UMass-Lowell raises $700K for scholarships

LOWELL, Mass. (AP) -- Officials say the University of Massachusetts-Lowell has raised nearly $700,000 for student scholarships through its annual commencement-eve gala.

The amount is more than what was raised last year and marks another consecutive record-breaking year.

The annual celebration has enabled the school to raise $2.2 million since the 2008.

This year's gala gave members of the public and the university to meet commencement speaker U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

Salazar, who also will be awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree, will address more than 1,900 undergraduates expected to receive bachelor's degrees at Saturday's ceremony.

Salazar was nominated for the honorary degree by U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, who represents the city in Congress. Tsongas invited the secretary to visit the Lowell National Historic Park.