LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Athletics recently hosted its seventh annual River Hawk to River Hawk Women's Mentoring and Networking Night at Moloney Hall inside University Crossing on February 9.

The Women's Mentoring and Networking Night has been a staple in enhancing the student-athlete experience since debuting on campus seven years ago. The event provides a unique opportunity for current students to connect with alumnae, who once were in their shoes.

"The best part of the night for me was meeting so many amazing female athletes and just getting to hear where they're at in college, what they aspire to be, getting to know them and having them listen to my story," said current superintendent of the Boston Police Department and former women's basketball standout Nora Baston '95. "UMass Lowell is the number one reason why I'm standing here today as the superintendent of the Boston Police Department. They literally saved my life and made me believe in myself. They picked me up during my hardest time when I lost my mom, so I'll always be forever grateful for UMass Lowell.

"Coming back here always brings back the best memories, and to know that these students are the future of the UMass Lowell family — and that I can give back to them and have such an impact on them — means the world to me," Baston added.

This year, 175 current student-athletes had the opportunity to connect with 25 alumnae, who offered guidance and shared their inspiring journeys.

"Being on the other side of the table from where I just was two years ago, it was really cool to be asked back to an event that I once attended," expressed recent softball alum Morgan Fisher '24. "I love Lowell. It's my home away from home. I love the people here and I just love the community that I created."

Current UMass Lowell student-athletes like sophomore softball player Thyanais Santiago and graduate student and cross country/track and field athlete Fleur Balogh de Galantha received valuable advice and mentorship from the accomplished alumnae in attendance.

"The event was very informational," Santiago recalled. "The best piece of advice I received is that you don't have to know what you want to do in your future and there's no one straight road to where you want to go. It was good to communicate with people who have been in my shoes before."

"I think that tonight's event was a really good resource for any student-athlete, from freshmen to grad students," echoed Balogh de Galantha. "I think the most meaningful part for me was probably seeing how deep the alumni connections go and understanding that people who graduated two years ago to people who graduated two decades ago still find that unity in UMass Lowell, and I think that's really special."