Endowment Report

“UMass Dartmouth is so important to our region. It opens up so many opportunities for students and families. We are believers in public education and acknowledge the value of having this research university in our backyard.”

Inspired by their daughter Sara’s passion for her work at the Coastal Systems Program and motivated by the Massachusetts Public Higher Education Endowment Incentive Program, John and Gail Sampieri deepened their philanthropic commitment to UMass Dartmouth and established an endowment that would provide long-lasting support for the program. 

The Sampieri's endowment supports summer interns in the Coastal Systems Program--the logistical, educational, and data synthesis center for water quality monitoring throughout southeastern Massachusetts that maintains operational and analytical support for all the region's towns.

Read more about how a love of the SouthCoast and parents’ pride inspired the Sampieris to build a philanthropic legacy at UMass Dartmouth.

“I’m lucky to be attending the School for Marine Science & Technology under a research assistantship with Professor Pingguo He in the Fish Behavior and Conservation Engineering Research Group, but there are still student fees and research expenses that must be funded somehow. This scholarship helped me relieve that financial strain and gave me a peace of mind so I can concentrate on what’s important, and that’s science.”

Hailing from Uganda, Ssempijja is a Ph.D. research assistant focusing on plastic pollution from discarded fishing gear in inland fisheries, particularly in the developing world. He is the recipient of the Brian Rothschild Scholarship.

“Thanks to this scholarship, I’m able to get the most out of my college experience. I can commit myself to my academics as an Honors College student, which requires me to do challenging assignments and maintain a high GPA. Without worrying about how I’ll cover my tuition costs, I’ve been growing as a student and professional through different opportunities that wouldn’t have been possible without this scholarship.”

Sassin, a first-generation student and recipient of the Donald H. Ramsbottom Endowed Scholarship, expertly balances her involvement in Corsair Cheer with on- and off-campus jobs that prepare her to become a marketing professional.

“This scholarship meant that I didn’t need to find a full-time job. I could participate in track and field/cross country, work in the Admission Office as a tour guide, and have both fit neatly with my classes. One day, I hope to fund a scholarship for student-athletes who face long, exhausting schedules of practice, games, and homework.”

As captain of the track and field/cross country teams, Paris earned All-LEC First Team honors in 2023, finishing third at the Little East Championship, and is the recipient of the Alexander T. & Jan K. Andreassen Endowed Scholarship.

“My laptop wasn’t compatible with a specific exam software that was required for my studies at UMass Law. This software was critical to my academic success, but thankfully, a scholarship helped me purchase a new one. With the right tools, I’ve been able to work with course materials and learn from them without difficulty.”

A CATIC Foundation Endowment Scholarship recipient, Pacheco is a proud ‘UMassD lifer’ with an undergraduate degree in history and a law degree in progress.

“Because of this scholarship, I was able to continue my involvement in Corsair Band and could work just the weekends. I didn’t have to make sacrifices in terms of losing this extracurricular program, which is historically the best it’s ever been. As the Band’s treasurer, I wouldn’t have been able to balance working full-time and leading our wind and jazz ensembles, which is important to me and my future career in music education.”

Fuentes has set his sights on sharing his love for the arts and music through music education with support from the Lady Mary Morley Crapo Hyde Eccles Scholarship.

“As a student in a demanding major and paying for tuition on my own, I have to work while I am in school. However, the support that I have received from this scholarship allowed me to stay focused on my clinicals at St. Anne’s Hospital and care for my patients without worrying about financial stressors. This scholarship gave me the opportunity to help the community and grow as a student and person.”

The recipient of the Margaret O’Grady Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Borges is committed to both her studies and supporting others’ success as a tutor at the Academic Resource Center.

“This scholarship mentally and physically prepared me to be successful in the classroom and a leader on the football team. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to return to UMass Dartmouth this semester, but this aid helped me stay on the right path and kept structure in my life.”

Aponte, a first-generation student-athlete and recipient of the College Now—Donald C. Howard Endowed Scholarship, balances his commitment to academics with his role as a standout running back for Corsair Football.

“During these past few years, I have found myself struggling with my mental health, and college became difficult at times. I had to take breaks from working full-time and participating in extracurricular activities to take care of myself and my family. I feel strongly that this scholarship aided me in making a comeback as a scholar and reclaiming myself as a person.”

Mejia, a recipient of the John M. & Julie T. Murphy Endowed Scholarship, gains valuable experience as a senior peer counselor in the Financial Aid Office, where she answers students’ questions.