By Jennifer Baxter

Stay updated on campus news with our most recent edition of TOP-SHELLF.

Campus community honors life of Chester Brandon after fatal collision 

By Clare Roth 

On Oct. 31, University of Maryland student Chester Brandon who was a junior information systems major, died after a car collided with him as he walked near 3300 Bladensburg Road in Prince George’s County.

As the vice president of Pi Sigma Epsilon, a technology committee member for the Robert H. Smith School of Business’ Undergraduate Student Association and the dance captain of GGWB, Brandon was very involved in the UMD community.

“He really lived his life, and … he really did everything to the fullest. I’ve never met someone like him who was so enthusiastic to do all these different things,” Esther Hong, a junior finance and supply chain major and friend of Brandon’s, said.

A memorial was held on Nov. 5 in the Art and Sociology Building to honor Brandon’s life, and floating lanterns were released in the Omicron Delta Kappa fountain. This allowed Brandon’s loved ones and members of the community to mourn his loss. Many UMD students attended, such as Maahe Kunvar, a junior public health science major.

“So many students came … to be there in memory of him. I think seeing that for me was really beautiful … I don’t think it really processed for me until I saw that,” Kunvar said. 

Four pre-professional business fraternities will be giving their semester-based charity funds to VIVA School of Dance, a charity selected by Brandon’s mother.The fundraiser will be a 5K run at Lake Artemesia on Nov. 23.

Divine Creations: How One Student Started a Nail Service for Her Peers

By Elizabeth Faragi

Divine Creations, a nail business started by University of Maryland sophomore Ava Strawther during the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to flourish after celebrating its one year anniversary in October. 

Strawther began her business as a freshman at UMD with the intent of spreading her love of self-care to students on campus, offering gel-x manicures and other forms of nail art to her customers.

Strawther’s instagram showcases her nail art and serves as a reference to her work for customers to view before booking an appointment.before customers decide to book an appointment. Through word of mouth and self-promotion, Divine Creations has become a thriving business for Strawther, who is a marketing major at UMD. Her brand ambassador, Siena Matthews, a sophomore public health major, helps to speed up the promotion process as well. 

“I repost certain promotions on my social media,” Matthews said. “I consistently see her and give her updates on what people are saying, events that are going on where she can do nails so that she can grow herself in her business.” 

Strawther hopes to open her own spa in order to promote self-care.She wants to create a peaceful environment for clients to get the full experience of relaxation when getting their nails done. 

“Divine Creations is beyond nails, it’s all about self-care,” Strawther said. “We need some love, we need self-care. It’s hard to give yourself a break. That’s what I want Divine Creations to be all about.”

Featured Image: McKeldin Mall on a fall day in Nov. 2024. Photo by Anika Stikeleather.