LOWELL, Mass. — Christopher Morse of Sunapee is among the largest graduating class in UMass Lowell’s history. Morse received a master’s degree in information technology.
The university held three commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell for the 4,534 members of the Class of 2019. The record number of graduates for the 12th consecutive year is the result of UMass Lowell’s 57% increase in enrollment since 2007 and climbing student success rates. More than 1,600 graduated with honors and 100 with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
The ceremonies were presided over by UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney, who is a two-time UMass Lowell graduate. The commencement addresses were delivered by Rep. Lori Trahan, who represents Massachusetts’ 3rd Congressional District, where UMass Lowell is located; UMass Lowell Distinguished University Professor Meg Bond, director of the university’s Center for Women and Work; and Jack Wilson, former UMass system president, current UMass Lowell faculty member and the founder of the Jack M. Wilson Center for Entrepreneurship at UMass Lowell.
This year’s 2019 honorary degree recipients include Oprah Winfrey, who was presented with her degree in November when she took part in the Chancellor’s Speaker Series, which raised $3 million for scholarships, including $1.5 million donated by Winfrey. Honorary degrees were awarded at Commencement ceremonies to Wilson, along with Gerald Colella and Joyce Colella, UMass Lowell graduates who went on to achieve personal and professional success. Other presentations included the Distinguished Alumni Award to Brian Rist, UMass Lowell alumnus and executive chairman of Storm Smart Industries and the Chancellor’s Medal for Outstanding University Support went to Kim Rist in recognition of the couple’s support for student scholarships and other university initiatives; and the Chancellor’s Medal for Public Service and Civic Engagement went to Jack O’Connor, founder of O’Connor School Portraits and Commencement Photos Inc., and Therese O’Connor, who has devoted more than three decades to community service, in recognition of their support for the university and numerous local organizations.
UMass Lowell is a national research university located on a high-energy campus in the heart of a global community. The university offers its more than 18,000 students bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, humanities, sciences and social sciences. UMass Lowell delivers high-quality educational programs, vigorous hands-on learning and personal attention from leading faculty and staff, all of which prepare graduates to be leaders in their communities and around the globe. www.uml.edu.
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