Celebrating Alumni Engagement 

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is a public research university located in the suburban community of Catonsville, just outside Baltimore, Maryland. Established in 1966, UMBC has grown into a leading institution renowned for its rigorous academic programs, innovative research, and commitment to inclusive excellence. 

The UMBC Office of Alumni Engagement fosters meaningful connections between alumni and the university by creating opportunities for involvement, celebration, and lifelong support.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) hosted its annual Alumni Holiday Party at the Chancellor’s Mansion—a celebration designed to foster alumni connection, elevate school pride, and spark momentum around UMBC’s upcoming giving campaign. 3 Pillars Co. was brought on to lead the experience design and activations for this special event, ensuring every touchpoint felt personal, festive, and purposeful.

• Curate engaging alumni-focused experiences that reflect the diversity and vibrancy of the UMBC community
• Celebrate alumni-owned and local businesses through collaborative activations
• Capture authentic alumni stories to support a strategic university giving campaign
• Create a cohesive winter-themed event atmosphere within a historic venue

• Experiential Design Strategy
• Vendor Sourcing and Coordination
• Thematic Activation Planning
• Creative Direction and Onsite Management

Mocktail Bar Experience

Powered by Stursi, a Black woman-owned alumni business, the bar featured festive non-alcoholic beverages served in custom glassware designed by Fully Promoted Arbutus. This station honored alumni entrepreneurship while creating a warm, inclusive beverage option.

Shop Stursi here.

Cookie Jar Bar

Guests decorated their own holiday cookie jars, filling them with a selection of sweets from Artis Cakes & Creations, a local woman-owned bakery. This DIY-style activation offered a nostalgic, hands-on moment that guests could take home.

Alumni Voices Storytelling & Photo Station

A thoughtful, high-impact activation, this station invited attendees to share memories and stories about their time at UMBC. Louis Tinsley Photography captured testimonials and portraits, later used to kick off a university-wide giving campaign that centered alumni impact and legacy.

View the final campaign video here. 

To bring the winter celebration to life, 3 Pillars Co. collaborated with Revolution Events for seasonal decor elements. Elegant lighting, winter greenery, and warm lounge vignettes transformed the Chancellor’s Mansion into a cozy, holiday-ready space that encouraged connection and reflection.

Rather than simply hosting a seasonal celebration, UMBC leveraged the party as a dynamic engagement touchpoint. 3 Pillars Co. saw an opportunity to seamlessly blend tradition, community storytelling, and campaign readiness into a multi-sensory alumni experience.

• Deepened alumni engagement through meaningful activations and storytelling
• Featured and supported multiple alumni- and woman-owned local businesses
• Captured compelling video and photo content that directly supported UMBC’s giving campaign launch
• Created an elevated, memorable atmosphere that resonated across generations of alumni

Through intentional experience design, strategic partnerships, and alumni-centered programming, 3 Pillars Co. helped UMBC transform its annual holiday party into a launchpad for connection, celebration, and institutional advancement.

Project Credits

Client – University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Office of Alumni Engagement

Year of Completion – 2024

Focus – Holiday Party

Services – Graphic Design, Experiential Production, Event Management, Vendor Management

Project Team – Lois Sarfo-Mensah, Mary Marcum

Vendor Team – Revolution Events, Louis Tinsley Photography, Stursi Mocktails, Artis Cakes and Creations, Fully Promoted Arbutus