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Each
year the INDEPENDENT UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
at LOWELL presents awards in order to acknowledge
the contributions made by its alumni. Nominees
for these awards are individuals who 1) are graduates
of the University of Massachusetts Lowell or one
of its predecessors; 2) have made a significant
contribution or achievement in their field of
knowledge or endeavor or whose service to the
Association and/or the University or its predecessor
over the years has been outstanding and worthy
of recognition; 3) are noted for their exemplary
service to the public.
Click here for the application.
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Since 1978, the Alumni Association has annually recognized an alumnus/a worthy of receiving our Distinguished Alumni Award. All recipients have been Lowell graduates, who have not only distinguished themselves by their accomplishments, but also the alumni as a whole.
This year, the 29 th anniversary of the presentation of this award, the Independent University Alumni Association at Lowell, Inc. takes great pleasure in recognizing our 31st Distinguished Alumnus, Dr. Robert S. Smith.
Dr. Smith graduated from Lowell Technological Institute in 1961. He was born and brought up within a mile of the University. His parents were strong supporters of the benefits of a college education since neither of them had gone beyond the high school level. As a child, he was always interested in learning how things worked and had a particular interest in automotive mechanics. He graduated as a member of the Lowell Technological Institute's first class of Mechanical Engineers and subsequently earned an MS in Mechanical Engineering attending the Northeastern University evening program. He earned a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Massachusetts , Amherst in 1975. Dr. Smith's Ph.D. experience was a most difficult challenge, having been out of school for over 10 years before becoming a full-time student again in 1972. Nevertheless, it was well worth the effort and he attests that advanced degrees can provide a significant benefit to advancement in the field of engineering.
Upon graduation in 1961 Dr. Smith began work at the US Army Quartermaster Research and Development Center in Natick , MA as a Junior Engineer. This center is a major Research and Development Laboratory operated by the US Army to advance the protection and sustainment of the soldier on the battlefield. Over 1000 technical and support personnel are employed at the Center. Within a year he was promoted to the position of Project Engineer, where he successfully developed a new titanium alloy combat helmet, recognized as a significant accomplishment by the American Society of Metals. He also was responsible for development of a variety of ballistic protective devices utilized by Army Aircrews fighting in Vietnam . Dr. Smith's career at Natick was highly successful resulting in six promotions in the first nine years. He then became the youngest laboratory director in the history of the Army Natick Laboratories at the age of 40. Dr. Smith finished his Army career as the Director of Engineering responsible for all engineering development and product improvement programs on-going at the Natick Laboratories and retired early at the age of 48 after 27 years of government service. During his Army career he authored over 60 technical publications and was an invited speaker at several national conferences/symposiums.
Upon retirement from Government service, Dr. Smith became the Operations Manager for GEO-CENTERS, INC., performing research in support of R&D programs at the Army Natick Laboratories. Dr. Smith currently serves as Division Manager of the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Natick Operations.
Dr. Smith has two children and five grandchildren and currently resides in Lancaster , MA . His recreation activities are driven by a love for the outdoors and include boating and camping. He has a long standing interest in model railroads with a particular focus on American Flyer trains which dates back to his childhood. He has been active in local government serving on the Hudson , MA conservation commission for four years and the Minute Man Vocational Technical School Committee in Lexington , MA for over eight years.
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
- Edson D. Castro '60 - 1978
- Madeline Phillips Merritt '40 - 1978
- Stella M. Mazur '35 - 1979
- Joseph P. Flannery '53 - 1980
- Arnold J. Lovering '61 - 1981
- Walter Dawson '59 - 1982
- Barry M. Burbank '72 - 1984
- Paul J. Sheehy '58 - 1985
- Ernest P. James '42 - 1986
- Roger M. Boisjoly '60 - 1987
- George A. Perrone '64 -1988
- Mary A. Hallaren '27 - 1989
- Ludwig Rebenfeld '51 - 1990
- David Pernick '41 -1991
- Cahrles J. Hoff '66 - 1992
- Martin T. Meehan '78 - 1993
- Roy J. Zuckerberg '58 -1994
- John T. O'Donnell 52' - 1995
- Henry J. Powell '55 - 1996
- Mary E. McGauvran 39' - 1997
- Clementine F. Alexis 56' - 1998
- Richard R. Lessard '66 - 1999
- Thomas Vaughn 77' - 2000
- Albert B. Harvey '60 - 2001
- Alice Kiernan '42 - 2002
- Frederick O'bear '56-2003
- Frank M. Spinola '66 - 2004
- Michael T. McCaffrey '73 - 2005
- Donald A. McQuarrie '58 - 2006
- Carole Harper McQuarrie '59 - 2006
- Robert S. Smith '61 - 2007
Past Distinguished Alumni Announcements
2009 - Dr. Jeanne Whitten
2008 - Dr. James L. Swartz
2007 - Dr. Robert S. Smith
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