For Immediate Release
March 1, 2006
Contacts: David Ottalini, 301 405 4076 or dottalin@umd.edu

"Keeping the Promise" Looks at 150 Years of Maryland History

WHAT: The University of Maryland debuts its new historical documentary - "Keeping the Promise: the Rise of the University of Maryland." WHEN: Wednesday, March 8, 2006 at 8 p.m. on Maryland Public Television (MPT). The documentary will be replayed on MPT on March 11 at 9:30 a.m. WHERE: Please check local listings for MPT. In many areas, MPT is on Channel 22.

BACKGROUND: Director and Producer Mac Nelson standing right) and Video Editor Chris Abolt (kneeling on right) pose with other members of the cast and crew while filming a historical re-enactment at Charles Calvert's grave. What started as the spark of an idea by Maryland students has turned into an historic 80 minute documentary that will make its national debut March 8 on Maryland Public Television. NelNet, an educational services company, helped with the cost of the documentary. "Nelnet would like to congratulate the University of Maryland for 150 years of providing students and families a higher education," said David Bottegal, Chief Executive Officer of Nelnet's Education Services Division. "We are thrilled to be part of such an historic occasion." The university, and the Maryland Student Government Association also contributed to the cost of the production. The documentary, "Keeping the Promise: The Rise of the University of Maryland" takes the institution from its infancy to what it has become today - one of the nation's top 20 research universities. The video has been in production for more than a year - done entirely in-house by the university's video production unit with the help of local freelancers. Director and Producer Mac Nelson told Terp Magazine, "It's been a real challenge getting everything we wanted (which was to) give a lot of rich production value to everything we did." Editor Chris Abolt says there are more than 60 video tapes of at least 30 minutes each that include not only interviews, but also historic re-enactments, aerial shots, archival footage from the University Archives and much more. Boiling that down to 80 minutes means a lot will be left out. But Abolt told Terp Magazine's Kim Marselas, "Even if it's not used, it's still a great opportunity to get historic information we might not have another chance to get." Re-enactors from the "Calvert's Creation" segment of the Maryland historical documentary. The documentary will be shown during a fundraising event on MPT, which will include interviews with university officials and students, as well as NelNet's Bottegal. A DVD of the documentary will be a $65.00 premium offered during the membership drive. Viewers will also be able to obtain a copy of the DVD and the companion coffee table history of the university, called MARYLAND: Reflections on 150 Years. MPT will handle production of the DVDs as well as shipping and handling. See a short video re-enactment of founder George Benedict Calvert and his Riversdale Plantation. See the Terp Magazine story behind the making of "Keeping the Promise: The Rise of the University of Maryland." Download a flyer about the debut of the documentary.

MEDIA: Review copies of the documentary will be available. Please contact Dave Ottalini for more information. CONTACT: For more information, contact Dave Ottalini - dottalin@umd.edu or by phone at (301)-405-4076. 150th Anniversary Web Site "Fear the Turtle" Sculptures Charter Day - March 6, 2006

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