Making their scholastic mark

The Whitcomb quadruplets are achieving their goals at UMass Lowell; the two sisters are set to graduate tomorrow, and the two brothers will earn their degrees in the future

By Katharine Webster

  Diana and Collette Whitcomb are the female half of a set of quadruplets who all ended up at UMass Lowell. But the sisters from Saugus, who recently got matching grasshopper tattoos because they used to catch grasshoppers together in their family’s backyard, will “walk” before their brothers Andrew and Bryce.

  They’re excited to graduate together from the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences. The Whitcomb sisters are set to receive their degrees tomorrow during the UMass Lowell 2023 commencement exercises at the Tsongas Center. They are among the graduates in the Class of 2023 from eight families who have multiple siblings earning diplomas.

  “I think it’s kind of cool. I’m happy I can do it with Diana,” said Collette, turning to her sister and adding, “You’re my favorite.”

  “Aww, you’re my favorite!” Diana replied.

  Diana, a nursing student who just finished her preceptorship with the school nurse at the Bartlett School in Lowell, also works at Lahey Clinic and has applied to the nurse residency program there. Collette, a nutritional science major, is looking into lab and research jobs as well as graduate school. Both took electives in art history in their early semesters at UML. They loved it so much Diana ended up earning a minor in art history, while Collette completed a minor in architectural studies.

  “Those are my fun classes,” Collette said.

  “It makes you a well-rounded person,” Diana agreed.

  Andrew, a business major with concentrations in marketing and management, completed a professional co-op with Keurig Dr. Pepper Inc. for six months last year. He will graduate in December and go straight into UMass Lowell’s MBA program. Bryce, a junior who transferred to the university from North Shore Community College, recently switched his major from computer science to management information systems, joining his brother in the Manning School of Business.

  How will the four of them and their mom celebrate after Commencement? That’s easy, the sisters agreed: They’ll go out to dinner somewhere and then head to Richardson’s for ice cream.

  “They’re the best!” the sisters chorused.

  Editor’s Note: Katharine Webster is a UMass Lowell senior staff writer and editor.