Students of the Month are nominated by their faculty, staff and fellow students for exemplifying what it means to be part of the RHSA.
Students of the Month are nominated by their faculty, staff and fellow students for exemplifying what it means to be part of the RHSA.
Autumn Domey, Computer Engineering
Congratulations to Autumn Domey for earning recognition as one of our RHSA February Students of the Month! From Lynn, Massachusetts, Rena is a first-generation student majoring in Computer Engineering at UMass Lowell’s Francis College of Engineering. She chose UMass Lowell because of its great engineering program and location, which made her want to live on campus since it was “far while not being too far” from home. Her favorite thing about UMass Lowell is the different communities across campus, such as participating in RHSA, the Honors College, the Immersive Scholars program, and Engineering. She encourages students to get involved on campus as the experience is fun and it is nice that people are always there.
Being a first-generation student, Autumn views the experience as persevering through challenges that other students don’t face, such as filling out a FAFSA and adjusting to starting college since they are the first in their families to attend school for an undergraduate degree. As Autumn gets involved with RHSA, she likes how the program has been a big support system for her, where she also completed the First to Launch Summer Program and the Spring Active Immersion in Leadership (SAIL) program. In high school, she was a peer leader which inspired her to want to become a RHSA Peer Leader. She views the experience as a way for her to give back to those who helped her.
Autumn’s future goals are to graduate from the Honors College and to pursue a Master of Science in Computer Engineering, where she would like to work with aerospace and coding. Outside of school, she likes to go to the gym and build Legos.
Some advice that she would give to fellow students is, “Make sure you are involved with different programs. At first, it can be scary and a lot which is what I initially thought, but it is possible through time management and organization skills. It is important to have a support system and make friends outside of your major.”
Rena McFall, Political Science
Congratulations to Rena McFall for earning recognition as one of our RHSA February Students of the Month! From Attleboro, Massachusetts, Rena is a first-generation student majoring in Political science with a minor in Legal Studies at UMass Lowell’s College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. She chose UMass Lowell because of its financial affordability and her desire to study at an in-state college. Her favorite thing about UMass Lowell so far is getting involved with clubs on campus, such as volleyball and Mock Trial.
Being a first-generation student, Rena views the experience as tough but is appreciative to be considered as one due to the extra struggles that helped her overcome challenges and got her to where she is. As she gets involved with RHSA, she likes how the program is a safe space for her to meet other students who understand and have gone through similar engagements. Rena sees RHSA as an important addition to campus and admires her Peer Leaders and the faculty who have helped her and other students grow at the university.
Rena’s future goals are to go to law school where she would like to study Internal Law and have a career in politics. Outside of school, she likes to relax, play video games, go to the gym, and play volleyball. Some advice that she would give to fellow students is: “It is going to get tough, but it is just managing time. When you need to do an assignment, get it done. Once it is done it is out of the way. Just get those assignments done and eventually, it will all come together.”
Ryan Schaefer, Exercise Science
Congratulations to Ryan Schaefer for earning the honor of being one of our RHSA February Students of the Month! From Revere, Massachusetts, Ryan is a first-generation student majoring in Exercise Science at UMass Lowell’s Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences. For college, he knew that ever since junior year of high school, he wanted to go to school near home and prioritize spending more time with his mom and grandma. He chose UMass Lowell after one of his friends gave him a tour on campus during the winter and instantly the university felt at home to him. His favorite thing about UMass Lowell so far are the experiences he shared with his RHSA Faculty Advocate, Professor Michelle Williams, and with his Peer Leader, Anaya Zuniga. They made him feel welcome and helped him deal with extracurriculars and hone in on his studies better.
Being a first-generation student, Ryan views the experience as representing his family in a way. He knew he came to college to give back to his mom and make a career for himself. Ryan appreciates doing something not common in his family and has a great supporting cast at home, while also having a community at the university with RHSA to support him as well. As he gets involved with RHSA, he likes how the program provides a sense of community and allows him to meet new people who have similar experiences to him. Ryan is grateful to have had the opportunity to talk to people that he might not have come across if he wasn’t part of something like RHSA.
