Our Chapter

Vision

"Hawks Uplifting, Motivating and Empowering our Alma Mater"

Mission

The UMES Alumni Association is destined to support, uplift, and defend the programs, principles and traditions of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The prevalent presence of the alumni is essential in providing service and financial assistance toward the advancement and welfare of the university.

History

Contents: An Introduction | Chapter on the Move | Moving to the 21st Century | Reflections | Major Accomplishments

An Introduction

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Alumni Association - Baltimore Chapter has a very, very rich history. Our research shows that the first Baltimore Alumni Chapter was formed in the mid 1940s and led by President Edward Wilkins, a 1941 industrial arts graduate of Princess Anne Academy. Mr. Wilkins was employed by the Charles County and Washington County School Systems and later joined the Baltimore City Public School System as a teacher and later in his career as counselor. He worked with the alumni association for several years before the chapter became inactive.

The Baltimore Alumni Chapter was revitalized in 1970 by a group of alumni who had recently graduated from Maryland State College (MSC). According to one of the founders of this group, it was rumored that there was a possibility that the school was closing, therefore this group of alumni unified to support the school. The president was Ellis Boston, a 1967 social science graduate of Maryland State College. He later earned his law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law. He was employed by the Washington, D.C. School System as Director of Labor Relations.

In the mid 1970s George Boston was elected President and Jesse Edwards was his vice president. Mr. Boston was a 1952 graduate of Maryland State College and was employed by the Baltimore City Police Department. He was instrumental in encouraging young alumni to become active in the alumni association. He reigned as president for three years.

Vernon Williams, a 1970 graduate and at the time an employee of the C&P Telephone Company, was elected as the next president of the organization and Jesse Edwards served as his vice president. Mr. Williams was noted for his organizational skills and bringing structure to the organization. During this time the alumni meetings were held at Christ United Methodist Church located at the corner of Chase and Washington Streets in East Baltimore. Mr. Williams was transferred from the area by his employer and Jesse Edwards became president of the alumni association in 1979.

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Chapter on the Move

Jesse Edwards was a 1968 graduate of Maryland State College and a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Mr. Edwards was employed as a Physical Education teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools, a coach, and an adjunct instructor for Baltimore City Community College and Coppin State College. Thomas Frasier served as his vice president. The organization continued to grow under Jesse Edwards' leadership and the regular alumni meetings were later moved to the Kappa House. The Baltimore Alumni Chapter received its official charter from the UMES National Alumni Association under the leadership of Valerie Watts in 1984. Mr. Edwards was instrumental in getting the alumni involved in campus activities, thus the beginning of the well-known, good times bus trips from Baltimore to Princess Anne for homecoming. This tradition still continues today. Jesse Edwards' service as president of the Baltimore Alumni Association spanned ten years.

In 1989 Charles Gregg was the next elected president of the organization. Mr. Gregg was a 1968 biology/chemistry graduate of the university (MSC), and he too was a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Charles Gregg was a business executive employed by the Corning Corporation. Delphine Lee served as his vice president. Through his leadership he brought his business attributes and acumen to the organization and a sense of urgency to achieving the objectives that were established by the organization. One of his major focuses was on giving back to the university. He introduced corporate giving and matching funds, but emphasized giving individually and giving by the Chapter as a whole. He was tenacious in his efforts that the organization operated as a business in order to meet with success, work efficiently and continue its growth. It was under his tenure that the chapter received its 501C3 incorporation status. Thus the official name of the chapter is: The Baltimore Chapter, UMES Alumni Association, Inc.

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Moving to the 21st Century

In 1993 Delphine Lee was elected president and Thomas Frasier served as her vice president. She was a 1970 business education graduate of the university and was employed by the Baltimore City Public School System as teacher, assistant principal and high school principal. Under her leadership the Baltimore Alumni Chapter continued to thrive. As her predecessors, Delphine Lee was task oriented, committed and had a strong sense of urgency to move the chapter forward. During this era the chapter received its Maryland State tax exempt status and worked closely with the National Alumni Association in establishing its (501C3) incorporation status. In support of the National Alumni Association most of the officers and active members of the Baltimore Alumni Chapter became life members of the NAA. Though the chapter is successful in its fundraising activities, one of its greatest highlights during these years was raising over $13,000 in a three month period when UMES was recognized at the Tom Joyner Sky Morning Show. The Baltimore Chapter is always in the mode of giving and helping the university, other chapters, students and a major support to each other. The chapter continues to give monetary gifts every year during the homecoming activities. Additionally, chapter members are always in the posture of recruiting academically sound students to UMES Finally, under the leadership of Delphine Lee the Baltimore Chapter is focused on traveling the technological speedway, thus this new website, and recruiting young alumni to help move the chapter to its next level.

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Reflections

The members of the Baltimore Chapter have been together for decades and work, think, support and love each other as a family. They open their arms and hearts to all Hawks young, and the not so young. Many of the activities and events are often supplemented or solely supported by chapter members' personal funds and finances. Over the years their homes have been freely open to meetings whenever the need arises. This tradition began in the early years and continues today. Meetings have been held at the homes of George Boston, Thomas Frasier, Jesse Edwards, Ardenia Handy, and Delphine Lee. But most of the meetings and parties have been held at the home of Deborah Edwards and the late Corsley Edwards (Punch) to the point that their home was dubbed "the Hawk House". Though regularly scheduled meetings are held in public places, call meetings are still held at someone's home. Our young alumni have already offered their homes as a possible place to meet and it is good to know the Hawk Love and Hawk Spirit will continue to soar.

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Major Accomplishments

1. Established working documents for the Baltimore Chapter: Constitution, Bylaws, and Articles of Incorporation
2. Purchased band uniforms for the UMES Marching Band
3. Given over $40,000 in scholarships to students in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area and Baltimore County
4. Hosted receptions for scholarship recipients
5. Established the UMES Baltimore Chapter Endowment – Market Value of the fund is $30,944.00
6. Given approximately $40,000 over the last ten years to UMES, usually at homecoming.
7. Supports the UMES Jazz Band monetarily when asked
8. Hosted book signing for Dr. William P. Hytche
9. Hosted Welcome Reception for Dr. Thelma B. Thompson
10. Supported the William T. Hytche Legacy Initiative
11. Committed to returning football to UMES, therefore supporters of Hawks for Football
12. Received a $5,000 grant from AAI to increase membership
13. Established two book scholarships per year in the name of Edward Wilkens Scholarship
14. Established one music scholarship per year for four years in the name of Arthur B. Jenkins

Note: Much of the history in this report is documented and much of the information was derived from oral history. The Baltimore Chapter is still in the process of researching and documenting some of the details, therefore updates will be forthcoming.

Baltimore Alumni Chapter Slogan: "Here to Make a Difference"

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