The Honors College Newsletter: Volume 1, Issue 5

Dear Student,

Welcome to the fourth issue of Honorable Mentions, a 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.

The National Survey of Student Engagement: A Survey for First-Years and Seniors

The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is your chance to share your experiences as to what it is like to be an undergraduate at UMass Lowell. By participating, you help the university compare student experiences with its goals, helping them understand how freshmen and seniors perceive their campus life. Your input directly influences improvements in academic programs, advising, and campus living.  

As Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Julie Nash explains, “Your responses really does make a difference, so I encourage every eligible student to participate! NSSE helps us understand what’s working well and where we can improve to better support students. We use this data to enhance academic programs, student services, and campus life.” 

By completing the survey, first-years and seniors are directly contributing to positive changes at UMass Lowell. Plus, they will be rewarded with five dining dollars for their participation, and be entered to win additional prizes, including a Nintendo Switch, $200 campus bookstore gift cards, and four extra graduation tickets. 

Through the NSSE survey, UMass Lowell has been able to launch a low-cost/no-cost textbook initiative to save students money, expand mental health resources on campus, as well as enhance career-connected experiences.  

The deadline to complete this survey is May 12, 2025. You can find it through your UMass Lowell email!  

Student Profile: Hirschfield Ssozi  

The experiences Hirshfield Ssozi has pursued at UMass Lowell have taught him valuable lessons about leadership, event planning, teamwork, and the importance of student engagement in shaping campus life. “My role in student government and as a research assistant has been a defining aspect of my time at UMass Lowell,” Ssozi says, “allowing me to leave a lasting impact on the campus community. The university’s strong commitment to student leadership and involvement, along with the support from the Honors College, created an environment where I could thrive and take on these responsibilities.”  

Ssozi has served as the Events Chair on the Student Government E-Board, as a research assistant in two scientific research studies at UMass Lowell, and is a member of the Nursing Student Association, CASA, and ACE. 

He believes that through these experiences he has gained organizational, leadership, and interpersonal skills that are transferable to any professional setting. Ssozi says, “Being in the Honors College has provided me with academic and networking opportunities that have enriched my education and personal growth.”  

Honors College Research Symposium

On April 1st, the Honors College hosted honors students from six community college for the Honors College Research Symposium at UMass Lowell. The event allowed students to engage in meaningful conversations around their scholarly and creative projects with honors students from UMass Lowell.

The Honors College’s Erin Maitland said, “The Honors Community College Research Symposium was a tremendous success, sparking meaningful dialogue among students, faculty, and staff, while providing a vibrant platform for networking, collaboration, and the celebration of undergraduate research excellence.”

Participating colleges were Bunker Hill Community College, Northern Essex Community College, Middlesex Community College, North Shore Community College, Mass Bay Community College, and Massasoit Community College.

“ We were thrilled to welcome 65 community college guests—31 of whom proudly presented their research projects,” Erin Maitland said. “This incredible turnout marks significant growth from last year, and we’re already looking forward to welcoming even more students at next year’s symposium!”

Student Profile: Campbell Tacey

Campbell is a senior History major. What she loves about UMass Lowell are the clubs on campus, especially the International Relations Club. “I’ve been fortunate to travel to Belgium, Scotland, and soon Denmark for Model UN competitions with the club,” Campbell says, “and it’s been the highlight of college for me!” Her favorite thing to do on campus is to attend her History classes.

She became involved in Model UN her freshman year after coming across the club at the club fair. She was really interested in the idea of participating in international experiences and talking about politics with other like-minded people. She then decided to go to the first meeting and immediately knew it was something she wanted to get involved in. She is the Vice President of the International Relations Club (Model UN) and the president of the History Club.

Her abroad trips with Model UN have been some of the highlights of college. She traveled with a group to Leuven, Belgium, her sophomore year; Edinburgh, Scotland, her junior year; and most recently Copenhagen, Denmark, for her senior year trip.

“Each trip has been a really great way to see so much of Europe at an affordable price with great friends,” Campbell says. “I had never been out of the country before traveling to Belgium, so it was certainly a unique experience for me. Additionally, as we spend the entire semester prepping for these overseas conferences, it’s always very awesome to see all our hard work culminate into successful and engaging debates.”

“These experiences with Model UN have been a great way for me to better get to know many of my classmates on campus,” she continues. “We always come back from our trips so much closer as a group, and it's great for those friendships to continue throughout the rest of the semesters and my time at UML. After college, I plan to pursue a master’s in history with the ultimate goal of becoming a history teacher.”

More Honors for UMass Lowell’s Model UN Club!

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.

Student Profile: William Lefebvre

During William Lefebvre’s time at UMass Lowell, he learned that his achievements were primarily what defined who he was as a student. Being the first in his family to go directly to college after high school, he worked hard to earn his place at the university. His brother, who is twelve years his senior, graduated years before him from a prestigious university. “I knew that I had to set my expectations high and show my family that I can do it, too,” Lefebvre said. "Going to UMass Lowell set me up for greater success due to the ample opportunities that I received here.” 

