NECC Engineering major Dimitrius Gonzalez (left in photo) is the first recipient of the RM Technologies Engineering Scholarship presented by Rafael Guzman.

Lawrence entrepreneur Rafael Guzman is an immigrant success story and he has created a new Northern Essex Community College scholarship to help others achieve their dreams.

He recently presented that scholarship—the RM Technologies, Inc. Engineering Scholarship Award—to Dimitrius Gonzalez, a 2015 graduate of Greater Lawrence Technical School who will major in engineering at Northern Essex beginning this fall.

Guzman came to Lawrence from the Dominican Republic in 1981 at the age of 15.  After graduating from Lawrence High School, he attended UMass Amherst, graduating with a degree in electrical and computer engineering with high honors.  He earned a master’s degree from Boston University and a certificate in Total Quality Management from Northern Essex.

He says he decided to create this scholarship to give others the same opportunities he’s had.  “We need scientists and engineers,” he said.  “I want to help young people from Lawrence get an education in these high demand fields.”

Shown front row left to right: Rafael Guzman, RM Technologies, and Dimitrius Gonzalez, NECC Engineering student.
Shown back row left to right: Esthefanie Castillo, RM Technologies; Yakaira Inoa, RM Technologies; Jessie Cabral, RM Technologies; Paul Chanley, chair, NECC Engineering Department; Alexandra Santos, RM Technologies; and Jean Poth, NECC Vice President of Institutional Advancement.

A member of Greater Lawrence Technical School’s Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field team, Gonzalez was recommended for the scholarship by Jay Santomassino, athletics coach at Greater Lawrence Technical School, who cited his “excellent academic and career area work.”  He wrote “His involvement in athletics demonstrates the ability to succeed in several areas of focus at once.  These are the characteristics required for successful leaders and further demonstrate his commitment to a well-rounded school experience.”

Gonzalez studied electronics and pre-engineering at Greater Lawrence, and plans to be a mechanical engineer.

The RM Technologies, Inc. Engineering Scholarship will be awarded each year to an incoming freshman from Lawrence who is majoring in engineering.  The student will receive $1,000 his or her freshman year and $1,000 in the sophomore year and be eligible for a paid internship at RM Technologies, which provides demolition and environmental remediation services.

NECC offers an Associate Degree in Engineering Science. For more information, please visit www.necc.mass.edu or contact Paul Chanley at pchanley@necc.mass.edu.  

To learn more about donating to the college, contact Jean Poth, vice president of institutional advancement, jpoth@necc.mass.edu or 978 556-3624.