By Aarna Mishra

Among the unwritten milestones of being a Terp — from rubbing Testudo’s nose during finals week to jumping in the Omicron Delta Kappa Fountain on McKeldin Mall — there is one elusive quest every student hopes to complete: spotting University of Maryland’s President Darryll J. Pines on campus and walking away with a coveted turtle lapel pin.

What might look like a simple lapel accessory is actually part of UMD’s campus engagement strategy. Behind the tiny metallic turtles lies an effort by university leadership to bridge the gap between administrative offices and the student body, turning brief daily greetings into symbols of community and pride, according to the University Communications department.

While students refer to these small turtles as “President Pines’ pins,” this has been a home honored Maryland tradition since before he took office. According to the M Book, University of Maryland’s guidebook, former UMD President C. D. “Dan” Mote, Jr. (1998-2010) handed out gold lapel pins to start the tradition and promote Maryland pride. Initially, the pins were distributed and gifted only to outstanding Terps and other VIPs.

Later, the initial design was revised for his successor, Wallace D. Loh (2010-20). Loh expanded this tradition and distributed the pins more widely across campus rather than reserving them solely for distinguished guests.

When Pines took office in 2020, he continued the tradition his predecessors left behind, but wanted the pins to also be uniquely his own, designer and Director of Creatives Haley Shin said. He wanted to have something new to hand out yet still honor an age old UMD tradition. The production design team redesigned the pins, which included Shin and Assistant Director of Production Jagu Cornish.

“[The vendor’s first suggestion] we didn’t like at all, so it was … a lot of versions, a lot of modification,” Shin said.

The team worked through several designs, collaborating with vendors to ensure the pin accurately captured Maryland’s signature colors and spirits. After tweaking the turtle’s shape and adding the iconic state flag pattern, the production team achieved the prominent three-dimensional look Pines envisioned, said Shin.

Launching the initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic meant overcoming massive logistical hurdles due to the embargos on trade and restricted international travel, according to Cornish.

“We produced 40,000 pins,” Cornish said, recalling that international shipping delays and port shutdowns required the team to order months in advance to ensure the pins arrived for the fall semester.

Today, the pin serves as more than a small token of spirit. Pines uses the special moment to learn about the recipient, including where they are from, what they study and their overall Maryland experience, further connecting students to the administration.

“UMD is really good at building traditions and also fostering spirit,” said freshman Annette Horner, a philosophy, politics and economics major. “So by doing this pin initiative, it encourages students to approach administration to open discussion, and overall, that’s something that’s really important at a college campus.”

Through its appearance on the acclaimed UMD Bucket List, this tradition has gained more visibility and demand. Each year, according to the University Communications department, they search for new opportunities to distribute pins and connect with Terps across campus.

As tradition continues to grow, those tiny pieces of metal remain a tangible bridge between students and the administration. For Terps hoping to cross off a major UMD bucket list item, keeping an eye out for Pines is about more than just collecting a souvenir — it’s about claiming a piece of the connected, spirited campus community.

Featured Image: McKeldin Library on the evening of April 22, 2026. Photo by Paige Trendell.