UMUC Student Goes Above and Beyond for 'Operation School Supply'

SPC Erika Sides, an active-duty UMUC student currently deployed in Iraq, has gone above and beyond her normal call of duty to help the young students of Iraq. After encountering many children in her local Iraqi school district who didn’t have the necessary money or supplies to attend school, Sides reached out to UMUC Military Advising for advice on how to help these students. Her plea was answered when Military Advising supported her goal by hosting a school supply drive within the university. Several UMUC departments, including Military Advising, School of Undergraduate Studies, Student Affairs, Student Faculty Services, Student Accounts, Student Financial Services, and the Office of Diversity Initiatives, participated in the drive. With their combined efforts, UMUC shipped eight boxes of school supplies to Sides to distribute to the children in need.

Thanks to Sides’ compassion and determination to help, the students in her region will have the supplies needed to continue their education. “I thank [UMUC] and the children will thank them as well. Education is very important to me, and I think everyone deserves a fair chance at it.”

Read Erika Sides' MyUMUC Story.

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UMUC Employees Teamed Up for Operation School Supply

1. Members of Miltary Advising Team, from left to right: Andrew Wilson, Assistant Director; Sarah Annibale, Assistant Director; Sevgi Rochford, Director; Raimonda Nuredini, Advisor Assistant; and Kristine Biado, Administrative Assistant.		2. Sevgi Rochford and Raimonda Nuredini Packing School Supplies for Operation School Supply
3. School Supplies for Children in Iraq		4. Wilson, Nurebini, and Biado with Operation School Supply Boxes
5. Sara Annibale Preparing School Supplies		6. School Supplies