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Meet the first two Charles F. Sears Dri Air Industries Endowed Scholarship Fund Recipients
We are very pleased to introduce the two recent recipients of the Charles Sears Scholarships developed in conjunction with UMass Lowell.

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.
Zubin Pinkham
Plastics Engineering (MSE)
Graduated 2022 Spring

Zubin Pinkham was the first recipient of the Charles F. Sears Dri-Air Industries Inc. Endowed Scholarship Fund. He recently earned his master's degree in Plastics Engineering. Prior to graduate school, he received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering also from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. In between those two programs he served for five years as an infantryman in the United States Army. While serving, he was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade and the 82nd Airborne Division with whom he spent six months in Afghanistan.

"This scholarship will allow me to focus even harder on my academics and achieving success as a student. I'd like to thank you again for your generosity and assure you that this scholarship has gone to a deserving and appreciative student."

Since graduation, he has moved to Minneapolis where he is currently employed as a plastics engineer at Trane Technologies. In my role there, I serve as a subject matter expert in plastics and support teams in new product development, procurement, and manufacturing. He was also named the Massachusetts National Guard Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for 2022 after winning the state’s Soldier of the Year competition in March and received a promotion to the rank of Staff Sergeant.  
Ferry Irawan
Plastics Engineering
Expected Grad Year: 2023

Ferry Irawan was selected as the second recipient of Charles F. Sears Dri-Air Industries Inc. Endowed Scholarship Fund.

"I am honored and pleased to receive this scholarship; therefore, I want to take this time to express my gratitude for the opportunities it will provide me towards my educational journey. Your generosity and contribution are greatly appreciated.
 
I am very fortunate to be in the position where I could conquer my dream of becoming an engineer at UMass Lowell. As someone who grew up in a less privileged community and being raised by a single mother who never finished middle school, attending college was only a pipe dream for me. Scholarship opportunities such as this one opened door for me to achieve the impossible and I am forever grateful for it.
 
Throughout my undergraduate study at UMass Lowell and co-op experiences, I found a passion in medical device development field particularly for surgical tools as well as implants. I am very thrilled to be able to further my education at a graduate level.
 
Thank you again for your generous support to the UMass Lowell scholarship program and your contribution certainly has inspired me to give back to the community in the future. Hopefully it will be in a form of scholarship to help other hard-working students who are in financial burden." 
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