Fellow:Stephen Kender
Engineering Entrepreneur Always Looking up for Inspiration
STEPHEN KENDER is a sophomore student at the University of Massachusetts Lowell; he is currently studying Plastics Engineering with a focus in Biomedical Engineering and Prosthetics. Stephen has kept himself busy during his first year in college. He is a member of the Pre-Law Society's Mock Trial team, has created a giving kindness initiative on his campus, and has won multiple awards at entrepreneurial competitions for his creation of KENDERS Athletic Body Armor. An Eagle Scout, he frequently volunteers his time as an "Open Space Steward" in his hometown of Chelmsford, MA, keeping public property in good condition at no cost to the town.
In the past few years Stephen has had the privilege to work with many industry professionals in order to better his skills in engineering techniques and entrepreneurship. He was chosen to be a research intern at MIT Lincoln Laboratory twice, and while there gained valuable professional experience in machining and fabrication.
His experiences inside and outside the classroom have built him into the person he is today, with a heart for innovation and a mind for engineering. He put this enthusiasm into his invention, KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor, a novel sports equipment designed to withstand higher impacts and reduce the costs (and risks) of playing sports. In a few months he and his twin sisters raised almost $5,000 from university-sponsored competitions, and they are currently in the process of testing their prototypes.
From the University Innovation Fellows program he hopes to develop, improve upon, and spread skills in innovation and entrepreneurship. It will provide an exceptional networking opportunity for him. As a representative of UMass Lowell, he hopes to bring back as much as he can in order to engage students in the process of innovation. After graduating, he hopes to become a biomedical engineer, working to design and develop the next generation of prosthetic devices.
In his free time, Stephen enjoys designing in 2- and 3-dimensions, as well as playing a variety of casual sports. He likes mathematical phenomena, beach days, and has recently taken up a telescope hobby to feed his addiction to space exploration.
If you would like to contact Stephen, you can reach him via e-mail or LinkedIn.
RELATED LINKS
UMass Lowell Student Priorities Wiki Page
"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."
