Are you a University of Maryland alum who likes to read? Join the Terp Summer Reading Challenge!

The University of Maryland Alumni Association is putting on yet another Terp Summer Reading Challenge! The event runs from Sunday, June 1st through Sunday, August 31st, 2025.

I’ve had a ton of fun participating over the past few years. This year, there are several exciting new updates:

• more prizes!
• a catalog of Terp-authored reads (I’ve been hopeful for this!)
• a “Book It” style program so you can earn a slice or two (this brings back good nostalgia)

I definitely participated in the “Book It” challenge when I was younger. During this year’s Terp Summer Reading Challenge, if you tag the alumni association on social media (@maryland_alumni) with your current read, you will enter a raffle to win one of fifteen $50 Ledo pizza gift cards.

By officially registering for the event, you’ll receive some snail-mail with a Terp shell bingo board and a UMD branded bookmark! If you register for the event by May 15th, you’ll receive your packet of materials by the beginning of June. If you register after May 15th, you should receive the packet no later than June 15th.

To participate, you’ll keep track of the books you read through the Terp shell bingo board/reading log. Mark off a category correlated to your book after you finish reading. One book can count for up to two bingo board sections. After you have at least five categories marked off, you can submit your board for the raffle. (And if you’re an Alumni Association member, you get a free space in the shell’s center!)

Make sure to enter for your chance to win prior via submitting your shell bingo board via this Google form by August 31st, 2025! You can also gain extra raffle entries if you:

• post a picture of you reading this summer, your Terp shell bingo board, or bookmark on social media using the hashtag #TerpsRead and/or #TerpSummerReadingChallege (and tag @maryland_alumni)
• refer a friend to join in on the summer reading challenge fun

The top prize winner will receive a Kindle! Five second-prize winners will receive a $25 UMD Bookstore gift card. Twenty-five third-prize willers will receive a free copy of this year’s Freshman Reading Book (which will be announced soon).