UMass Lowell student Karma Melek, a peer leader in the River Hawk Scholars Academy, holds a sign celebrating the university’s Cummings Foundation grant. Joining Melek are, left to right, Dean of Equity and Inclusion Leslie Wong, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Julie Nash, Executive Director of Advancement Operations and Strategic Initiatives Emily Byrne, and RHSA Assistant Director Jenna Kapp. (UMass Lowell photo)
LOWELL – UMass Lowell has been awarded a $75,000 annual grant from the Cummings Foundation in support of the university’s River Hawk Scholars Academy (RHSA), a nationally recognized initiative serving first-generation college students.
The grant is subject to renewal for up to 10 years, for a total potential award of $750,000.
RHSA provides a coordinated network of support that includes faculty advocates, peer mentors, success coaching, research opportunities, career-connected experiences, leadership development and community-building programs. Today, RHSA serves more than 1,600 students across all class years and has become a cornerstone of UMass Lowell’s student success strategy.
The award is part of the Cummings Foundation’s expanded $35 Million Grant Program and follows a competitive selection process that included an invitation for UMass Lowell to present its case for long-term funding before a volunteer review committee. UMass Lowell was among 150 organizations selected to receive funding and was later invited to participate in a special review process for consideration of a 10-year award.
The new award builds upon a previous Cummings Foundation grant that helped RHSA evolve from a first-year support initiative into a multi-year program serving students throughout their academic journey. That early investment helped establish the staffing, infrastructure and outcomes that positioned RHSA for additional federal and philanthropic support.
“We are deeply grateful to the Cummings Foundation for its continued investment in UMass Lowell and our students,” said Chancellor Julie Chen. “This extraordinary commitment to the River Hawk Scholars Academy recognizes the importance of first-generation student success and creating pathways to opportunity. The foundation’s partnership will help ensure more students have access to the support, mentorship and experiences they need to thrive academically, professionally and personally.”
The award comes at a pivotal time for RHSA as demand continues to grow and federal funding that helped support recent expansion efforts comes to an end. The potential long-term nature of the grant will help sustain and strengthen RHSA’s high-touch, relationship-based approach while allowing the university to continue building pathways to academic success, career readiness and economic mobility.
“RHSA was founded on the belief that talent is everywhere, but the networks, guidance, and opportunities that help students translate talent into success must be intentionally built,” said Leslie Wong, dean of equity and inclusion at UMass Lowell and leader of the River Hawk Scholars Academy. “This long-term investment will allow us to strengthen and sustain a proven model that helps students build confidence, community, academic momentum, and career readiness while earning their degrees. The Cummings Foundation’s support affirms what we see every day: when students are surrounded by strong relationships, meaningful resources, and opportunities, they thrive.”
RHSA is embedded within UMass Lowell’s Learning Excellence and Achievement Pathways (LEAP) framework and aligns with the university’s strategic priorities around student success, retention, belonging and career-connected learning. UMass Lowell is also recognized as a First Gen Forward Institution by NASPA, reflecting the university’s commitment to advancing evidence-based support for students navigating the first-generation college experience. Nearly half of UMass Lowell’s recent incoming undergraduate students identify as first-generation college students, underscoring the importance of programs that help students navigate college and persist through graduation.
The Cummings Foundation’s annual grant program supports nonprofits serving Middlesex, Essex and Suffolk counties, as well as Brookline, Dedham, Milton, Needham, Quincy and Wellesley. This year, the Foundation increased its annual grantmaking from $30 million to $35 million and shifted to largely unrestricted funding, providing organizations with greater flexibility to address evolving community needs. Since its founding in 1986, the Cummings Foundation has awarded more than $650 million to Greater Boston nonprofits.
Other local organizations receiving Cummings grants this cycle include the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, which was awarded a ten year grant for up to $800,000, and Alternative House, which received a three year award of up to $75,000.
UMass Lowell students, from left, Nana Donkor, Carlie Malonson, Kujan Patel and Sotara Rorn. (UMass Lowell photo)
