{"id":7907,"date":"2026-05-01T16:25:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T20:25:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/?p=7907"},"modified":"2026-05-01T16:25:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T20:25:08","slug":"three-mafes-students-earn-awards-at-the-2025-umaine-student-symposium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/2026\/05\/01\/three-mafes-students-earn-awards-at-the-2025-umaine-student-symposium\/","title":{"rendered":"Three MAFES students earn awards at the 2025 91福利 Student Symposium"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>91福利 Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR) has announced the award winners from the 2026 91福利 Student Symposium for Research and Creative Activity, which drew over 2,400 attendees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The symposium awards undergraduate and graduate students who displayed outstanding research, presentation and creative ability. Award winners were selected through judging across academic categories, all receiving a medal and a $500 cash prize. There were also several special awards, including the Student Innovation and Commercialization Awards, given to students and faculty.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over 350 projects from researchers at 91福利 and its regional campus, the University of Maine at Machias, were submitted to the annual event, co-hosted by CUGR, Student Government and the Graduate Student Government.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Undergraduate category award winners<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Allied Health: Alyson Shook and Hannah Maker, for their project titled \u201cStrengthening EMS Retention in Maine: A Path to Improved Patient Outcomes.\u201d They were advised by Sarah Hanscome.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Arts: William Fortier, Oliver Rodi and Mikey Arbelo, for their project titled \u201cThe Creativity of Mapping.\u201d They were advised by Andy Mauery.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Biomedical Sciences: Hayden Kittell, Diana Goode and Moria Weese-Myers, for their project titled \u201cMHCII Expression in Differential Doses of Chemotherapy Treatment on Mice.\u201d They were advised by William Otto.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Business: Brady Merritt, for the project titled \u201cCan Large Language Models Pass the CFA Exam.\u201d Merrit was advised by Sebastian Lobe.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Education: Carly Philbrook, for her project titled \u201cComparison of High School Mathematics Textbooks Analyzing Higher Order Thinking Skills in New England.\u201d Philbrook was advised by Kamal Chawla.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Engineering and Information Sciences: Elsa Perez Abella and Ahmed Kandil, for their project titled \u201cSurface Flow Visualization Enhancement Using AI.\u201d They were advised by Ahmed Aboelezz.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Engineering and Information Sciences: Wyatt Fessler, Cadence Kluck, Isabelle Irani and Marc Zoorob, for their project titled \u201cA Tissue-integrating, Resealable Hemodialysis Port for Reducing Complications Associated with Repetitive Vascular Access.\u201d They were advised by David Neivandt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Interdisciplinary Research: Richard Viveiros, for the project titled \u201cSublethal PFAS Exposure During Larval Stages of Culex: Consequences for Development, Survivorship, and Tissue Bioacculation of PFOA, PFBA, and PFBS.\u201d Viveiros was advised by Allison Gardner.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interdisciplinary Research: Luke Connolly, for the project titled \u201cNano-Pattern Fabrication Using Electron Beam Lithography.\u201d Connolly was advised by Dinh Loc Duong.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Natural Sciences: Josie Aprea, Brendan Dahl, Emma Perry and Ian Bricknell, for their project titled \u201cpH vs. Predator.\u201d Bricknell also served as advisor for the project.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Avery Richard, Ziyad ur Rehman, Henry Carfagno and Nuri Emanetoglu, for their project titled \u201cFabrication and Characterization of Indenofluorene-based Organic Single Crystal Field-effect Transistors.\u201d They were advised by Dinh Loc Duong.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social Sciences and Humanities: Maya Aylesworth, for the project titled \u201cRobert Johnson, the Crossroad Mythos, and the Lasting Effects of a Legend.\u201d Aylesworth was advised by Jennifer Moxley.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Graduate category award winner<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Allied Health: Katherine Brewer, for the project titled \u201cTelehealth and Prenatal Care Utilization in Rural Communities: Addressing Access, Satisfaction, and Health Outcomes.\u201d Brewer was advised by Kathryn Robinson.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Arts: Celena Powell, for the project titled \u201cAt the Threshold: Domestic Space as a Site of Contemporary Resistance.\u201d Powell was advised by Susan Smith.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Biomedical Sciences: Chloe Bossow, Lydia McCarthy and Melody Neely, for the project titled \u201cInteractions Between Group B Streptococcus and Candida albicans Are Influenced by Environmental Stress.\u201d Neely also served as the advisor for the project.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Education: Kayla McLagan, Kate Ruskin, Alison Jolley, Karen Pelletreau and Edgelynn Venuti, for their project titled \u201cTo What Extent Does a Weekend-long Field Course Influence Students\u2019 Sense of Belonging? A Focus on Influential Course Elements.\u201d They were advised by Kate Ruskin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Engineering and Information Sciences: Mahbuba Daizy, Yu Zhang, Douglas Bousfield, Jinwu Wang and David Neivandt, for their project titled \u201cComparison of Stabilization Systems for Soybean Wax Emulsions to Produce Sustainable Water-resistant Paper Based Packaging: Surfactant vs. Pickering.\u201d Neivandt also served as the advisor for the project.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interdisciplinary Research: Zainab Jafri, for the project titled \u201cReimagining the Waste Disposal Landscape \u2013 Industrial Symbiosis in Maine.\u201d Jafri was advised by Reed Miller.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Natural Sciences: Nabanita Das, Islam Hafez, Colleen Walker, Douglas Bousfield and Mehdi Tajvidi, for their project titled \u201cFactors Influencing the Effectiveness of Cellulose Nanfibril Coatings on Molded Fiber Substrates.\u201d Tajvidi also served as the advisor for the project.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Hettikankanamge Kalani Samarasekara, for the project titled \u201cPaving the Way for Novel Drug Delivery Systems: Peptoid Nanoparticles.\u201d Samarasekara was advised by Alessia Battigelli.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social Sciences and Humanities: Catherine Segada, Chyanne Yoder, William Breneman and Gianna DeJoy, for their project titled \u201cReuseME: Investigating Waste Reduction and Cost Benefits in Coastal Communities Through a Pilot Reusable Food Packaging Program.\u201d They were advised by Cynthia Isenhour.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social Sciences and Humanities: Cynthia Cushing, Catherine Taylor, Rachel Coleman, MaryLou Ciolfi, Jennifer Crittenden, Len Kaye and Sarah Currie, for their project titled \u201cBuilding a Workforce Readiness Model for Older Adults: Partner Insights From AmeriCorps Seniors Workforce Development Program.\u201d Crittenden also served as advisor for the project.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Student Innovation and Commercialization Awards<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>First Place: Nabanita Das.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Second Place: Amir Baharvand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Third Place: Noro John.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Additional awards<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dean of Graduate School Undergraduate Mentoring Award: Joshua Hamilton.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dean of the Graduate School Faculty Mentor Award: Christine Beitl<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bruce and Joanne Fournier Award: Gregory Simms, Mikayla Reynolds, Isabelle Irani and David Neivandt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provost\u2019s Innovative and Creative Teaching Award: Jillian Fedarick.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Susan J. Hunter Undergraduate Award: Madelynn DeBest.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Susan J. Hunter Graduate Award: Mya Griffith.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/news\/category\/outreach\/\">Outreach<\/a> \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/news\/category\/research\/\">Research<\/a> \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/news\/category\/student-affairs\/\">Student Life<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>91福利 Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR) has announced the award winners from the 2026 91福利 Student Symposium for Research and Creative Activity, which drew over 2,400 attendees. The symposium awards undergraduate and graduate students who displayed outstanding research, presentation and creative ability. Award winners were selected through judging across academic categories, all 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