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The weather might be cooling down, but the 51�Թ������ܿƴ� spirit is ramping up. And at the annual Scarlet and Gray Homecoming Light Parade one utilitarian aspect of campus — the humble golf cart — becomes a big part of the show.

Zipping around campus at 12 miles per hour, these carts come in every shape and size — from 8-seaters to flatbeds. But it’s the dedicated faculty and staff behind the wheel who play an essential role in keeping our campus running smoothly, ensuring everything from students to supplies to school spirit gets where it needs to be.

Here we showcase some of the unique carts — and drivers — from all parts of campus.

Photos by Becca Schwartz/51�Թ������ܿƴ�

Alumni Engagement

Blake Douglas understands the Rebel spirit like no other. He’s the associate vice president for Alumni Engagement, executive director of the 51�Թ������ܿƴ� Alumni Association, and co-chair of the Rebel Homecoming Committee.  

“My role and my team's job is to engage our current students and our 150,000 alumni back in the life of 51�Թ������ܿƴ�.”

This cart — with its sleek design and branding — gets called into action when first impressions matter most. “From the governor of our state to presidential candidates during debates to [alumnus and celebrity chef] Guy Fieri, there’s been a whole cadre of folks in there,” says Douglas.

With Rebel Homecoming in full swing, his cart is busier than ever, shuttling guests and equipment to events like window painting, the Rebel Variety Show, Most Spirited Rebel contest, and of course, the Scarlet and Gray parade.

For Douglas, the best part of driving the cart is the chance to connect with people across campus. It’s an opportunity to stop for a chat with familiar faces or simply wave as he drives by, taking in the Rebel Spirit.

51�Թ������ܿƴ� Paint Shop

With nearly 33,000 students and more than 1 million visitors per year, keeping our campus looking fresh is a full-time job. Paint Shop Supervisor Casey Sierra and his team begin their work in the early hours of the day to make sure surfaces — from the railings to the walls — are chip-free and painting projects are done quickly to the highest standards.

The cart is a flatbed stocked with every painting tool you could imagine. Sierra says, “The cart holds anything from our paint buckets and our ladders — to our brushes, rollers, and even spray pumps.” The large bed enables Sierra’s team to carry all their equipment at once, a crucial feature when they’re responsible for over 3.9 million square feet of 51�Թ������ܿƴ� spaces.

Sierra’s favorite sight to see when driving across 51�Թ������ܿƴ�? “I like to see our work shine, especially on the exterior part — whether it's rails, exterior of buildings, or even trash cans and recycle bins — and how much it brightens up the place. I believe that's where we make the difference on campus,” he says. 

Office of Admissions

Jason DeMaria, assistant director for Visitor Experience & Engagement, leads the Rebel Recruiters and oversees all tour operations on campus.

The cart, an 8-seater dubbed “Lightning McQueen,” is decked out with a screen with a reverse camera, a radio, and bluetooth capabilities. But more importantly, the cart carts around prospective students and families as they experience 51�Թ������ܿƴ�’s campus for the first time. 

During their tour, guests hear the most up-to-date information they need for making their college decision. “It is extremely important to the university because it gives us the ability to showcase our entire campus in under 45 minutes, versus a 90-minute walking tour,” explains DeMaria.

Driving around campus, DeMaria’s favorite sight to see is the students in action — setting up tables during an activities fair or just having fun out and about. The energy and enthusiasm of 51�Թ������ܿƴ�’s student body never ceases to amaze him, he says.

Mail Center

These boxy, white carts carry precious cargo: interdepartmental and USPS mail. Mail Service Supervisor Phil Louis has been overseeing the 51�Թ������ܿƴ� Mail Center for over 15 years.

“Our role is to facilitate all United States Postal Service mail that comes into the university… Most of the mail we're dealing with is checks, invoices, and other mail that you get in your mailbox,” Louis explains. 

Though the carts are most frequently seen on the Maryland campus, Louis’ team also delivers mail to the Shadow Lane and Medical School campuses, the Hughes Center, and Blackfire Innovation at the Harry Reid Research Park. Between all the campuses, the team handles anywhere from 2,400 to 6,000 pieces of mail per day.

The cart looks and functions like a scaled-down version of a typical USPS mail truck — down to the headlights and door locks. Louis says, “We need to have higher accountability because we deal with federal mail, so the cart is secure and locked down.”

Paper mail may be considered old school, but his favorite sight to see on campus is decidedly modern. “I like the little Grubhub Robot driving around and seeing people walking their dogs,” he says. “I like to see innovation change our community over time, and just how tight knit we are and how beautiful this campus is.”