Dream big and work hard. That's the River Hawk way. UMass Lowell students pursue  their passion for learning in the classroom and beyond. They are each unique but are united in their drive to make a difference. Here are some of their stories.

  • Ramsha Farooq
    Electrical Engineering

    Pakistan native Ramsha Farooq ’19 came all the way to UMass Lowell for her master’s degree in electrical engineering. She’s staying in the area after landing a “perfect job” as an electrical engineer at Black & Veatch in Burlington, Mass.

  • Kevin Akers
    Mechanical Engineering

    As one of the university’s first DC-CAP Scholars, mechanical engineering major Kevin Akers is pursuing his dream of becoming an astronaut — while also continuing to make a difference in the lives of others.

  • Karam Alafandi
    Karam Alafandi
    History, Pre-med

    Karam Alafandi is studying history on his way to becoming a doctor.

  • Khairi Sears
    Business

    UML men’s lacrosse player Khairi Sears shines on the world stage with Team Jamaica – and on campus.

  • Nicole Carrasco-Cruz
    Criminal Justice

    Becoming a Red Sox Scholar in middle school set Nicole Carrasco-Cruz on course for her UML degree.

  • Vanessa Chen
    Computer Science

    Vanessa Chen likes computer science because it’s both logical and creative.

  • Nick Jarek
    Digital Media

    A summer co-op job with the DifferenceMaker program gave Nick Jarek a wider lens on his future career.

  • Nosagiegbon Igiede
    Public Health

    Student Government Association Vice President Nosagiegbon (Sai) Igiede takes advantage of leadership opportunities to develop his skills and support his classmates.