The University of Massachusetts Lowell had two Nobel Prize winners participating in this year’s Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, June 4, at the Tsongas Arena. 

Dr. Amartya Sen, a Lamont University professor and professor of economics and philosophy at Harvard University, delivered the 2006 commencement address. Sen is a Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences winner whose books on economics and philosophy have been translated into more than 30 languages. He is also the former honorary president of OXFAM and is now its honorary advisor. In addition to giving the commencement address, Sen was awarded an honorary degree.

Also receiving honorary degrees were Dr. Susumu Tonegawa and David Pernick.  Tonegawa is the director of the Picower Institute for Learning at MIT. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine in 1987. Pernick is president of Monarch Knitting Machinery Corp., which has offices in the U.S., Japan, England and Canada. He won the UML Distinguished Alumni Award in 1991.

Additionally, a number of awards were given out at Commencement recognizing students for academic excellence and University service. Matthew MacDonald represented the senior class; his speech was selected by a committee of students and faculty.