COLLEGE PARK, Md. (7News) — One University of Maryland (UMD) student could win a semester of tuition during Saturday’s football game against Illinois.
UMD is holding a student tuition raffle during its Oct. 31 home game at SECU Stadium as the university looks to encourage students to fill the stands and stay through the final quarter.
The winner will receive an award worth up to the cost of in-state undergraduate standard tuition for the spring 2027 semester.
Students must claim a student ticket, scan it upon entering the stadium and complete an entry form through a QR code displayed on the stadium video board at halftime.
SEE ALSO | College Park’s Cornerstone Grill faces 90-day liquor license suspension
The raffle is open to current full-time UMD College Park students. Undergraduates must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours, while graduate students must meet the university’s stated full-time enrollment requirement.
Students in their final semester may qualify with a reduced course load if they are enrolled in all courses required to complete their degree. The award for eligible students enrolled less than full-time will be adjusted accordingly.
Current student-athletes and immediate family members of current student-athletes are not eligible.
Each student may enter once.
Rachel Palmer, UMD’s assistant athletic director for fan development and event marketing, said the raffle is intended to encourage student attendance throughout the game.
“The Student Tuition Raffle has been in the works for a few months now and we’re really excited for it to all come together ahead of Saturday’s football game. Our motivation was to create a ‘wow’ giveaway that would entice student attendance at the game and encourage them to stay all four quarters,” Palmer said. The student body creates a meaningful impact inside SECU Stadium on gameday and this raffle should encourage even more to come out on Halloween. We’re encouraged by the positive response and are eager to announce a winner on Saturday!”
Students who spoke with 7News Wednesday morning in College Park had mixed reactions to the offer.
“I think it’s amazing. I’m gonna go. I’m gonna stay,” said Alex Ragsdale, a freshman. “Free tuition sounds incredible.”
Ragsdale said he already attends games regularly, though he acknowledged the team’s recent losing streak has sometimes made it harder to stay until the end.
For sophomore Theo Levering, the offer could be a major opportunity, but the team’s performance could be a factor.
“I think it could be a really, really good opportunity if you need free tuition,” Levering said. “But staying for the whole game, you know, in the state our team’s in, I don’t know about that.”
Freshman Shai Lichtenberg called the raffle a good incentive, even though he does not plan to participate himself.
“I think it’s a great chance for people to win the ability to get free tuition for the spring,” Lichtenberg said. “It’s a little incentive to stay longer, so it’s cool.”
Five finalists will be selected and brought onto the field, where one winner will be chosen, according to the raffle details.
This post was originally published on Fox 45 by Sinclair Media Group.
Local Story
