Celebrating Transformational Investment at the Second Annual “Investing in Excellence” Event

Investments in scholarships transform lives. It was a sentiment shared by speakers throughout the night during the second annual Investing in Excellence event, held April 21, 2026, at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center.

The event celebrated donors and scholarship recipients from the Robert H. Smith School of Business. Students were able to meet, sometimes for the first time, the philanthropists behind their scholarships.

“For those of you who have made that investment and established scholarships, your impact extends far beyond a single student,” said Rebecca Kier, senior director of development. “You are shaping futures. You are creating opportunity. And you are building a legacy that will live on through generations of Smith students.”

Dean Prabhudev Konana shared that in the fall of 2025, Smith welcomed the largest freshman class ever and awarded over $6 million in undergraduate and graduate scholarships, including those through the Maryland Promise Scholarship Program.

“That growth reflects the momentum we are building together, and I am thrilled that we have surpassed last year’s contributions,” Konana added.

“This is not just philanthropy—it’s a shared investment in opportunity, in leadership, and in the future we are building together,” said Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice.

During dinner, guests heard from student and alumni speakers who talked about the power of philanthropy. Senior Julion Harris ’26, a Management and Marketing double major, spoke about the importance of community and how his scholarship helped him be an active participant in the Smith community. 

“I have been able to help welcome students into this school, represent Smith to prospective families, mentor others as they begin their college journey, and create spaces where students feel seen and supported,” he said. “Those moments may seem small on the surface, but they matter.”

“Success here does not have to be individual,” Harris added. “It can be shared and a collaborative effort. It can look like opening the door for the next person and making sure they know they belong in the room too.”

Alumna Efia Ofosu-Ntiamoah ’20, MS in Accounting ’21, was able to continue to pursue her ambitions because of the scholarship she received.  

“That scholarship didn’t just fund my education — it shifted my trajectory. It was like someone tapping me on the shoulder, saying, ‘I believe in you. Keep going,’” she told the audience. Today, Ofosu-Ntiamoah is an assistant vice president at The Harbor Bank of Maryland, where she leads the bank’s vendor management program and initiatives that strengthen governance, operational resilience and risk management practices. 

Alumna Lisa Kidd Hunt ’97 said investing in excellence is an important part of her and her husband Jim’s philanthropy. “Julion represents the promise and potential of our current students, and Efia shows us what’s possible when that promise is fully realized.”

Hunt received her bachelor’s degree in finance with an emphasis in economics from the Smith School. She is an active and dedicated volunteer, serving not only on the Dean’s Board of Advisors, but also on the University of Maryland College Park Foundation Board of Trustees and the University System of Maryland Foundation Board of Directors. She is currently the managing director and head of international services with Charles Schwab.

“For me, Maryland was more than an education. It was a community that gave me my family, my confidence, and my courage,” Hunt said. “And that’s why I believe investing in excellence starts right here—with us.”