UMUC's Leroy Merritt Center Houses Permanent Collection by Maryland Artist Joseph Sheppard

If you find yourself in the Adelphi, Maryland area, we encourage you to visit the new Leroy Merritt Center for the Art of Joseph Sheppard at the UMUC Inn and Conference Center. Then, share your experiences with us here in the comments.

The new gallery featuring the artwork of Maryland artist Joseph Sheppard opened to the public on Tuesday, April 20, at UMUC. The 5,500 square-foot center houses a collection that Sheppard calls his “best work” and is the first Maryland gallery devoted entirely to a single living artist. Sheppard, a 79-year-old classically trained artist educated at the Maryland Institute College of Art, is regarded as a "master of realism" in a variety of mediums. His work includes a statue of Pope John Paul II by the Baltimore Basilica and portraits of former President George H.W. Bush, Pope Benedict XVI and other international dignitaries. His credo entails a "return to those standards which demand the knowledge of composition, perspective, color, three-dimensional form, draftsmanship and anatomy."

In a Baltimore Sun article previewing the gallery, Eric Key, Director of the University Arts Program, said the gallery "will give scholars and others a chance to study Sheppard's work, including his approach to anatomy, lighting and imagery." Jay Fisher of the Baltimore Museum of Art also commented that he's "not aware of anything comparable" to the Merritt Center. He added, "I think the opportunity to study any artist's work in depth is a rare experience." And, UMUC President Susan C. Aldridge remarked, "given Mr. Sheppard's standing... that honor is richly deserved."

The Leroy Merritt Center is an important addition to UMUC's Arts Program, which already has a large collection of works by Maryland artists. To learn more about the Leroy Merritt Center, Joseph Sheppard or UMUC's other collections, visit the UMUC Arts Program Web site

Take a photo-tour of the Leroy Merritt Center and share your experience.

Navigating Financial Aid: Tips to Help You Get the Money You Need for College

According to College Board's Trends in College Pricing, tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities have risen by an average of 4.9 percent annually over the past decade.

As more students apply for aid to cover rising college prices, learning to navigate your way through the financial aid system will help you avoid delays in getting the money you need. UMUC’s Nasim Keshavarz, Associate Director of Operations and Customer Service, and Frankie Abellano, Associate Director of Scholarships, offered the following tips:

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Whether you’re applying for a scholarship, grant or student loan, you must submit a completed FAFSA to the U.S. Department of Education to be considered for aid. Be sure to list UMUC’s school code, 011644, in Section 5 so that the university receives your FAFSA.

2. Apply early. The U.S. Department of Education processes about 14 million applications for aid each year, and many federal, state and UMUC grants or scholarships are first-come, first-served. To make sure you’re among the first, file your FAFSA as early as possible before UMUC’s established deadlines of June 1 (fall), November 1 (spring), and April 1 (summer). Maryland residents should file their FAFSAs by March 1 to qualify for state aid.

3. Double and triple check your FAFSA before sending. Incorrect or missing information may delay an award decision. Also, be certain to list your name on the FAFSA as it’s listed on your social security card—don’t include suffixes such as Jr., Sr., etc.

4. Read all correspondence you get from the Financial Aid Office and respond immediately to any requests. This will help avoid delays in processing your aid application. Also, keep all of your personal information up to date. This includes your legal name, address, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. If you move, you can submit an “address change” through your MyUMUC account.

Finally, if you have questions or problems, take advantage of UMUC’s Financial Aid Online Support. Browse the Frequently Asked Questions, request a call, e-mail or chat live with a member of the Financial Aid team.

How are you paying for your college education? Share your feedback with us in the comments.