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.

  • Andrew Farkas
    Health Informatics

    Andrew Farkas, chief operating officer at Boston MedFlight, returned to college after 35 years to complete his M.S. in health informatics, with a specialization in management.

  • Suparlan Lingga
    Public Health – Health Care Management

    Suparlan Lingga ’17 came to UMass Lowell to further his education in public health. Now he coordinates the Indonesian government’s work with UNICEF to improve child and maternal health, education and safety.

  • Varsha Perkins
    Education

    Varsha Perkins loves both her teaching and honors classes.

  • Simone Peironnet
    Radiological Sciences and Protection

    Simone Peironnet secured a job with Boeing as a health physicist before graduating from UMass Lowell.

  • Isabella De Souza
    Nursing

    Isabella De Souza has won two scholarships that will allow her to study Spanish abroad, so she can bring multiple languages to her future nursing career.

  • Ed Priest '82
    French, Music

    Ed Priest came to UMass Lowell to study French and music, which led to a career teaching French and Spanish — and joining a mariachi band in Mexico.

  • Franchesca Arias
    Sociology & Spanish

    Honors student Franchesca Arias is passionate about studying abroad after completing a summer program in Valencia, Spain.

  • Melanie Sunnerberg
    Finance and Marketing

    Business administration major Melanie Sunnerberg has a passion for finance that she’s honed through a co-op experience at MFS Investment Management and her leadership roles in student organizations.