Four Belmont Grads From UMass Lowell

Four Belmont residents were part of a record number of graduates – 3,169 – who were presented with diplomas at UMass Lowell's 2013 Commencement exercises.

For the second year, UMass Lowell held two commencement ceremonies because of the increase in graduates – up more than 250 since last year and more than 1,000 since 2007, a period that has seen a 40 percent increase in enrollment and rising retention. It is the sixth year in a row that a record number received degrees.

Both ceremonies were presided over by UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan. The first event honored bachelor's degree recipients and featured commencement addresses by Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis and student speaker Mary Kathryn Hazel, a history major and Commonwealth Honors Scholar from Chelmsford. 

The second ceremony recognized recipients of master's and doctoral degrees, at which Commencement addresses were delivered by UMass Lowell alumnus Harish Hande, a social entrepreneur bringing solar-powered electricity to rural India, and Janet Johnson of Dracut, a recipient of a master's degree in peace and conflict studies.