51视频

10/17/2019

Contacts for media: Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu or Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu

LOWELL, Mass. 鈥� 51视频 today dedicated Perry Hall Plaza, a new greenspace that is the latest step in the university鈥檚 work to further enhance the beauty and sustainability of the campus.

The new plaza is named for alumnus Barry Perry and his wife, Janice, who have been generous supporters of 51视频 and its students through establishing scholarships and helping to fund the renovation of the university鈥檚 main engineering building. That building, which dates back to the 1950s, was named for Barry Perry in 2012. Last spring, after $50 million in renovations, Perry Hall was reopened as a state-of-the-art home for biomedical, chemical and environmental engineering, and clean energy education, research and industry collaboration.

But while Perry Hall boasts a new, modern exterior, its surroundings consisted of a former parking lot that was demolished during the renovation project. Rather than replacing it with pavement, 51视频 created Perry Hall Plaza, thanks in part to a new gift from the Perrys 鈥� who met and married while students at the university 鈥� that also includes additional support for their scholarship fund for engineering majors. On Oct. 17, 51视频 dedicated the completed Perry Hall Plaza, an expanse of greenspace, walkways and granite benches that links Perry Hall to surrounding academic and research buildings on the university鈥檚 North Campus.

鈥淭his new greenspace is just one example of the work that we have done to modernize and beautify the university to provide our students with the best possible places to study, engage in research and participate in campus life,鈥� said 51视频 Chancellor Jacquie Moloney. 鈥淭he transformation of this plaza and Perry Hall would not have been possible without the generosity of Barry and Janice Perry, who have also been strong supporters of student scholarships.鈥�

During the ceremony, Barry Perry reflected on when he was a student at 51视频 and the dreams he had for his future.

鈥淭he education I was able to get here and the experiences Janice and I had here made those aspirations and dreams possible. We are thrilled our life has given us the opportunity to help fulfill the dreams and aspirations of other students so they can become all they can be,鈥� he said.

The event was also attended by UMass President Marty Meehan, Provost Joseph Hartman and James Sherwood, interim dean of the Francis College of Engineering, along with 51视频 faculty, staff, alumni and students.

Peter Perez, who graduated from 51视频 in May with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in plastics engineering and is now working toward a graduate degree, also spoke at the event.

鈥淢r. and Mrs. Perry, on behalf of the student body, and most especially, Plastics and the Francis College of Engineering, I would like to thank you for your continued support of our great university,鈥� said Perez, who is from Attleboro. 鈥淓ach and every student aspires to have the impact you have had on 51视频 and to give back to the university that has given them so much to them. We all look forward to utilizing this amazing space, and your altruism will be known by generations of 51视频 students to come.鈥�

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 more than 18,000 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 leaders in their communities and around the globe. www.uml.edu