The Honors College Newsletter: Final Issue of the School Year

Dear Student,

Welcome to the final issue of the school year of Honorable Mentions, our monthly newsletter that will catch you up on some of the important developments within the Honors College. This newsletter is written by honors fellows Emerson Tully and Matthew Kelley.

Stole the Show

The Honors College will host its annual Stole the Show graduation celebration on Wednesday, May 14, recognizing members of the Class of 2025 who have distinguished themselves through scholarship, leadership, and creativity. 

Held in the Moloney Ballroom at University Crossing, the event will begin with check-in and a light brunch at 10:00 a.m., followed by a ceremony from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

Stole the Show honors graduating seniors whose contributions have left a lasting impression on the UMass Lowell community. The event reflects the spirit of excellence and dedication that defines the Honors College experience. 

Student Profile: Catherine Kleeman  

Catherine Kleeman has made the most of her time at UMass Lowell, and this month marks the close of an impressive chapter in her journey. Balancing full-time academics with the demands of athletics is no small task, but Catherine has done so with remarkable poise—never letting her commitments stop her from seizing new opportunities. As an Immersive Scholar, she studied abroad in San Sebastián and traveled to Lisbon and Porto in May 2023 with the UMass Lowell Women’s Field Hockey Team. In January, she became part of the first UMass Lowell group to study in Winneba, Ghana, focusing on “Global Energy and Public Health in the Developing World.” Over her four years, she also earned the River Hawk Experience Distinction (RHED) in Global Engagement. 

Though Catherine is graduating this May, her story at UMass Lowell is far from over. Thanks to a fifth year of NCAA eligibility, Catherine will continue at UMass Lowell through the 4+1 Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Program in the Manning School of Business. “Luckily, my time here at UMass Lowell isn’t over, just one chapter is closing,” Kleeman said. “Each year, the university gives me another reason why coming here is the best decision I’ve ever made.” She also praised the Honors College for its flexibility, which allowed her to study abroad in both summer and winter terms—an essential accommodation for her busy schedule as a student-athlete. 

Student Profile: Tierney Rogiolani 

During her time at UMass Lowell, Tierney Rogiolani learned that persistence yields rewards. Growing up in a small town where few peers talked about going to college, the transition to campus life was a significant adjustment. But over time, she came to see the challenges as part of her personal and academic growth. 

“I worked very hard during my years here,” Tierney says, “and those efforts opened doors I’m deeply grateful for. Even when it seemed like no one was noticing, I found that you get back what you put in.” 

Through the support of the Honors College and departmental advisors, Tierney discovered valuable programs that shaped her goals. Now enrolled in the Bachelor's-to-Master’s program in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Studies, she feels prepared to meet any future challenges with resilience and perspective. 

Days of Giving:  

The Honors College Days of Giving event was a tremendous success! Students enjoyed a lively atmosphere filled with games, pizza, and a fun photo booth where they posed with their Commonwealth Honors Stoles. Many also picked up their Honors Distinction cords as part of the celebration. 

Nearly 40 donors contributed to the campaign, bringing it close to the goal of 50. Every gift made a meaningful impact—helping to strengthen the Honors College and ensure that future students have even more opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed. Thank you to everyone who took part and helped make the day so special! 

Student Profile: David Levenson

David Levenson, a Psychology major with minors in Legal Studies and Italian, is set to graduate in just three years. He’s been deeply engaged on campus—as President of both the Mock Trial Team and the Pre-Law Society, and as a Senator in the Student Government Association. 

Recently, David and his team made university history by going undefeated at the Boston regional Mock Trial Tournament, earning a spot at the National Championship. When asked about the recent success of the mock trial team, David said, “Our A Team and our B Team are so deep, as in there’s people that have experience and there’s new people, and they just work so well together.”

David earned the Outstanding Attorney Award at the Chestnut Hill Regional Tournament and is currently gaining legal experience at Sweeney Merrigan Law in Boston. He plans to attend law school in Fall 2026. 

When asked why he wants to pursue a career in law, David stated, “I am a competitive person. I want to compete against you and win. Law and trials are a way for me to do that for my entire career. I can intellectually spar with you.”

UMass Lowell has been responsible for supplying students like David with a world of opportunities. “Obtaining course credit for my legal internships has allowed me to incorporate crucial experience into my studies,” David says. “Furthermore, I have taken a variety of legal studies courses that have allowed me to better understand certain aspects of the law and further established areas of law that I may wish to practice.”

He has also studied abroad with the Honors College. “My time in Cuba humbled me as it was an eye-opening experience,” David says. “By traveling across borders, we are able to better understand the varying perspectives of the world's population. This experience was invaluable to me.”

David’s favorite part of UMass Lowell? “The passion," he says. "Everyone I’ve met is driven—and they impress me daily.” 

