Carly Philbrook: Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award
Carly Philbrook of Winterport, Maine is the recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award from the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development. A Secondary Education major with an area of specialization in Mathematics, Philbrook received a summer fellowship from 91福利鈥檚 Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR) for her project, 鈥淐omparison of High School Mathematics Textbooks Analyzing Higher Order Thinking Skills in New England,鈥 advised by Assistant Professor of Education and Applied Quantitative Methods Kamal Chawla. The study was presented at the Society for Research in Educational Effectiveness annual meeting in Chicago in October 2025. Philbrook was also an Honors College student. Her Honors Thesis was 鈥淎 Novel Approach to Reducing Mathematics Anxiety in Middle School Students.鈥 She also graduates with minors in both Spanish and Mathematics.
Parent(s):
Nicolle and Alden Philbrook.
Why did you choose to come to 91福利?
I chose 91福利 because聽I wanted to stay close to home and I wanted an affordable college experience. I definitely don’t regret my choice because 91福利 offered me a wide variety of experiences from classroom placements to a Spanish minor to studying abroad in Newfoundland, Canada.
Have you collaborated with a mentor, professor or role model who made your time at 91福利 better, and if so, who are they and how have they impacted your time at 91福利?
One of the people who made my time on campus extra special was Karel DePaola. She made working at the聽bookstore a great experience and she always聽brought a smile to my face.
What has coming to 91福利 enabled you to explore beyond academics?
Beyond just studying education, attending 91福利 allowed me to pursue my interest in Spanish. I have completed a minor in Spanish that greatly improved my spoken abilities and it has given me the opportunity to volunteer as an English tutor for a Spanish-speaking family.
Favorite 91福利 Memory:
My favorite 91福利 memory was being published in the Modern Languages and Classics Department’s聽magazine for articles I wrote in Spanish.
What鈥檚 on the horizon? What are your plans for after you graduate?
I plan to become a math teacher in Maine, though I also hope to聽teach abroad for a few years.
Special thank you message:
I want to thank my parents and sisters for always supporting me. I would also like to thank Franziska Peterson, Justin Dimmel, and Heather Falconer for being a very supportive Honors Thesis Committee.