By Sophia Herndon
University of Maryland students took a break from schoolwork to gather on the front lawn of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union on Tuesday to pet bunnies and enjoy the blooming flowers. Hundreds of students lined up over the course of two hours, waiting for their turn.
Students dealing with exams and a heavy workload said the event, which was organized by Stamp’s Events and Programs team, allowed them to enjoy the spring weather.
Freshman architecture major Bella Mendell said she appreciated finding time to hang out with friends and relax with the bunnies during an “overly stressful” week.
Mendell said she found the event on Instagram and had planned with her friends so they could participate together.
After waiting in line with a large crowd, she and her friends were able to pet the bunnies. Stamp also provided flower pillows for the students to put on their laps, so the bunnies could cuddle up with them without scratching.
There were freshly bloomed daffodils and tulips on Stamp’s front lawn for students and staff to admire. Many students posed for photos with the bunnies and photographed the nearby flowers.
Teddy the Terp, the University of Maryland Police Department’s comfort dog, also joined the event to interact with students who were waiting in line to see the bunnies.
A pair of rabbits, one tortoiseshell and one solid black, share a quiet moment in the grass before Stamp’s Bunnies and Blooms event. Photo by Miller Rogers-Tetrick. 
A ring of students gets to pet several bunnies at Stamp’s Bunnies and Blooms event. Photo by Miller Rogers-Tetrick. 
Students gather on a sunny afternoon outside the Adele H. Stamp Student Union, waiting for their turn to join Stamp’s Bunnies and Blooms event. Photo by Miller Rogers-Tetrick. 
One tortoiseshell rabbit rests on the lawn of Adele H. Stamp Student Union. Photo by Miller Rogers-Tetrick.
Stephanie Casimiro, a freshman marketing major, heard about the event through a friend and decided to come before class to see the bunnies and interact with nature.
“It’s a great way to connect to the animals and the weather outside,” she said.
Casimiro said that events like this are a perk of the tuition students pay. She appreciated interacting with the animals for this event and showed interest in visiting the UMD Campus Farm to see more.
Freshman biological sciences major Selyna Williams found the gathering to be a pleasant experience and was happy to dedicate some of her time to enjoying the warm weather during exam season.
“There aren’t as many events that really make you happy, giving you that serotonin boost,” Williams said.
This event is a part of a larger Stamp program, “Spring into Stamp,” which focuses on creating fun and relaxing events during the Spring season. The program is offering over 20 events this April for students and their friends to participate in.
“It’s nice to get out in between classes and find time to just hang out with friends,” Mendell said.
Featured Image: A ring of students pet several bunnies at Stamp’s Bunnies and Blooms event outside of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union on March 30, 2026. Photo by Miller Rogers-Tetrick.