By Rosie Kean
For The Diamondback
Luke Makris stood outside the South Campus Dining Hall Monday, wearing a Pikachu hat and one of his ever-present bow ties. He held a large blue sign with the words “HIGH FIVE!” printed in white ink.
“Have a great rest of your day,” the senior marketing and supply chain management major called out to people as they walked by. Or, if they were going into the diner, “Have a good dinner!”
Makris, who often hands out high fives around the University of Maryland’s campus, said his goal is “just to put smiles on faces and spread some joy.”
Sophomore microbiology major Jeremy Hoeferkamp was one of many students who high-fived Makris on his way out of the dining hall.
“It spreads some positivity, especially before finals week,” Hoeferkamp said.
Christiaan Merkel, a junior enrolled in letters and sciences, is one of Makris’ regular visitors.
“He’s a good man, always brings a smile to people’s faces,” Merkel said. “It’s a lot of fun to see him. Every time I come, I wonder if he’s going to be here or not.”
Makris said he was inspired to give high fives on the campus after doing it at his church every Sunday. He looked forward to giving out high fives each week, before realizing he could just start doing it at this university during his free time.
On Nov. 14, Makris borrowed the high five sign from his church and began his mission.
Makris’ most common spots are in front of the South Campus Dining Hall, Stamp Student Union and McKeldin Library.
Makris said most people give him high fives as they walk by, but he has learned to gauge people’s personalities.
“It wasn’t intended to be a social experiment, but you do learn a considerable amount about people,” he said. “You learn how to read people, whether or not they actually want a high five.”
Makris said he’s found out a lot of people won’t go up and give him a high five until after he offers.
“You can tell that they want one, but unless if I ask, they won’t take one,” Makris said.
Senior Jake Fagan, another one of Makris’ regulars, said Makris is “deeper than his Pikachu hat and big high five sign.”
“Guys might come by and laugh at him, but he even says that is good with him because it might give them a little chuckle and keep them talking about something else instead of worrying about whatever they’re worried about,” said Fagan, an individual studies major. “It’s that little stuff that people can experience on a day-to-day basis that brightens their day.”
Once, Makris was standing in front of Stamp when a bus drove up and stopped right in front of him. The bus driver opened the doors and put his hand up.
“I’m looking at him kinda funny,” Makris said. “He says, ‘I can’t get out of my chair.’ So I ran into the bus, gave him a high five and hopped out.”
Right now, Makris is a one-man operation, but he said he would love it if someone wanted to join him. And though he’s graduating soon, he plans to return to the campus with his big sign and high fives as a graduate student.
“I don’t really know exactly what the bigger picture is yet,” Makris said. “I’d love to make a movement for it, but at this point it’s just sharing smiles and making people’s days better.”
