Chancellor Jacquie Moloney surrounded by her family Image by Lowell Sun
Make a Difference Award recipient Jacquie Moloney and her husband, Ed Moloney, are surrounded by their beautiful family.

05/18/2021
Lowell Sun
By Dacey Zouzas

Everything was coming up roses on May 1, and not just because it was Kentucky Derby day.

Strongwater Farm hosted a quaint Garden Party Reception celebrating UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney for the Make a Difference Award. The event was held on the patio under the tent at The Lanam Club in Andover.

Nearly 90 guests — all dressed to the nines — enjoyed a cocktail reception, dinner and a touching video presentation by UML graduate Noelle Lambert, who lost a leg in an accident while a lacrosse player at UML.

According to Strongwater Farm’s Martha Gaffney, the theme of Noelle’s address was how the culture of “making a difference” that Jacquie created at UML gave her the courage and inspiration to go on after her accident. UML invited her back to the lacrosse team, honored her scholarship, and assisted with her studies. One of Noelle’s most cherished memories was getting a big hug from Jacquie on Graduation Day. She would not be where she is today, training for the Tokyo Paralympic Games, if not for Jacquie.

In the spirit of Jacquie and “making a difference,” Noelle has started her own nonprofit, Born to Run, to provide prostheses to aspiring athletes. Visit Noellelambert.com for more information. Way to go, Noelle! Keep on shining!

Jacquie Moloney, who is simply a delight to be around, was appointed chancellor of UMass Lowell, a leader in innovation in higher education and online learning, in 2015. She is the first woman to lead the university since its founding in 1894. She manages a $500 million budget, overseeing the activities of more than 2,000 employees and 18,000 students.

Congratulations, Jacquie! Keep on smiling and making a difference every day!

Strongwater Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Tewksbury strives to enrich lives trough the healing power of horses, aspiring to make a difference one moment at a time, one day at a time, one person at a time.

This event raised $110,000 to benefit the farm’s programs. For more information, visit strongwaterfarm.org.

Share