C A M P U S
N E W S
“If I can give some deserving kids, who might not otherwise have the resources, the opportunity to pursue engineering careers—well then, that’s what I’ll try and do.” —Barry Perry ’68
These days, he’s focused on helping younger generations find such success. “Having my name on the building is very nice,” says Perry—who concedes that it was his wife, Janice, who “really put me over the top” in deciding to make the recent gift. “And maybe one day, my grandkids will see it and think good things of me. But that’s not what’s important. “What matters to me is what’s always mattered—to encourage our young students, as much as possible, to pursue their careers in engineering, as opposed to, say, the service industries. Because it’s a value-added field— it’s where real wealth is created. And if I can give some deserving kids, who might not otherwise have the resources, the opportunity to pursue that—well then, that’s what I’ll try and do.” All this is in addition to his past support of the Plastics Engineering Department, the College of Engineering’s Dean’s Discretionary Fund, and the UMass Lowell Fund—as well as the time he gave, for seven years, as advisory board member to the College, and his role several years ago as a member of Plastic Engineering’s $11 million capital fund drive. “Barry Perry has demonstrated an unwavering commitment, over many years, to the Engineering program at UMass Lowell,” says Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Edward Chiu. “It is more than fitting that we recognize his generosity through the naming of Perry Hall.” The Perry Endowment Fund, valued last November at nearly $192,000, was enough this year to fund $1,600 scholarship awards to four UMass Lowell engineering students. “With this recent donation, Barry Perry will help support the upgrading of student and faculty space in the College of Engineering, and provide aid for student scholarships,” says Engineering Dean John Ting. “Donations such as this are vitally needed at a time when our students are shouldering an increasingly large fraction of their tuition costs. “The generosity of alumni like Mr. Perry helps us provide our students with the highest-quality education. On behalf of all our faculty, staff and especially our students, we couldn’t be more grateful.” Engineering students, top right, watch as the newly named engineering building is unveiled. Posing under the new Perry Hall sign are, in back row, from left, Plastics Engineering Department Chair Robert Malloy, Brian Madden, Barry Perry ’68 and Janice Perry. In the front row are, from left, Francis College of Engineering Dean John Ting, Executive Vice Chancellor Jacqueline Moloney, Chase Madden Perry, Alix Perry Madden, Kimberly Perry and Chancellor Marty Meehan.
S P R I N G 2 0 1 2 UMASS LOWELL MAGAZINE
9