The Honors College Newsletter - Issue 6

Welcome to the sixth issue of Honorable Mentions for the '25-26 school year! Honorable Mentions is our monthly newsletter that will catch you up on some of the important developments within the Honors College.

This newsletter is written by honors fellow Abby Comstock.

Days of Giving: Bingo Fundraiser

On April 15th, the Honors College is hosting a Days of Giving bingo fundraiser! The event will take place in the Allen House from 3:30 to 5:30pm, free and open to all. There will be a chance to win prizes, including a TV, record player, Polaroid cameras, Beats headphones, and more. Anyone who donates that day, no matter how small, is entered to win. All the proceeds raised will support the Honors College's initiatives.

Days of Giving is UMass Lowell’s annual fundraising campaign that rallies alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends to support student success. This year’s Days of Giving runs from April 14th to 16th, but you need not wait until Monday to give! Donate now!

Donations - no matter the amount - help fund the Honors College’s Fellowship Program, City-ship Program, Study Abroad scholarships, the student emergency funds, and Honors Informational Peers (HIP) events at the Allen House. Donate to the Honors College.

The more donors we receive, the more funding we unlock. Every donation, no matter how small, gets us there and is greatly appreciated!

Days of Giving: Honors Fellowships

Honors Fellowships are $1,500 to $3,000 grants awarded to Honors Students to participate in preapproved scholarly engagement that is guided by a mentor and contains a reading component. They can span one to two semesters, requiring students to devote approximately 75 hours to the project per semester.

Colin Ormond, who was mentored by Renato Fakhoury, researched international involvement with renewable energy. His fellowship included creating a database for climate agreements and doing four case studies on related events. Colin advises honors students to “seek out opportunities. Any research experience is helpful, especially as an undergraduate and social science major.”

Cece Allen, a third-year biology major, participated in a project that investigated how DNA is packaged. She studied how gene expression is affected, looking at human problems expressed in worm genes. “A lot of students have to choose between research and working,” she said, explaining the need for paid research. Fellowships are incredible opportunities that allow students to have real research experience while receiving a financial stipend. Cece said, “If you want students to learn, they need to get their hands on something.  It needs to be accessible.”

Donations to the fellowship fund allow students like these to continue gaining knowledge through experiences they might not have access to in the classroom while receiving mentorship from UMass Lowell staff and faculty.

Donate to support our fellowships.

Days of Giving: Study Abroad

Studying abroad is far more possible than students realize. Eve Fombu was able to study abroad in Ghana this January and gain insight on their healthcare system because of the financial assistance she received from a study abroad scholarship. Eve said, “Apply to every scholarship. [Studying abroad] helps cultivate a resilience in you.”

Regina Wasaidy, who studied abroad with the Honors College in Madrid this spring break, agreed, stating that if students are interested in studying abroad, they should “Look at your resources - it’s definitely possible.”

Students who have studied abroad with the Honors College consistently remark on the growth and newfound confidence they discover within themselves while abroad.

Every donation received during Days of Giving makes a big difference in a student’s life and allows the Honors College to keep funding these transformative experiences for honors students. And if you are interested in studying abroad, scholarships are available in the Riverhawk Scholarship Portal.

Donate to support study abroad program scholarships.

Days of Giving: HIP Events

Throughout the year, Honors Informational Peers (HIPs) host fun and interactive activities at the Allen House that bring honors students together and allow them to form stronger connections with their peers and the Honors College.

Past events have been a rousing success, including the popular “Who Killed Charles Allen?” murder mystery this past Fall, which brought in students across all disciplines for a night of puzzles and teamwork.

Coming up next is Rotblack Sludge: A TTRPG One Shot Adventure! In the future, tentative events include game nights, movie nights, and craft nights.

According to lead HIPs Christianna Bittarelli and Megha Saokar, funding allows the HIPs to get the necessary supplies for events, including food, drinks, and prizes.

“Any donations help the Honors College with engagement, resources, and the community overall,” Megha said, “as well as extracurricular activities for students!”

Interested in the upcoming HIP-led events? Keep an eye on Suitable, and do not forget to RSVP.

Donate to help fund HIP events.