(Photo courtesy of Peter Currier/Lowell Sun) “Freshman gather at the Tsongas Center for Convocation.”
Benjamin Heffner
Connector Editor
On Tuesday, Sept. 2, freshmen making up the UMass Lowell Class of 2029 gathered at the Tsongas Center for Convocation, a formal welcome for new students into the UMass Lowell community.
Chancellor Julie Chen encouraged students to get involved with campus life and academic opportunities, while at the same time building long-lasting connections and friendships that would help guide them throughout their college journey. “While you will share a lot with each other, each of your journeys is your own, and you will take what you learn in the classroom beyond the classroom,” Chen said.
Chen also had the privilege of officially conferring the over 3,300 new students for the fall semester. “I hereby welcome these students into the university’s community of scholars and confer upon them all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities, pertaining to matriculated students at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.”
Provost Joseph Hartman introduced the university’s academic deans: Dr. Mary Gallant of the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, Sue Kim of the College of Fine Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences (FAHSS), Dr. Noureddine Melikechi of the Kennedy College of Sciences, Dr. Susan Roberts of the Francis College of Engineering, and Dr. Jenifer Whitten-Woodring of the Honors College.
Keynote speaker and UMass Lowell graduate William Lefebvre ’24, a sustainability major, shared his experiences as a student, including representing UMass Lowell at a United Nations (UN) convention on climate change, and completing a co-op with Weston & Sampson Engineers Inc., where he now works as an environmental scientist as part of the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINC). “UMass Lowell gave me the tools, the network, and the confidence to step into spaces I never thought I’d be in,” Lefebvre said. Lefebvre is continuing his studies with a masters in Sustainability at Harvard University starting in the fall.
Students also got to hear from SGA President Gavin Robillard, River Hawk Athletics representative Willem Eisl, student trustee Abigail Cooper, and Greek Life President Tucker Norton. Robillard, a first-generation student, shared his experiences about the expectations of being a student. “I realized I wasn’t just doing it for myself; I also had a responsibility to family, friends, and others like me who weren’t sure if they belonged in college,” Robillard said.
The University Marching Band, under the direction of Dan Lutz and assistant director Deb Huber, performed selections from their 2025 field show “These Are A Few Of Our Favorite Things,” as well as the school’s fight song, “River Hawk Pride.” The University Choir, under the direction of Dr. Jonathan Richter, performed Phil Collins’ “Take Me Home,” and the colors were presented by members of the UMass Lowell Air Force ROTC Detachment 345. Tyler Martin, a Criminal Justice major, said he was surprised at how well the marching band sounded. “I had no clue what to expect from them, but everything they played was awesome,” Martin said.
Following Convocation, students attended the annual Engagement Fair, which introduced them to over 250 student-led clubs and activities on campus. Jaida Ackeifi, an applied biomed sciences major, said that the engagement fair was her favorite part of the day’s festivities. “I found so many clubs I was interested in,” Ackeifi said.
