UMass Boston’s Entrepreneur Scholarship founder, Dan Phillips
Two more recipients of UMass Boston’s Entrepreneur Scholarship have been named. They are biochemistry major Sarah DuBois-Coyne and management information systems major Nezar Lila. Environmental science major Maria Vasco was the first recipient in 2018.
In addition to each receiving $2,500, they are being mentored by the scholarship’s founder, Dan Phillips, for the next two years. Phillips, the founding director of UMass Boston’s Entrepreneurship Center and an advisor in the Venture Development Center, recently completed an acquisition of his 6-year-old company, CloudHealth Technologies, by VMware for $530 million.
Lila and DuBois-Coyne will now be able to move forward towards their dreams. Lila has already started a fashion brand Out of Touch. He aims to produce authentic quality cut and sew garments, like the long-sleeve turtleneck (pictured) that features a sleeve with an embroidered proverb. “My brand has a distinct story behind all the garments produced. I dream of the day I can hire employees and continue to grow.”
DuBois-Coyne hopes to make meaningful contributions to science that would change the lives of others. “After my Ph.D., I plan to work in a startup. My research will center on the development of light-based technologies that can be used to diagnose or treat cancer of neural origin.” She has blossomed in the lab of Dr. Alexey Veraksa. DuBois-Coyne also received a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the preeminent award for undergraduates in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics.
The 23 other students who applied for the Entrepreneur Scholarship will also receive mentoring through the entrepreneur internship mentoring and scholarship program to help them land an internship through which they will acquire skills, learn business and make connections.