FARMINGTON – University of Maine at Farmington’s Undergraduate Research Council has recently named 18 students conducting undergraduate research projects as spring and summer 2008 Michael D. Wilson Research Scholars.

Each student’s original research project is awarded funding that underwrites expenses and helps encourage and promote continuing academic investigation. The awards are funded by a gift from Michael and Susan Angelides, Stonington, Conn., in honor of their good friend and UMF alumnus Michael D. Wilson, class of 1976, who died shortly after graduating.

The students are nominated by a UMF faculty mentor and, after a competitive selection process, are chosen by the Undergraduate Research Council led by Chairman David Heroux, assistant professor of chemistry.

The scholars are: Nathaniel Burns, Wayne; Jessica Dorr, Wilton; Meghan Dzyak, Damariscotta; Mary Ellms, Dexter; Allison Giguere, Swansea, Mass.; Janna Gilbert, Jay; Matthew Humer, Hampton, N.H.; Matthew Lariviere, Lewiston; Melissa Lyons, Mexico; Matthew Nichols, Portland; Abby Pettitt, Waterville; Jacques Rancourt, South Berwick; Randall Rothert, Farmington; Vincent Rubino, Vernon, N.J.; Nicole Schoppee, Jonesboro; Trevor Spangle, Lebanon, Ore.; Christopher Stevens, Bedford, Mass.; and D. Jamez Terry, Chesterville.

A junior with a double major in the interdisciplinary study of philosophy/religion and music, Burns is composing a piano trio for piano, cello and violin with two voices titled “The World’s Best Surprise Bag.”

A senior with a double major in business economics and political science, Dorr’s project focuses on the benefits of the fair trade relationship and how it affects the individual, community, economy and environment.

A senior with an interdisciplinary major in sociology/anthropology, Gilbert’s research project seeks to investigate how faith and love can be used as methods for drug treatment.

A senior with an interdisciplinary major in sociology/anthropology, Lariviere is researching what it means to be a hemophiliac adult in Maine by examining the social events that characterize their lives.

A senior with an interdisciplinary major in sociology/anthropology, Lyons is researching the subject of the formation of friendships, cliques and bullying that occurs within social groupings in middle schools.

A senior majoring in English, Rothert is writing an essay on the significance of the use of birds as a metaphor in the poetry of John Clare and its use in the preservation and cataloging of the various species.

A sophomore majoring in history with a minor in English, Terry is examining the response of the Unitarian Church to the circumstances of the Great Depression. He is researching the factors that prevented the church from living up to its own humanitarian ideals and how that ethical failure shaped the church as it evolved.

Copy the Story Link