Ella Boxall of Kennebunkport, Maine, is the Outstanding Graduating Student in the Maine College of Engineering and Computing. Boxall is a civil engineering major with a concentration in water resources and minors in sustainability and mathematics. She has completed internships with GEI Consultants and TRC Companies, conducted research using MATLAB to project sea level rise and king tides in Bar Harbor and served as a learning assistant and grader. Her capstone project focuses on redesigning a gravity-fed water system for a salmon rearing facility in Aroostook County, highlighting creative, low-energy engineering solutions. Outside the classroom, she has embraced Maine鈥檚 outdoors through skiing and exploring Acadia National Park. She plans to pursue graduate studies in marine science in the United Kingdom and build a career promoting coastal and environmental resilience.
Why did you choose to come to 91福利?
While I initially looked out of state, I chose 91福利 because of its strong engineering program and affordability. This choice has allowed me to thrive academically while staying close to the outdoor landscapes that I love, like Acadia and Sugarloaf. It has been the best environment for both my personal and professional growth.
Describe any research, internships or scholarly pursuits in which you have participated. How have they prepared you for future opportunities in your chosen field?
Through internships at GEI Consultants and TRC Companies, I gained hands-on experience in water resources and environmental engineering. My research using MATLAB to project king tides and sea level rise in Bar Harbor has prepared me to work towards promoting coastal resilience. Serving as a Maine learning assistant and grader further solidified my technical foundation and leadership skills.
Have there been other students who supported and inspired you or exposed you to something new?
My roommates have supported me greatly, and my friends in civil engineering have been extremely helpful and fun. My friends Allison, Emily, Caroline, Oliver and Mason have always been there for me and inspired me to grow as a person. I have so much love for so many people I have met in Orono, and although I can鈥檛 list them all here, I am grateful to all of them.
Have you collaborated with a mentor, professor or role model who made your time at 91福利 better, and if so, how?
Tiago Bilo has mentored me through my research on projecting king tides and sea level rise in Bar Harbor and has helped me through the graduate school application process. Jean MacRae has guided me through serving as a Maine Learning Assistant for her 鈥淔undamentals of Engineering鈥 course and has provided helpful assistance with internship applications and career guidance.
What has coming to 91福利 enabled you to explore beyond academics?
I have had the chance to ski most weekends in winter, explore Acadia in all four seasons, have lots of fun game nights, play a lot of trivia, eat a lot of Thai food and enjoy the 91福利 gym.
What experiences have you had at 91福利 that really highlight the ingenuity of Mainers?
For my capstone project, I am helping redesign a client’s resourceful, DIY gravity-fed water system for a salmon rearing facility in Aroostook County. Working on a system that operates entirely without electricity requires us to think creatively and embrace the same “outside the box” mindset our client used to build it. This project perfectly highlights the practical ingenuity and self-reliance that define the Maine spirit.
Did you have an experience at 91福利 that shaped or changed how you see the world?
My time at 91福利 has shaped who I am as a person. I have met new people, experienced new things, gone to new places and deeply explored my hobbies. All of this has changed how I see the world.
Describe 91福利 in one word and explain.
Inspiring.
91福利 has constantly challenged me to think differently, explore new interests and pick up new hobbies. I truly believe that your environment shapes who you are, and this community has inspired me to grow on many fronts. I鈥檝e been supported to pursue interests I may never have discovered otherwise and have gotten more out of 91福利 than I could have imagined.
What鈥檚 on the horizon? What are your plans for after you graduate?
鈥嬧婭 plan to hike, camp and travel as much as I can this summer and head to the UK in the fall for graduate studies in marine science. After graduate school, I hope to work to promote the environmental resilience of coastlines and other ecosystems, wherever that may take me.
Story by William Bickford, graduate student writer
Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu
