UMass Lowell Connector Logo

A Conversation with Meryl Streep, April 1

Shayna Vigliotta
Connector Contributor

Award-winning actress Meryl Streep’s next public appearance will not be at an award ceremony, rather it will in our very own backyard.

The lovely and legendary Streep will be in Lowell on Tuesday, April 1. The famous actress will be speaking at the Tsongas Arena at 7:30 p.m. The event is open to UMass Lowell students, staff and as well as the public. The event was scheduled for Feb. 5 but was postponed due to weather conditions.

Streep will be speaking on behalf of the school’s Chancellor’s Speaker Series. Her speech will be in a form of a conversation, in which professor and author Andre Dubus III will ask about her career as the most Oscar nominated actress of all time.

UMass Lowell English majors will have a rare opportunity to attend a private question and answer session with Streep at the ICC at 4 p.m.

Along with Streep’s appearance, she will be establishing two scholarship funds for the students of UMass Lowell. A scholarship in her name will be granted to English majors as well as a math scholarship in honor of her former classmate, Joan Hertzberg.

Students have been buzzing around campus about their favorite Streep films. Movies such as “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Julie & Julia,” and “Mamma Mia!” have been stirring talk and getting students excited about Streep’s visit.

“I think it’s awesome that she’s coming to UMass Lowell because she can give a lot of different people influential insight,” said sophomore Christa Mixon. “I also know she’s doing the scholarship fund, and that’s really generous because that is going to help so many people.”

First-year student Mike Frey agrees with Mixon. “We are very fortunate to have someone like Meryl Streep come to our campus to talk and even more fortunate to have her give out scholarships in honor of this occasion,” he said.

Streep’s visit to the campus is expected to raise $100,000 to establish the scholarship funds.