Photo courtesy Edward Brennan

LOWELL – First-year and transfer students beginning their college careers at UMass Lowell Convocation on Monday were asked to challenge themselves, to lead and to connect with others.

Held at the Tsongas Center, the annual ceremony marks the official start of the academic year.

This fall, the university welcomes more than 3,700 new undergraduates. In UMass Lowell, the new students will find a vibrant campus full of opportunities to learn, grow, volunteer and forge new friendships.

Sharing how her UMass Lowell education laid the groundwork for her future was keynote speaker Dezanae Boston-Bernier ’16, ’21. A Dorchester, native, Boston-Bernier encouraged students to begin their journey with a “why not?” attitude.

“College is the time when you open your own doors. There are so many opportunities this university has to offer, whether you work on campus, join a club or take an interesting class. And every door, at minimum, is a chance for self-discovery,” she said.

UMass Lowell helped Boston-Bernier open a few doors of her own, as she holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in higher education administration from the university.

Keynote speaker Dezanae Boston-Bernier, left, with Chancellor Julie Chen. (Photo courtesy Henry Marte)

A former UMass Lowell staff member, she works at the T. Howard Foundation, where she helps students from underserved backgrounds step into internship opportunities in the media, entertainment and technology industries. She is also a certified birth doula who founded Empowered Birth LLC and serves as the operations manager for a growing animation studio.

UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen congratulated students on their decision to enroll at the university, noting rankings that place the institution as the No. 1 public university in Massachusetts, the No. 1 sustainable university, and No. 1 for return on investment.

She also spoke about UMass Lowell’s dedication to student success and the opportunity for every incoming student to have a career-connected experience for pay or course credit by the time they graduate. She encouraged students to pursue such opportunities, while assuring them they could always ask for help from staff, professors, mentors and fellow students if they need support.

She also told them she wants to know how they are doing along the way.

“I’m your chancellor,” she said. “Tell me about it. I want to know how you’ve connected and the opportunities you’ve taken advantage of.”

Student speakers included Student Government Association President Bryce Lee, a business administration major from Beverly, who invited students to connect with each other.

“I know walking into a place like this and hearing, ‘go build your community,’ can sound like a big assignment, but it doesn’t have to be. Start with meeting just one person,” he said.

Tucker Norton, a business administration major from Concord, introduced Boston-Bernier. Norton serves as the UMass Lowell student trustee on the UMass Board of Trustees, which oversees the five-campus system.

And, welcoming students into the university’s NCAA Division I River Hawk Nation of fans was Willem Eisl, a history major from Princeton and a member of the men’s cross country/track and field team. Eisl is the co-president of the university’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

“School spirit doesn’t belong only to the athletes. It belongs to all of us,” he said, asking students to get out and cheer for the athletes. “You change the energy when you fill the stands. You make competing at home special. You’re not just watching a game, you’re part of it.”

Members of the UMass Lowell Air Force ROTC Detachment 345 presented the colors and the UMass Lowell Marching Band performed classical selections along with popular songs heard at athletic events, including “The Final Countdown,” “Land of 1,000 Dances” and “River Hawk Pride,” the university’s fight song.

Of the more than 3,700 incoming students, 836 are joining the university’s Honors College, bringing its membership to 2,200. First-year students joining the university’s River Hawk Scholars Academy – a nationally acclaimed academic and support services program for individuals who are the first in their families to attend college – number 755. Total membership of that group now stands at 1,938.

Students from all years began moving into their residence halls on campus on Friday, Aug. 28. Classes begin on Tuesday.