Barry and Mary Gossett (right) have passionately embraced the vision of Maryland Athletics, as well as the rise of the University of Maryland. In addition to Barry serving in many leadership roles at the university, significant gifts from the Gossetts have led to the construction of the Gossett Academic Support and Career Development Unit in the Comcast Center, and the recent expansion of the Gossett Football Team House. The academic support unit (shown below) offers Terrapin student athletes the latest technological aides to further their academic success.

Robert Taylor Jr., a pharmacist who also runs his family's farm near Spotsylvania, Va., recently made a significant gift to name the new softball facility in honor of his father, Robert Taylor Sr., and his son, Robert Taylor III. Taylor has been an avid Terrapin fan since the early 1980s, and is proud of touting all that Maryland has accomplished, both on and off the playing field.

As you are already aware, participation in intercollegiate athletics at the University of Maryland is a time-honored tradition that promotes leadership and character development in our student athletes, serves as a catalyst for building Terrapin pride and spirit among our alumni and friends, and enhances the quality of life for our students, faculty, staff and the larger community.

During the Great Expectations campaign, Maryland Athletics will seek to raise a total of $133 million to:

• enhance and improve competition, practice and training facilities for a number of our teams
• fund annual scholarships for student athletes
• endow student athlete scholarships, coaching
• positions and team

Currently, the University of Maryland has more than 700 student athletes competing in Division 1-A sports. Our 27 varsity sports consider themselves as one team, a unified force that advances the proud legacy of Maryland Athletics. This legacy includes 39 national championship teams, 26 individual national champions, nearly 500 All Americans and 25 Olympians.