Student Profile: Sebastian Hutchison  

Working at the UMass Lowell radio station has taught Sebastian Hutchison an essential lesson: always advocate for yourself. From the moment he joined, Hutchison became an integral part of the station. His dedication, driven by a lifelong love of music, led to two opportunities to commentate the UMass Lowell hockey games at the TD Garden. 

Interestingly, his passion for broadcasting began in an unexpected place—the International Relations Club. The experience helped sharpen his ability to think and speak on his feet, skills that translated seamlessly into radio. 

Balancing extracurricular activities with academics can be challenging, but Hutchison credits UMass Lowell’s vibrant campus life for making it manageable. 

“I joined the International Relations Club because friends of mine in the Honors College had been encouraging me for months,” he said. “Student life here is such a focus, and that made a big difference—especially when so much was still online.” 

One of Hutchison’s most meaningful experiences was a semester-long fellowship with Renato Mendes-Fakhoury. The project sparked his interest in international relations and pushed him beyond his comfort zone in ways he hadn’t expected. 

Reflecting on his time at UMass Lowell, Hutchison feels prepared and excited for what’s ahead. “Through all the opportunities I’ve had here,” he said, “I know the possibilities after graduation are endless.” 

UMass Lowell’s Model UN club was back in action last weekend at the prestigious invitation-only National Model Arab League Conference in Washington D.C. Honors students were among the five delegates to win top awards. In addition, two members were selected as Committee Chairs at next year's conference! Congratulations to all UMass Lowell students on an outstanding performance.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025!

As UMass Lowell prepares to celebrate and bid farewell to the Class of 2025, we also pause to reflect on the extraordinary achievements of this remarkable group—especially the students of the Honors College, who have led the way in academic innovation, civic engagement, and creative expression. These seniors exemplify what it means to be intellectually curious, socially committed, and globally aware. During their time at UMass Lowell, they’ve demonstrated tenacity, imagination, and a deep commitment to excellence that sets a powerful example for the classes that follow. 

Through their Honors projects and theses, graduating Honors students tackled complex questions that spanned disciplines—from Dang Nguyen’s research on sex chromosome divergence in P. pungitius to Baz Warren’s exploration of monstrous women in horror literature in The Fire Inside. Some bridged science with social impact, embodying the Honors College mission to cultivate sharp minds and compassionate leadership. 

Outside the classroom, their commitment to civic life has been just as inspiring. These students dedicated hundreds of hours to community service, nonprofit internships, and advocacy efforts across the Greater Merrimack Valley. Whether addressing food insecurity, mental health awareness, or STEM outreach, they put their learning into action, applying academic insight to real-world challenges. 

One standout example is Collin Gallagher, president of both ACE (Association for Campus Events) and the College Democrats, who shared how student life shaped his leadership journey: 

“I joined ACE in my freshman year after finding a flyer on the ground at Pulichino Tong. It was about marketing a spring carnival, and I thought, ‘Wow, this sounds amazing.’ I emailed the president at the time, Natalie Mayo, and jumped in right away. That experience opened the door to a role on the spring carnival committee and eventually to joining the E-board. It was all new to me—I didn’t know the political world—but I used what I’d learned from ACE to help the club grow. And it has grown. I’m proud of where we started and confident in where it’s headed. UMass Lowell gave me everything I could have hoped for in a college experience.” 

In today’s interconnected world, global awareness is more important than ever, and Honors students have embraced this challenge, as well. Members of the Class of 2025 studied abroad in Cuba, Ghana, and across Europe; engaged in cultural exchanges; and took part in globally focused coursework—even collaborating virtually with peers from other countries. Through these experiences, they developed the cultural fluency and international perspective demanded by today’s world. 

At the core of this success has been the mentorship of UMass Lowell faculty. Honors students formed close relationships with professors who served as teachers, research mentors, career advisors, and advocates. These partnerships empowered students to ask bold questions, push academic boundaries, and grow in confidence. By graduation, many will have achieved milestones more common at the graduate level: published research, conference presentations, and prestigious awards. These achievements reflect the rigor and support of the Honors College experience. 

“Our graduating seniors transformed their undergraduate journeys into a foundation for their lives beyond the campus,” Julian Zabalbeascoa, Associate Director of Honors Experiential Learning Opportunities and Communication, said. “All they achieved at UMass Lowell speaks to their promise, intellectual curiosity, and the vibrant academic community here that supported them.” 

Now, as these outstanding graduating seniors prepare for the next chapter—be it graduate school, professional work, or public service—they leave UMass Lowell with a legacy of passion, perseverance, and excellence. It is in large part due to students like these that UMass Lowell is now producing research at an R1 level. 

The University and the Honors College are proud to celebrate the Class of 2025. Their accomplishments reflect the very best of higher education and demonstrate the extraordinary potential in every student who steps onto campus. As they move forward into a future full of challenge and promise, we know they will help shape the world in meaningful ways. 

Here’s to the Class of 2025.