Tsongas Scholarship recipient Deborah Goncalves
by Jen Myers
Congratulations to Lowell High School seniors Deborah Goncalves and S Naung Naung Lay, who have been awarded UMass Lowell’s Tsongas Scholarships.
The scholarships, awarded to two graduating Lowell High School students each year, provide full tuition, fees, room & board for FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE!
Deborah feels a strong connection to Paul Tsongas. Like her, he came from an immigrant family, and his dedication to Lowell helped make it what it is today: a place that welcomed her family and gave her the opportunities she has now.
Deborah’s parents immigrated to the United States with only one suitcase and worked hard to build a new life. She recognizes that their dedication and perseverance made this opportunity possible for her. As a first-generation college student, Deborah is proud to follow in her sister’s footsteps by attending UML.
Deborah attended the Community Christian Academy in Lowell for elementary and middle school. She has earned over a 4.5 GPA in the Latin Lyceum, an academically accelerated program at Lowell High School.
Deborah is extremely involved in the JROTC program at Lowell High School, where she currently serves as the Logistics Commander and Drill Captain. Through her participation in JROTC, she has gained leadership experience and has been actively engaged in community service.
Deborah also served as the secretary of LHS’s Student Ambassador program. She supports newcomers and their families by translating and helping them feel connected to the LHS community. Outside of school, Deborah volunteers at her church, where she assists in the Children’s Ministry by working with neurodivergent children.
Deborah is excited to study mechanical engineering at UMass Lowell and aspires to work in aviation. She is fascinated by planes and their ability to connect countries, cultures, and people—an impact that has been personally meaningful.
Her advice for other Lowell High Students? Get involved! Get out, join extracurriculars, while also focusing on your grades – it is important and it sets you up for the rest of your career!
Tsongas Scholarship recipient S Nuang Nuang Lay
Naung Naung moved to Lowell in second grade, where his family made a strong connection with the Burmese community. He attended Greenhalge Elementary School and STEM Academy.
His church—where his father serves as a pastor—is a close-knit community that emphasizes service, offering Naung Naung many opportunities to volunteer and take on leadership roles. He has been volunteering since he was seven years old, regularly giving back to his community.
Like Paul Tsongas, Naung Naung believes that without community service he would not be the person he is today. He credits his parents with teaching him the importance of community service at a young age.
At Lowell High, Naung Naung has earned a 4.5 grade point average. At school, he works as the assistant athletic site manager and is deeply involved in sports operations. He also volunteers to set up and operate the sound system for school events such as sports and honors awards, pep rallies, assemblies, and other special programs (often extending late into the night!). Naung Naung is self-taught, continues to learn, and is always willing to go the extra mile.
He plans to study exercise science at UMass Lowell. He wants to help people get into better shape and lead healthier lives. He knows firsthand the impact that exercise can have on one’s physical and mental health and he wants to help others lead a healthy lifestyle.
His advice for LHS students? Go out and try to make a change, a difference… within your school, community, or job… or make just a simple, small, positive change with a friend.
