We are very pleased to introduce the 2024-2025 scholarship recipient developed in conjunction with UMass Lowell
Vanessa Belle

I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the generous scholarship you have provided. As an industrial engineer from the Philippines, I sought to deepen my expertise in plastics through this master’s degree program here at UMass Lowell. My passion for polymer sciences drives me to explore new technologies and address the evolving challenges in our industry and community.
This financial assistance has significantly alleviated the stress of managing expenses, allowing me to focus more on my studies and fully engage in academic opportunities. Your support enables me to dedicate myself more effectively to my research and learning.
I am truly honored to be chosen for this scholarship. Thank you for playing such a vital role in my academic journey.
I chose UMass Lowell because of its outstanding reputation in plastics engineering. I wanted to learn from the best to become the best plastics engineer I can be. At the university, I’ve actively engaged in a range of sports and activities, both on campus and beyond. My involvement in flag football, dragon boating, tennis, and hiking, along with participating in clubs like the Enable Club and the Filipino Club, has provided me with a richer understanding of my peers and my environment. I have thoroughly enjoyed classes such as mold design, product design, and finite element analysis. It’s been absolutely enlightening to discover how seemingly minor components can significantly influence the properties of manufactured products. After graduation, I hope to explore the country before embarking on a career that combines my passion for manufacturing as a plastics engineer with my critical thinking and continuous improvement mindset as an industrial engineer.
Sincerely,
Vanessa Belle

For UMass Lowell, access to education is a pillar of their mission. It’s not enough to be a great university; they are determined to be an affordable one for all talented and motivated students. Their scholarships help deserving students overcome the financial challenges that stand between them and their dreams—a good education, a good job and a good future.