DifferenceMakerTM is a campus-wide program that engages UMass Lowell students in creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Jacquie Moloney with Brian and Kim Rist at the opening of the Rist DifferenceMaker Institute

Thank you Kim and Brian Rist '77, Manning School of Business, for supporting the DifferenceMaker Program with a generous contribution and the establishment of the Rist DifferenceMaker Institute.

Student standing on stage at a DifferenceMaker event.

Apply to the Francis College of Engineering Prototyping Competition

Have an idea for a new product or service? Need funding and support to move it forward? Then enter the Francis College of Engineering (FCoE) Prototyping Competition.

This Competition is about building a prototype, be it mechanical/electrical, a software app, or an integrated system.

Build your team, build your prototype, and enter to win prize funding!

Learn more about the FCoE Prototyping Competition today by visiting the Prototyping Competition webpage.

ThermoEXA sharing their idea at the 2022 DifferenceMaker Idea Challenge

Attend Francis College of Engineering Prototyping Competition

Join DifferenceMaker in supporting student teams as they pitch their innovative ideas through their prototypes.

Vote for your favorite team to win the Fan Favorite award.

Learn more about the FCoE Prototyping Competition today by visiting the Prototyping Competition webpage.

Are you a DifferenceMaker?

Do you have an idea? Do you see a problem you want to solve? Do you want to make a difference in your community, or in the world? Do you want to join a team and work with other students? Sound like you?

Get involved with DifferenceMaker:

DifferenceMaker Event Registration

Real-Life DifferenceMakers

  • Expect
    DifferenceMakers

    Expect is an application that facilitates communication between referring facilities/emergency medical services and accepting inpatient/emergency units.

  • Robotic Feeding Arm
    DifferenceMakers

    After a three minute rocket pitch to a panel of alumni judges Philip Colangelo's Robotic Feeding Arm was awarded first place in the “Innovative Technology” category, $3,500 award.

Support DifferenceMaker

Gifts at any level make a direct impact on thousands of UMass Lowell students and faculty every day.