01/08/2024
By Holly Lalos

The Rist DifferenceMaker Institute is a campus-wide program at UMass Lowell that encourages creative thinking in all UMass Lowell students (all majors and years in school). DifferenceMaker provides resources (funding, mentorship, skill-building workshops, etc.) to help students pursue their ideas, solve real-world problems they are passionate about, and have a social impact. To learn more about DifferenceMaker, please visit the website.

Past DifferenceMaker student ideas include: 

  1. developing curriculum to educate students in combatting online terrorist recruitment; 
  2. developing a safety jewelry product and application to help save lives; 
  3. educating high school students about drunk driving through performing arts; 
  4. helping students in need of food assistance; 
  5. developing 3D prosthetic hands for children in need, 
  6. informing voters about upcoming elections and candidate policies; 
  7. creating a water filtration system for developing nations; and many more. 

DifferenceMaker student teams gain support through the program and go on to make a positive impact in people’s lives and the world.

Don’t let your students miss out on the chance to compete in the 2024 12th Annual $50,000 Idea Challenge.

Applications close on Feb. 12 at 5 p.m.

Students can submit their application through the DifferenceMaker Idea Platform.

Questions? Please email differencemaker@uml.edu.