Story and Source Ideas for Journalists

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UMass Lowell will hold Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 14, in two ceremonies featuring journalist Judy Woodruff and Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart.

05/09/2016

This is a notice of upcoming events, photo opportunities and story ideas at UMass Lowell, compiled by the Office of University Relations, 978-934-3224. Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication unless otherwise noted.

Sources of the week

UMass Lowell faculty experts are available to discuss:

  • Whether presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump can beat Democrats Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders in the general election;
  • The state of the job market and what employers are looking for when hiring recent college graduates;
  • How parents can cope with Empty Nest Syndrome and what they can expect to experience as high-school and college students graduate and families move to the next chapter of their lives.

Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.

UMass Lowell and City Leaders Plant Tree for Arbor Day

When: Thursday, May 12, 4 p.m.
What: UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney, Lowell Mayor Edward Kennedy and other city and university leaders will come together to plant a shade tree on campus in observance of Arbor Day. The “Autumn Blaze” maple sapling, donated by the Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust, is a signifier of the Arbor Day Foundation’s designation of UMass Lowell as a “Tree Campus USA” and the city of Lowell as a “Tree City USA.” The respective honors pay tribute to college campuses and cities across the country that dedicate resources and maintain a stewardship plan for the ongoing care of trees on their lands.
Where: South Campus, at the intersection of Broadway Street and Solomont Way, Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

Celebration Toasts Oscar Winner Cooper, Distinguished Graduates, Alumni

When: Friday, May 13, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
What: UMass Lowell’s Commencement Eve Celebration will honor outstanding graduating seniors who have excelled in academics and service to the community and university, along with distinguished alumni. Oscar-winning actor Chris Cooper and his wife, actress and author Marianne Leone, will participate in a question-and-answer session moderated by bestselling author Andre Dubus III, a UMass Lowell English professor. Cooper and Leone will receive honorary degrees at Commencement the following day. They will be joined at the event by fellow honorary degree recipient John Kennedy ’70, of Naples, Fla. and Johns Island, S.C., retired president and chief financial officer of Nova Ventures Corp. Donald LaTorre ’59, ’07(H) – a resident of Holmes Beach, Fla. and Sparta, N.J., who is president of L&G Management Consultants – will be honored as this year’s recipient of UMass Lowell’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Students to be recognized are from Acton, Ayer, Billerica, Danvers, Dracut, Haverhill, Hingham, Lowell, Malden, Methuen, Orleans, Reading, Somerset, Somerville, Tewksbury, Wilmington and Woburn, Mass.; Durham, Conn.; Kansas City, Mo.; Newark, Del.; Manchester and Nashua, N.H.; and Landeck, Austria. The event has raised millions of dollars for student scholarships since 2008.
Where: UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

Journalist Judy Woodruff, Conductor Keith Lockhart to Address Graduates

When: Saturday, May 14. Morning exercises will be held at 9 a.m. and afternoon exercises at 2:30 p.m.
What: Journalist Judy Woodruff and Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart will address graduates of UMass Lowell’s Class of 2016 at Commencement exercises. In addition, the pair will join Oscar-winning actor Chris Cooper and his wife, author and actress Marianne Leone, and UMass Lowell alumnus John Kennedy ’70, retired president and chief financial officer of Nova Ventures Corp., in receiving honorary degrees for their outstanding achievements in their respective fields. Woodruff will address graduates during the morning ceremony, while Lockhart will speak during the afternoon ceremony. Prior to the start of afternoon exercises, Lockhart will meet with UMass Lowell music students and will be available for interviews. Members of the media interested in covering this event may contact UMass Lowell media relations for details.
Where: Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

Humanoid Robot from NASA to Be Demonstrated at Free Open House

When: Monday, May 16, 6 to 8 p.m.
What: A humanoid robot developed by NASA known as “Valkyrie” will be demonstrated during a free event for the public, students, researchers and representatives of robotics companies at the New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation (NERVE) Center at UMass Lowell. Valkyrie is at the center so researchers can examine how to expand the capabilities of the 6-foot-tall, 300-pound robot, including for potential roles such as helping humans explore space and planets such as Mars. The NERVE Center – one of the nation’s most advanced robotics testing facilities – evaluates robots’ performance and durability through a variety of means, including obstacle courses. Other robots to be demonstrated include inventions from iRobot, Omron Adept and the UMass Lowell Robotics Lab. Members of the public who have built robots they would like to showcase are asked to contact Adam Norton at nerve@cs.uml.edu.
Where: NERVE Center at UMass Lowell, 1001 Pawtucket Boulevard, Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

‘Girl Power!’ Explores Achievements of Women Engineers in Lowell

When: Tuesday, May 17, 3:30 p.m.
What: Chelmsford residents Laura and Elizabeth Kender ’16, twins who will receive degrees in plastics engineering during UMass Lowell Commencement exercises on May 14, will talk about their research as part of “Girl Power! Women Engineers in Lowell,” a free event open to the public. The Kenders, along with their brother, Stephen – also a UMass Lowell student – are the developers of Kender’s Body Armor, a unique gel inside protective sports apparel that hardens on impact to help prevent athletes from injuries. The siblings have filed a patent on the invention, which is among the winning concepts to come out of the university’s DifferenceMaker entrepreneurship education program. The event is presented by the Tsongas Industrial History Center, a partnership between the UMass Lowell Graduate School of Education and Lowell National Historical Park.
Where: Lowell National Historical Park Visitor’s Center, 246 Market St., Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

Summit Looks at the Future of Biomanufacturing

When: Monday, May 23 through Tuesday, May 24, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
What: Professionals from industry, government and higher education will come together for a summit on the future of biomanufacturing. Participants will include scientists and engineers, biopharmaceutical manufacturers, technology and system providers, raw material suppliers and agencies in the areas of development, manufacturing and engineering. The event will allow participants to discuss challenges, best practices and breakthrough technologies in the field. The event is presented by the Biomanufacturing Science and Technology Consortium (BSTC), Massachusetts BioManufacturing Center (MBMC) at UMass Lowell and the University of Massachusetts.
Where: UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

Leadership Conference Unites Women Professionals

When: Tuesday, June 21, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What: Award-winning interior designer and UMass Lowell graduate Taniya Nayak and humorist Gina Barreca will headline “The Power and Potential of Women,” the university’s first-ever conference for women leaders, which will explore avenues for their success. Bringing together professionals in business, education, government and the nonprofit sector, the conference will delve into career and personal development topics, from the value of mentoring and negotiating salaries to building influence and leading a healthy life. Sessions will be organized by four guiding topics: cultivating a rewarding career; leading, empowering and inspiring others; building impact, influence and innovation; and understanding holistic health methods. The event will also include networking opportunities for participants to share ideas and make new connections.
Where: UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

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