Lefebvre, a Sustainability major with a minor in Architectural Studies, said that one of the major benefits of the Honors College for him was having the opportunity to do research. He said, “While doing research is a daunting task, it taught me so much on how to conduct a successful survey and gather data in an organized way.” 

William felt as though there were an infinite number of opportunities at UMass Lowell, and that the Honors College placed them right in from of him. He made the most of his time at the university. He served as the Media Coordinator for the Student Society for Sustainability and as the Eco-Rep Supervisor for the RIST Institute for Sustainability and Energy. He also participated in two international experiences, funded by the university. In the first, he studied abroad with the Honors College in Chile. During the second, he attended the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai.  

Having graduated this past fall, William was able to take the skills that he acquired at UMass Lowell into the professional environment of his field. “From completing my Honors Thesis a year early to attending the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP28,” Lefebvre said, “I have learned immensely from my achievements. As an incoming freshman, I had no idea that I would be able to accomplish so much as a student and employee of the university. My hard work and dedication landed me a career right out of graduation at Weston & Sampson Engineers as their first sustainability hire.”  

UMass Lowell's Days of Giving

Days of Giving is UMass Lowell's annual giving initiative that unites alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends in giving back to make a significant impact on the areas that mean the most to them across campus. As an advocate, you play an important role in spreading the word and rallying your network to support the areas you care about on campus during Days of Giving. Last year, community advocates like yourself generated over 900 gifts.

During Days of Giving, the Honors College will host an event on April 15th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the Allen House. There will be board games, pizza, and the opportunity earn points on Suitable.

“What better way to give back than during Days of Giving,” Erin Maitland of the Honors College said. “This is your opportunity to support the future of the Honors College, give back to your peers, and strengthen all the amazing work being done. There will be pizza, games, and giveaways.” Maitland continued, “Every little bit helps! Out of the 2,000 students in Honors, if everyone gave just $5, we’d raise $10,000 to reinvest in opportunities for you and future Honors students. This means more events, fellowships, City-ships, study abroad support, and more! Let’s make a difference together!”

Students graduating with Commonwealth Honors will have an opportunity to borrow their honors stole to take some quick pictures with it at the Allen House. They will receive their respective stoles for commencement at our Stole the Show ceremony on Wednesday May 14th, from 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Graduating students who achieved Honors Distinction will be able to pick up their cords for commencement by checking in with one of our Honors Informational Peers (HIPs).

This event counts as an E1 for all students.

Stole the Show Ceremony: Save the Date

We are excited to celebrate the incredible achievements of our graduating Honors College seniors this May 14th from 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at our annual Honors Stole the Show ceremony.

Erin Maitland said, “Through dedication, curiosity, and a commitment to excellence, these seniors graduating with Commonwealth Honors have made lasting contributions to our community—both in and out of the classroom. As they embark on their next chapter, we honor their hard work, resilience, and the bright futures ahead. Congratulations, Class of 2025—you’ve made us proud!”

Honors Study Abroad - Winter (January 2026)

Applications have opened to study abroad with the Honors College in Havana, Cuba, and Winneba, Ghana!

Here is the new link to apply to study abroad in Cuba: https://viaumasslowell.via-trm.com/program_brochure/16394

To express interest in studying abroad in Ghana: https://forms.office.com/r/dYe6V018qF

Get to Know Your Honors Information Peers (HIPs)

Zachary Giuliana

Hometown: Melrose, MA

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Year: Sophomore

Hobbies: Tabletop Role-Playing Games, Music, elevators, videogames

Favorite thing about UML: The diverse and interesting student body

Clubs and organizations: TTRPG club, Robotics club, Machining club

Future Goals: Take a first aid/stop the bleed class, build a coil gun, get a functioning stereo setup.

Fun Fact: I know too much about elevators.

Emily Cantwell

Hometown: Bethlehem, PA

Major: Chemical Engineering

Year: Sophomore

Hobbies: Reading, videogames, hang with friends, watching Formula 1

Favorite thing about UML: The view on the bridge to North in the fall

Clubs and organizations: Society of Women in Engineering

Favorite thing about honors: Fun Events

Future Goals: Pay for a vacation for my mom

Fun Fact: I won SpongeBob trivia in high school

Sam Paolini

Hometown: Lunenburg, MA

Major: Biomedical Engineering

Year: Senior

Hobbies: swimming and travelling

Favorite thing about UML: The engagement from many of the professors to help students not only understand material but also encouraging further exposure to associated info outside of class.

Clubs and organizations: Biomedical Engineering Society

Favorite thing about honors: The sense of community

Future Goals: Graduate school

Fun Fact: “I have no sense of smell” (not Covid related)