my friend, AJ,’” Streib said. “There’s tons of comments about it, and people think it’s really cool and funny, so I think that it’s fun that he’s kind of become a name around campus.”

Looking to find a community on campus, Kaladi joined this university’s skateboarding club. But because pogo-ing is less common in the area, he also started posting on his social media accounts to connect with others who share his passion.

When he attended Pogopalooza, the

Ajitesh Kaladi, a senior immersive media design major, rubs Testudo’s nose by jumping with his pogo stick on Feb. 19, 2025. (Sam Cohen/The Diamondback)

Ajitesh Kaladi, a senior immersive media design major, jumps with his pogo stick on McKeldin Mall on Feb. 19, 2025. (Sam Cohen/The Diamondback) pogo world championships, for the first time, people recognized his face and name, and he found the community to be super welcoming.

Kaladi placed 10th in last year’s competition in Pittsburgh, despite having a fever.

He plans to return this year, train more consistently and build confidence for the competition in June.

“These are like the top talent, the people who are professionals travel the world doing halftime shows at big games, but they knew me even though I had like 100 or 200 followers, and they have like 1000s or like 100,000,” Kaladi said. “It didn’t really matter. They just knew me as a person, and I thought that was really special.”

Another of Kaladi’s friends, Oliver D’Esposito, a junior computer science major, first heard about “Pogo Stick Guy” during the pandemic and met Kaladi a few months later through Startup Shell, the student-run coworking space and incubator at this university that fosters entrepreneurship. He didn’t realize they were the same person until later.

“I knew the legend of him,” D’Esposito said. “It’s pretty cool. He’s really passionate about it and … you don’t realize there’s kind of a whole world of people who compete

with it, and it’s like a hobby and there’s all these really cool, different tricks and stuff.”

When he’s not on a pogo stick, Kaladi explores his other interests in design and technology. He initially experimented with mechanical engineering and computer science before settling on immersive media design — telling his mom it was “computer science with art.”

Kaladi combined his love for pogo-ing and product design by creating custom handles for his pogo stick using BMX handlebars to help keep his back straight and help his endurance. He also hopes to design his own pogo stick someday.

For now, though, he sticks to jaunting around campus in comfy cotton t-shirts.

Kaladi said pogo-ing is a good way to clear his head.

“You’re giving it your 100 percent,” he said. “You’re not thinking about anything except for being in the moment.”

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated that Pogopalooza was in Philadelphia. It took place in Pittsburgh.

This story has been updated.