Ryan’s future goals are to focus on the health field, specifically on sports medicine as he strives to become an orthopedic. He initially wanted to be a physical therapist but after taking a few courses, he later realized what he wanted to study. Next semester, he is looking forward to maintaining GPA as he is seeing success with the routine he has implemented, as well as commuting after living on campus during his freshman year. Outside of school, Ryan likes to spend time with mom and grandma, try new breakfast places on the weekends, and make time with friends to play video games and watch movies to stay connected with them.
The greatest piece of advice he would give to fellow students is to work on their time management skills. He learned about Google Calendar, where it has helped him keep track of assignments.
Ryan would like to thank everyone who has supported him and for receiving the recognition. “I am very honored to be recognized. It’s not something that I expected. It kind of caught me off guard. I didn't know I was making a lasting impact with multiple people across campus. I can't say enough how honored I am.”
Ivan Kim, Chemistry
Congratulations to Ivan Kim for earning RHSA’s November Student of the Month! Ivan is a first-generation chemistry major who wants to go on to become a pediatrician.
Ivan’s first semester at UMass Lowell was tough but he was happy for the support from his family and friends; as he told us, “having moments to spend with family makes it worth it.” He also finds time throughout his day to meet with classmates and friends on campus. Ivan really enjoyed First-Gen Week at UMass Lowell because he was able to meet new people.
Ivan was inspired to become a doctor after completing a high school internship with UMass Medical during high school. He shadowed a cardiologist which helped him “step out of his boundaries to do something.” Ivan also spent a lot of time up until college volunteering at his elementary school either helping students with homework after school or playing games, as a sort of “mind break” from his challenging academics. Ivan loved going back to support his old teachers who taught him. He said, “they helped raise me. I am thankful for them.” His experiences helping kids and interest in becoming a doctor, helped Ivan to the goal of becoming a pediatrician. He looks up to his older brother who is a senior biology major here at UML and interested in becoming a doctor. Ivan’s brother is a great support system for him: “I look up to my brother a lot. If anything, he helped shape my life the best.”
Outside of his academics, he volunteers for an early-college advocacy program where he meets with the state legislature to try to increase access to college classes for high schoolers and close the disparities. Right now, he’s working on implementing these plans in Lowell High School, his alma mater, to improve the program that helped him be so successful. Ivan has had a lot of opportunities and is working hard to make the opportunities more available to other students. RHSA has been a support network for Ivan, and any questions come up, he feels he can contact our Success Coach or Program Director and attend other programs designed to help him reach his potential.
Luis Del Rosario, Business
Congratulations to Luis Del Rosario for earning RHSA November Student of the Month! Luis is a first-generation student studying Business with a concentration in Finance. He moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic when he was 10 years old, and it was a “seamless transition.” He enjoyed his first semester of classes and now that he can choose his own schedule, he’s found a better school-work-life balance for the upcoming Spring Semester. Luis takes his academics seriously and still manages to work part time and play basketball with friends. Being a first-generation student, Luis felt “kind of anxious coming in. Since Welcome Day, that changed. I never felt like an outsider here.” He finds Lowell welcoming and wishes he had learned about RHSA sooner. He thinks RHSA’s summer program First to Launch, which students can take before their first semester, is a great opportunity for incoming RHSA students to partake in.
Right now, Luis is still looking at all the possibilities for his future. He likes his major and is working now to home in on his interests. He wants to take internships to find what he’s interested in, as well as build his character and leadership skills. He might want to pursue a master’s program, but he is not sure yet. Right now, Luis is looking for his passion within finance, but he’s excited for the search. His RHSA Faculty Advocate, Dr. Catherine Rymsha, nominated Luis because, “Luis is a great student in the PODs. He is asking all the right questions and taking charge of his academic career. I'm impressed by his efforts and dedication!”
