Did you know that April 10 is National Siblings Day? Today we are celebrating the unique stories of siblings who have shared their journeys through the University of Maryland Honors College. From navigating rigorous academics to building friend groups together, these siblings demonstrate how family ties can strengthen individual experiences as well as the broader Honors community.
Hannah and Caleb Haber: Sibling Support in University Honors
Fourth-generation Terps Hannah and Caleb Haber from Columbia, MD, continue their family’s UMD legacy while forging their own paths in University Honors (UH). Caleb, a junior computer science major, joined UH first and encouraged his younger sister, Hannah, a sophomore economics and Chinese double major, to follow. Their shared experiences have deepened their bond, from collaborating on group projects in UH’s “Democratic Habits” class to supporting each other during late-night study sessions.
Hannah credits Caleb with helping her navigate the complexities of UH’s clusters and tracks, campus dining plans, and snagging tickets for UMD events. Even though he is older, Caleb appreciates Hannah’s advice on choosing classes—since she knows him so well, she can remind him what really aligns with his interests and study habits.
“Our relationship has really matured into one of mutual respect and accountability as two adults, no longer as two kids,” they agreed on the topic of developing their relationship outside of the family home.
With Terp parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, plus their younger sister set to join UMD next year, the Habers are continuing a proud family tradition on campus, and you may see them out in full Terp gear at an upcoming sports event!
Briana and Joshua Rosado: Bridging Cohorts in Interdisciplinary Business Honors
For Briana and Joshua Rosado, both computer engineering majors in the Interdisciplinary Business Honors (IBH) program, sibling support has been essential. As a junior, Josh’s advice helped Briana, now a freshman, choose IBH for its strong sense of community, and his guidance has eased her transition into college life. While Josh is in cohort one and Briana is in cohort three (alongside their cousin as well!) of this new Honors program, their connection bridges the gap between cohorts that often don’t get the chance to interact.
Their relationship has grown closer since coming to UMD from their home in Harford County, with Josh serving as Briana’s “personal advisor” on everything from homework to internships. “I would have been very lost without him, and he made the transition process much easier for me,” she said. They’ve also shared extracurricular activities like IBH’s recent Cherry Blossom excursion, strengthening not just their sibling bond but also their ties to the IBH community.
Nada, Nora, and Naja Fadul: A Trio of GEMS Scholars and Future Doctors
The Fadul sisters—Naja ’21, Nora ’23, and Nada ’24—credit their experiences in the Gemstone program (GEMS) with guiding their journeys into medicine and research. All three pursued physiology and neurobiology majors while working on GEMS independent team research projects that shaped their academic and career paths. Nada, who graduated a year early and was inspired by her older sisters’ experiences, joined GEMS already prepared to pitch two research projects of her own. One of those ideas formed into Team METABIO, which focuses on glioblastomas, a malignant and invasive form of brain cancer.
Their father is a doctor whose practice is based in College Park and Greenbelt, and the family home was close to campus, so the girls gathered at home for dinner most evenings while in college. Fadul family dinners often turn into brainstorming sessions about research challenges and accomplishments. When she was still in high school, Nada couldn’t wait to catch up to her sisters to embark on her own projects. Nada recalls how much these conversations shaped her excitement about medicine and research from a young age.
“It’s a privilege to have someone before you who can help and inspire you,” said Nada. “I also try to help others in my cohort by sharing out information that I get from my sisters about the medical school experience.”
Tasneem and Sabireen Alim: Creativity in Honors Humanities
Tasneem and Sabireen Alim (’25 and ’23) from Bethesda, MD, found a space for creative expression within the Honors Humanities (HH) program. Sabireen, an architecture major and art history minor, was attracted to HH because she loved her humanities classes in high school and wanted to maintain a balance between her architecture studies and her love of art. Tasneem, who is on track to graduate this spring with a BA in public policy and American Studies and continue on to complete her MA next year, chose the program to keep up her interest in playing and composing music. Both were able to explore their artistic sides through their keystone projects for the program—Sabireen created a beautiful series of Bangladeshi-style portraits, while Tasneem created an original music album.
Even though Sabireen is the older sister, she feels that she was able to get a fuller experience of Honors Humanities through Tasneem because her time in the program was affected by the pandemic. She didn’t get to do as many in-person activities, so she often came back to campus while Tasneem was completing the program and maintained relationships with students and staff.
The Alim sisters enjoyed being part of Honors Humanities’ supportive community, especially the Students of Color Collective. Tasneem remains close with one of the program’s TAs, doctoral candidate Nisa Asgarali-Hoffman, who helped her get through the program and develop a passion for cultural studies. They feel that, even beyond their own relationship as sisters, Honors Humanities fosters lasting friendships among students, staff, and faculty who end up feeling like family.
Ryan and Justin Kirkendall: Twin Support in Integrated Life Sciences
Identical twins Ryan and Justin Kirkendall from Severna Park, MD, are freshmen in the Integrated Life Sciences (ILS) program, where they’ve found both independence and support in each other. With similar interests in science and pre-med studies—Ryan majoring in biochemistry and Justin in cell biology and molecular genetics, and both adding a second major in Spanish—they often collaborate on coursework and help each other register for classes. Last semester, ILS program director Dr. Najib El-Sayed was able to point to the two of them sitting next to each other at the front of the classroom, wearing similar clothes and hairstyles, as a great example of twin genetics.
“Our parents have encouraged us to find our own independent interests, but our paths keep converging,” said Justin. Besides their interests in science, they also enjoy tennis and playing music. “We may try to do different things, but at the end of the day, we are basically the same,” added Ryan.
Initially hesitant to room together, they ended up living next door to each other in the ILS dorm, La Plata Hall. Though they’ve grown more independent now that they have different schedules in college, Ryan still considers Justin his “permanent backup friend,” especially during those first few weeks of college when everything felt new. Their shared friend group has made college life more enjoyable, while their close twin connection provides a great source of encouragement.
A Family Within Honors
Family bonds enhance the Honors College experience but all of the siblings we spoke with also expressed that our programs create a broader sense of family among students, faculty, and staff. The experiences of these Honors siblings (of which there are many more!) demonstrate that whether through shared classes, research projects, or simply navigating campus life together, having a sibling in the Honors College can provide invaluable support and create great memories on campus and at home.
