Although they no longer grace us with their presence, we hold them in our hearts and minds as we cherish the memories of the times spent together. We pay tribute to our past CMSE alumni.
For the gift of this life, we thank our creator.
01/17/1931 - 09/27/2021
Mr. Hiram Whittle was the first African American student to enter the University of Maryland at College Park. In 1949, he applied for admission as an engineering student and was denied admission due to his race. In 1951, Mr. Whittle was granted admission to the University of Maryland at College Park, after much persistence; several years of legal action; a petition to Baltimore City court; and assistance from the NAACP. As UMD’s first African American undergraduate student, Mr. Whittle pursued coursework in Engineering Mechanics and Drawing, Sociology, Government and Politics. He left the university in June 1952 without completing his degree. Mr. Hiram Whittle was awarded a UMD Honorary Degree in 2020.