His favorite RHSA event was a talk given by Alejandra Campoverdi, author of FIRST GEN: A Memoir. He connected with her experience and how she overcame everything. As a first-generation student, Luis takes it upon himself to be a role model for his family. He wants to teach his cousins how to go through the college experience from applications to starting out. He said his first semester was challenging but he would tell someone going through it to “persevere through everything and push yourself. Always communicate with professors. There’s always a chance to boost your grades.”
Emily Diaz (formerly Terrero), Psychology
RHSA is excited to congratulate Emily Diaz for receiving a November Student of the Month award! Emily is a first-generation psychology major focused on helping children and adolescents. She spends her weekend as a Sunday school teacher: “I see how the changes in their lives affect them and I love when they come up to me with problems. I want to study that and help them.”
She’s spent most of her life in Lawrence, MA and is happy that UMass Lowell is nearby. She appreciates her scholarships and financial aid plan. Her favorite part of campus are the study spaces, especially those in RHSA, the professors, and she really connected with her advisor Anita Lee.
Her favorite RHSA community event so far has been “How to Start off on the Right Foot” which she took at the beginning of her first semester. It helped her organize her semester calendar through looking at the syllabus and planning out when she could best study. Emily reiterated the advice that the upperclassmen running the workshop told her, “Listen to the professor during the lecture but take notes on the slide ahead of time or right after class to get all the information.”
Being first-generation is especially difficult because of the expectation to succeed and be perfect. Emily can be under pressure to be a good role model for her younger siblings and cousins as she leads the way. She knows her parents do not know as much about college or the processes, but she had support from her high school guidance counselor. It was helpful during the application process and made the transition to UMass Lowell very smooth. Her advice to incoming students is, “You don’t need to have everything figured out right away. Be easy on yourself. Take time to look at the syllabus, plan out everything, keep on top of classes and focus on school without burning out. Take it calmly.”
One RHSA-exclusive class that Emily enjoyed was College Writing I for RHSA students. The class was paced well and had a nice professor. While College Writing I is a general education requirement for all students, Emily enrolled in the RHSA-specific section, which helped her feel more comfortable learning how a college class works. Things like the essay help guide made reading and understanding the expectations that the syllabus outlined and other campus resources more accessible and clearer for her.
Jessica Martinez, Business Administration
Congratulations to Jessica Martinez, an RHSA October Student of the Month! Jessica is a business major with a concentration in accounting through the Manning School of Business. She enjoys relaxing by doing yoga, painting, and cooking for her family of four. She especially enjoys making traditional foods, like Salvadorian tamales, the way her grandmother taught her.
Jessica is a passionate and analytical person. She discovered her interest in accounting through high school electives. She even had an internship opportunity at the end of high school at an accounting firm that really motivated her to continue learning more about this field. She says that “college is a change. Academically, it’s ok. There’s worry about how your life is going to be: living, transportation, etc. College is bigger scale.” Like with any transition, she second guessed her ability at the beginning because of the overwhelming change but she said that when she spoke with the RHSA Success Coach, it really helped her calm down.
Being a first-generation college student, she wants to take advantage of her educational opportunities and make her family proud. One of her goals is to always continue learning, have financial stability, and take care of her family. Before she came to college, she wrote in her high school yearbook a quote by Matthew McConaughey:
I’m never going to be my hero. I’m not going to attain that. I know I’m not. And that’s just fine with me because that just keeps me with somebody to keep on chasing.
And she finished her note to herself with “Please read this when you’re burnt out, tired, or graduating college. You made it.”
She’s looking forward to taking on more campus activities in the coming semesters and is particularly interested in joining a DifferenceMakers team. Jessica is only just finishing her first semester at college, but she is wise, disciplined, and determined to take on all the challenges that come her way.
Nana Ama Asanta Opoku, Exercise Science
Congratulations to Nana Ama Asanta Opoku for achieving October Student of the Month!
