University of Maryland celebrates Jim Henson's 90th birthday

The University of Maryland is celebrating the 90th birthday of Muppets creator and alumnus Jim Henson with a series of events known as Henson Week. To honor his legacy, the university hosted its first Sock Puppet Party at the Stamp Student Union, attempting to set a Guinness World Record for the most sock puppets worn simultaneously in a single venue. To achieve the record, the university requires 629 participants.

Jim Henson, who studied visual arts at the University of Maryland, revolutionized television puppetry by developing techniques that allowed characters to appear more expressive within the camera frame. His early work included the creation of Sam and Friends and the development of iconic characters like Kermit the Frog and Rowlf the Dog. The campus festivities also included tie-dye activities and Muppet character drawing sessions to encourage artistic expression.