Adam Nichols is organizing the QUEST student giving group to raise funds for scholarships for seniors.
A new student group hopes to address a familiar crisis facing hard-working UMass Lowell students – paying tuition and fees in the final stages of a college career. In the process, members of the group also hope to show fellow students the importance of giving back to UMass Lowell, even before they graduate.
The QUEST program (Quality Undergraduate Education, a Student Tradition) will kick off at a free Mexican-food themed party on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m. in the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center’s Junior Ball Room. The event will include music and a raffle for prizes such as Celtics tickets, an iPod and tickets to Senior Week.
The QUEST group hopes to raise enough money to provide scholarships to students who might not be able to complete their final year for financial reasons.
“This is really about students helping their fellow students reach our shared goal,” says senior Adam Nichols, who is organizing the group while working as an intern in the Office of University Advancement. “Our education costs much more than what we pay in tuition and fees. Some of us are here because of other generous donors who created scholarships and endowments. We need to help each other.”
Nichols is joined by 10 other students, who make up a committee that is steering the group. They hope to encourage more participation through hosting the kickoff event and sending an appeal letter that will go to fellow seniors.
“Current students may not feel they can give much, but with more than 11,000 students at this University, if everyone gave just a little, we could make a huge difference in someone’s life each year,” says Nichols.
Director of Annual Giving Rachele Huelsman said the group is also important in that it shows students the importance of giving back.
“If there’s one thing all students can relate to, it’s how scholarships can sometimes mean the difference between graduating and not graduating,” says Huelsman. “Participants will also learn about the fundraising process and how to make a case for philanthropy in general.”
For more information, contact Assistant Director of the UMass Lowell Fund Kimberly_knesek@uml.edu at 978-934-4821.
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