LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Athletics has received an unprecedented $4 million philanthropic commitment from John Kennedy '70, '16 (H), as announced by Director of Athletics Lynn Coutts. The gift will be used to fund the enhancement of athletics facilities and support the needs of River Hawk student-athletes, ensuring that they can continue to compete at the highest level.   
 
"There is no greater champion for UMass Lowell Athletics and our student-athletes than John," said Coutts. "This historic gift will be transformational for our department to be able to provide the resources that many future generations of River Hawks need to excel in the changing landscape of college athletics. I am immensely grateful for John, and his unwavering support of what UMass Lowell Athletics is all about and belief in what we can become."  
 
In honor of Kennedy's generosity and lifelong support of UMass Lowell Athletics, the UMass Board of Trustees has voted to rename the Costello Athletic Center as the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex in a special dedication ceremony in October 2025.
 
"From his steadfast support for academics and research to his instrumental contributions to our Division I athletics program, there is no overstating the impact that John Kennedy has had on our UMass Lowell community," said Chancellor Julie Chen. "I am deeply appreciative of John's dedication to our mission and his vision as an invaluable philanthropic leader, helping our university soar to new heights." 
 
Kennedy graduated from one of UMass Lowell's predecessor institutions, Lowell Technological Institute, and went on to have a highly successful career in the tech sector, retiring as the president and chief financial officer of Nova Analytics and Nova Technologies in 2007. He credits the education he received with changing the course of his life, and in return, he has a long and outstanding record of philanthropy at UMass Lowell.
 
"I have said for many years that without my Lowell Tech and UMass Amherst education, I would never have been able to be as successful as I have been so fortunate to be," explained Kennedy. "In my first professional job, I felt totally comfortable with its requirements due to the preparation I received from both institutions. This is why I'm so happy to be able to give back like this to help our students."
 
Kennedy, along with his brother, became the namesake of the university's William J. and John F. Kennedy College of Sciences in 2015. Additionally, he has endowed multiple scholarships at UMass Lowell, underwritten the university's Nanotechnology Research and Development Center in his brother's memory, funded the Kennedy Family Basketball Court at UMass Lowell and established the Kennedy Cup Challenge between UMass Lowell and UMass Amherst. He serves on multiple boards within the UMass Lowell campus community, including the Athletics Advisory Board, the Chancellor's Advisory Council, and the Kennedy College Advisory Board.
 
He was honored with the UMass Lowell Distinguished Alumni Award in 2011 and an honorary doctorate in 2016.
 
For more information on how to support UMass Lowell Athletics, please visit www.goriverhawks.com/give.