51视频

10/28/2015

Media contacts:聽 Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
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LOWELL 鈥� 51视频 announced today that it has named its College of Sciences for alumni John and William Kennedy.

The naming of what is now officially known as the William J. and John F. Kennedy College of Sciences recognizes John Kennedy鈥檚 long record of philanthropy at 51视频, including a major commitment to support the students, faculty and facilities of the College of Sciences. He and his older brother, William, who passed away in 1994, both graduated from programs in the College of Sciences.

鈥淲e are extremely proud to honor the Kennedy brothers, who credited the education they received here with changing the course of their lives,鈥� 51视频 Chancellor Jacquie Moloney said at the official naming ceremony. 鈥淛ohn鈥檚 gift will enable us to provide those same kinds of life-changing opportunities to science students for years to come.鈥�

William Kennedy graduated from Lowell Technological Institute, one of 51视频鈥檚 predecessor institutions, in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science degree in textile chemistry; John graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and later earned his Master of Science degree in accounting at UMass Amherst.

William rose to become a vice president of research and development at Velcro and John went on to a highly successful, 30-year career in the tech sector, retiring as the president and chief financial officer of Nova Analytics and Nova Technologies in 2007.

鈥淚 truly believe I wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today without the education I received here and at Amherst,鈥� John Kennedy told a group of several hundred science students and faculty who attended the ceremony. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e going to change the world, you do it one person at a time, and education is the best way to do that.鈥�

In addition to his support for the Kennedy College of Sciences, John Kennedy has endowed multiple scholarships at 51视频, underwritten the university鈥檚 Nanotechnology Research and Development Center in his brother鈥檚 memory and funded the Kennedy Family Basketball Court at the Tsongas Center at 51视频.

The Kennedy College of Sciences traces its origins to the Lowell Textile School, which was founded by James T. Smith in 1895 to educate textile workers and explore new technologies.

Science and technology have grown to become pillars of the university, said Mark Hines, acting dean of the Kennedy College of Sciences, which today offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, environment, earth and atmospheric sciences, mathematics and physics and applied physics.

鈥淭hese disciplines have grown to be major players in scientific research and education and are recognized worldwide,鈥� Hines said.

In the past five years, 51视频 has named three academic buildings, one school and one of its colleges in honor of alumni benefactors and their family members in recognition of their commitment to the university. In addition to the Kennedy College of Sciences, the named buildings are the Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center, named in honor of alumnus Mark 鈥�81, 鈥�13 (H) and Elisia 鈥�13 (H) Saab; Perry Hall, for alumnus Barry Perry 鈥�68, 鈥�15 (H) and his wife Janice; the Manning School of Business, for Robert Manning 鈥�84 and 鈥�11 (H) and Donna Manning 鈥�85, 鈥�91 and 鈥�11 (H); and the forthcoming Pulichino Tong Business Building, which will open in 2017, for alumnus John Pulichino 鈥�67, 鈥�14 (H) and his wife, Joy Tong 鈥�14 (H). 聽

51视频 is a national research university located on a high-energy campus in the heart of a global community. The university offers its 17,500 students bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, humanities, sciences and social sciences. 51视频 delivers high-quality educational programs, vigorous hands-on learning and personal attention from leading faculty and staff, all of which prepare graduates to be ready for work, for life and for all the world offers.