Nana Ama Asanta Opoku is an exercise science major on the physician’s assistant track. She originally moved to the United States from Ghana when she was 13 to be closer to her dad and for a better education. One of the big upsides of going to UMass Lowell is that its location is near to her family and she was excited about the great programs. One thing that she loves about UML is how comfortable and available her professors are; they “are always there for me” and “I feel comfortable with them.” It makes her life easier. One of her favorite things at UMass Lowell is the RHSA space because she feels safe and at ease to study, connect with other students, or talk with our Success Coach, Jackie Cao.
As a first-generation college student, Nana mentioned that it can be stressful because her family is relying on her so there’s kind of a weight on her shoulders to succeed. As Nana put it, in spite of that stress: “I have enough support to complete my dream. I don’t know what I would do without RHSA.” Her dream is to become a physician assistant, which is a type of medical provider who educates patients and shows compassion for them. She feels like it is her duty to care for others and is studying for a career that enables her to do it.
In her second semester, she is taking six courses; one of them is an art class that she is really excited about because she loves to draw. Nana is also looking forward to meeting new people and professors, as well as finding time to work outside of classes. Right now, she works around 20 hours per week as an optical assistant at an eye doctor’s office. She mentioned that working in a medical office has really shown her how to interact with different types of patients from confused to knowledgeable. Nana said, “it all ties into what I want to be doing in the healthcare field.” Nana is a kind, intelligent, hardworking person which will help her continue her success in the coming semesters!
William Liberato, Biology
Congratulations to William Liberato, an RHSA October Student of the Month! William is majoring in Biology in the Pre-Medical/Pre-Health track in UMass Lowell’s Kennedy College of Sciences. He enjoys relaxing with his friends and family, as well as reading mystery novels and going to the movies.
Outside of UMass Lowell, he started as a volunteer at a nursing home and was quickly hired because of his passion and connection with the patients. He’s interested in pursuing psychiatry because he wants to learn more about Alzheimer’s Disease and other brain diseases. One of the reasons William chose UMass Lowell was the strong research opportunities offered here. The transition from high school to college was not an easy one, but he feels lucky that he has support from his family and that RHSA has offered him a lot of support through the process. William mentioned that making an appointment with the RHSA Success Coach Jackie Cao really helped him organize and that going to RHSA events about study tips helped him hone his study skills. College is different from high school; it’s a lot harder so getting support from the beginning has made the transition easier according to William.
He doesn’t want to let his parents down and experiences a lot of pressure to work hard and get good grades, but he loves the freedom and the ability to take on the responsibility of being a student, a son, and a worker. William says to ask for help when you need it because most people want to help you succeed. He knows how difficult freshman year can be and wants everyone to experience the same amount of support that he had.
William has had a great first semester and is exemplifying the success the RHSA wants for its members. William is a kind, hard-working, empathetic student who looks forward to continuing his studies and being successful.
Karen Nakigudde, Psychology
Congratulations to Karen Nakigudde, an RHSA September Student of the Month! Karen is majoring in Psychology in UMass Lowell’s College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. She enjoys music, singing, dancing, and writing poetry.
Karen chose UMass Lowell for the many opportunities provided by the school for students, the diversity, and an event held by the Office of Multicultural Affairs that offered her the chance to stay overnight at UML to really understand what life here is like. She mentions that the transition from high school to college is not an easy one, but RHSA has offered her a lot of support through the process. She appreciates RHSA providing a space for her to express academic struggles, and she’ll never forget her first RHSA Pod meeting when she shared struggles she had been having during her first week of college. She says it helped to know she was not the only student struggling, and it created a bond between her and her fellow first-generation students.
Karen’s biggest goal is to graduate on time, and complete her honors requirements. More than that, she is focused on having a fulfilling college experience. She mentions that the extra work from the Honors College takes a considerable amount of effort, but she knows that it will be worth it in the end.
When asked what advice she has for other students, Karen says everyone needs to make use of the resources available to them. She knows how difficult freshman year can be, and wants everyone to experience the same amount of support that she did. Specifically, time management ranks highest on her list of things to focus on when starting school. Self-care is also something she focuses on, and says “if you’re not okay, you’re not going to get anything done”.
