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Seniors starting to celebrate

Graduating seniors picked up their commencement items at University Crossing Monday afternoon. (Courtesy photo)

Shayna Vigliotta
Connector Staff

Commencement is only a month away, and seniors are preparing themselves by ending a chapter in their lives and starting a new one. With classes coming to a close, finals sneaking up, and senior activities starting, students are beginning to embrace this bittersweet time in their academic lives.

“I am nervous for the real world and graduating but I am excited for new adventures,” said Tyler Quealy, a graduating senior in psychology.

To kick off senior events, undergraduates were able to attend Cap and Gown Countdown at University Crossing Monday afternoon to pick up their commencement items. The celebration included music, food, a cash bar, raffles and more.

Some seniors shared their post-graduation plans. Dyanne Perkins, a biology major, is continuing her education.

“I’m graduating and hopefully going to grad school and getting a job in a lab,” said Perkins.

Sabrina MacEachern, a marketing student, has other priorities to focus on now that she has more free time.

“I’m not getting a job yet, I don’t want to, daycare is expensive, I have a baby,” said MacEachern.

Nursing students were able to finish school in December but will be walking in the ceremony in May.

“I graduated in December, I did the summer program and I am working right now as a full-time nurse at Lowell General,” BSN Ernie Maurissant said.

Lee Vandergraaf, also a nursing student, is currently on the job hunt. “Now I have a few interviews for jobs as a full-time nurse,” said Vandergraaf.

Commencement Day is Saturday, May 14. Two ceremonies will be performed at 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell. The morning ceremony honors students in the colleges of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences along with Health Sciences and the Graduate School of Education. The 2:30 ceremony will honor students in the colleges of Engineering, Manning School of Business, Kennedy College of Sciences and students in the Intercampus Program.

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