Karen has had a strong start to the year and is exemplifying the success the RHSA wants for its members. For the past two years, Karen has been in a mentoring program through the Massachusetts BAR Association. She wants to be a lawyer, and during her two-year membership she has interned at two different courthouses. She enjoyed her experiences at each, and looks forward to the rest of her time here at UML.
Kenneth Ibarra Suarez, Electrical Engineering
Congratulations to Kenneth Ibarra Suarez, an RHSA September Student of the Month! Kenneth currently studies Electrical Engineering in the Francis College of Engineering. He enjoys listening to music such as Banda MS and Sturgill Simpson, and playing soccer for one of UMass Lowell’s intramur l teams.
Kenneth was raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, and came to the U.S. when he was 12. He mentioned that he only knew three words in English at this point: ‘chicken’, ‘bathroom’, and ‘chair’. Even with language and cultural barriers, he went on to become the valedictorian of his high school. Covid forced him to overcome many challenges on his path to valedictorian, including navigating online courses. He is proud of everything he has overcome to be where he is today, and wants people to know that anything is possible. He says that it is all about staying motivated, and finding your motivation in the support of your friends and family.
The decision to come to UMass Lowell was an easy one for Kenneth. After touring a handful of other private schools, he felt out of place and unable to relate to the people there. He felt far more at home at a larger school like UML, where diversity is far more present. He specifically cited Lowell itself as a huge factor in why he loves UML, saying everyone has so much pride in their city, and there is always something to do here.
Being a first-generation college student means a great deal to Kenneth. His grandfather passed away when his father was only twelve years old, so his father never had a chance to obtain a college education. His parents made the decision to move to the U.S., and never see their own parents again, just so he could have more opportunities. His future goals include obtaining his undergraduate degree here at UML with a minor in business management, and then possibly continuing on to attend graduate school.
When asked what River Hawk Scholars Academy meant to him, Kenneth said it showed him that he was not alone. It showed him that he can be part of a community that understands a lot of the challenges he has faced. He also noted the many activities he enjoys through the RHSA, and how they have helped him learn about life and success on a college campus.
Seyla Var, Exercise Science
Congratulations to Seyla Var, an RHSA September Student of the Month! Seyla is studying Exercise Science at the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences here at UMass Lowell. He grew up in Lowell, and after passing by UMass Lowell hundreds of times throughout his life, decided to enroll when the time came.
One of Seyla’s favorite things about UMass Lowell is RHSA. He says it is “the best thing that has happened to [him] at UML”. He specifically pointed out how easy it is to talk to the advisors, how friendly the staff are, and how much he enjoys spending time in the RHSA space. He mentioned that he only went to college because his parents wanted him to, but now it is very important to him. Being a first-generation college student is equally as important to him, as his parents are immigrants, and he feels a strong sense of pride in his future responsibility of leading the next generation of his family through the college process.
Seyla has plans to graduate from Umass Lowell, work as a physical therapist working assistant for a few years, and then to continue to obtain his master’s degree so that he can become a physical therapist. After working as a physical therapist for a few years he plans to go back to college for further education, and eventually become a professor. He also has dreams of owning his own boutique at some point.
Seyla attended a vocational school for engineering, and while there received an award recognizing his work on a project for NASA. He also enjoys going to the gym, and says it is a huge factor in why he is studying exercise science. He finds a great deal of happiness in teaching others about what he is learning, and passing down knowledge to those interested. He is part of the powerlifting club here at UML, and he has plans to compete one day in a powerlifting competition.
When asked if he had any advice for his fellow students, Seyla said “have good study habits, take care of yourself, and don’t forget to eat”. He noted that he is grateful he was able to develop good study habits before his first exam. He also always offers to pick up food for his friends, as he so often sees both himself and his peers too engrossed in their studies to remember to eat. Overall, he preaches self-care in all aspects of life.