Student of the Month
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April 2012 - Student of the Month - Jason Monk
Jason Monk, a Master of Science in Computer Engineering student is the April 2012 Graduate Student of the Month.Graduate School: Where are you from originally?Monk: Pittsfield, MaineGraduate School: What undergraduate institution(s) did you previously attend?Monk: I earned my B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UMaineGraduate School: Why did you choose to attend UMaine?Monk: In my undergraduate years at the University of Maine I developed relationships with the faculty and an appreciation for the technology and facilities available to students, and I was thrilled to be able to further my education in the Computer Engineering department.Graduate School: What degree program are you pursuing?Monk: M.S. in Computer EngineeringGraduate School: What are your plans after graduation?Monk: I have been interested in being a part of a start-up for some time. After graduation I will seek a position in the field of programming while pursuing other entrepreneurial opportunities.Graduate School: What do you consider your most important accomplishment here so far?Monk: I recently helped to finish preparing the first batch of low-cost data loggers. This is a project Dr. Bruce Segeeh.D. and myself (with help from several others) have been working on for about a year. We will soon be sending out the first 30 of these affordable temperature sensors to K-12 classrooms to measure temperature changes in water. These devices were designed to be profitable at around $5 each and easily usable on any computer (no software required).Graduate School: What is the highlight of your academic experience so far?Monk: My classes have definitely been the highlight so far. The small sizes of graduate classes do wonders for the atmosphere; it allows the curriculum to be more dynamic and serve students more directly. This essentially gives the students taking these classes direct access to all of the professor’s knowledge.Graduate School: What is your favorite place on campus?Monk: My favorite place on campus is my lab in Barrows. Maybe I’m a living stereotype of an engineering student living in the lab, but there’s a reason I spend all my time there. It’s the place I feel most at home on campus, and the place I have found both friends and academic inspiration.Graduate School: What awards or other significant recognition (both on or off-campus) have you received since beginning your degree program?Monk: Earlier this year, I had the honor of participating in the International IEEE Xtreme Programming Competition. My team placed first in the Northeast Region, and 75th worldwide. -
March 2012 - Student of the Month - Brianna Hughes
Brianna Hughes, a doctoral student in Food and Nutrition Sciences is the March, 2012 Graduate Student of the Month.
Graduate School: Where are you from originally?
Hughes: New Gloucester, Maine
Graduate School: What undergraduate institution(s) did you previously attend?
Hughes: McGill University
Graduate School: Why did you choose to attend UMaine?
Hughes: I started looking at UMaine because I really wanted to stay in Maine, and I had heard that they had a graduate program in Food Science. So I drove up and spent a day visiting with the FSN faculty and touring their labs and facilities to find out more about their program and how I might fit into it. I was really impressed with the diversity of research they were conducting, and especially with how that research was directly connected to Maine’s economy but with far-reaching implications.
Graduate School: What degree program are you pursuing?
Hughes: A Ph.D. in Food & Nutrition Sciences
Graduate School: What are your plans after graduation?
Hughes: I plan to go into the food industry to work in Research and Development. My interests are in making healthier and more nutrient-dense foods without sacrificing quality or taste. It’s really important to me to be part of a company that is on the cutting-edge of food science and technology, and to be able to apply a blend of creativity and science on a daily basis.
Graduate School: What do you consider your most important accomplishment here so far?
Hughes: Serving as the Graduate Student Government Board of Trustees representative is a tremendous honor.
Graduate School: What is the highlight of your academic experience so far?
Hughes: Defending my Master’s thesis and seeing it bound was great! Traveling to present my research at national conferences ranks right up there too!
Graduate School: What is your favorite place on campus?
Hughes: It’s a tie between The Bear’s Den and the Wallace Pool – both are great places to unwind.
Graduate School: What awards or other significant recognition (both on or off-campus) have you received since beginning your degree program?
Hughes: I’ve received the Suppliers’ Award for Outstanding Achievement twice from Northeast Institute of Food Technologists (NEIFT), my research won 1st place in the Product Development Division of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) at IFT’s Annual Meeting & Food Expo in 2010, and I was honored with the Most Outstanding Student in Food Science Award in 2010 from my department.
Graduate School: What other important information about yourself would you like us to know?
Hughes: I have two Great Danes who might just be the world’s biggest lap dogs, I love to cook and to garden and to homebrew, and if I wasn’t on such a science bender I’d love to just write short stories and novels. Maybe someday I still will.
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February 2012 - Student of the Month - Sarah Cottrell
Sarah Cottrell, a Master of Fine Arts in Intermedia is the Graduate School's Student of the Month for February. Graduate School: Where are you from originally?
Cottrell: I am originally from Bangor.
Graduate School: What undergraduate institution(s) did you previously attend?
Cottrell: I graduated from UMaine in 2005 with BFA in sculpture.
Graduate School: Why did you choose to attend UMaine?
Cottrell: I grew up around the UMaine community and so I knew that my experience would be a marvelous one filled with supportive people and unique opportunities.
Graduate School: What degree program are you pursuing?
Cottrell: I am in the Intermedia MFA program.
Graduate School: What are your plans after graduation?
Cottrell: I have been interested in doing grant writing work to support artists and also some behind the scenes organizing of shows and other exhibition options for fine artists. I’d really like to find a meaningful and lucrative way to support visual artists in our state.
Graduate School: What do you consider your most important accomplishment here so far?
Cottrell: I think my position as the Research Assistant for the Intermedia program has been the most rewarding experience. I’ve been put in charge of organizing our annual Open House Exhibition, researching grants and funding for our students and connecting students with a variety of other resources. I’ve been able to meet and work with some marvelously talented people that I hope to work with professionally in the near future!
Graduate School: What is the highlight of your academic experience so far?
Cottrell: One highlight of my academic experience has been serving as a senator and now the secretary for the GSG. I’ve met some incredibly smart and creative people through this role. I’ve also learned a great deal about how to best advocate for students and how to work the public.
Graduate School: What is your favorite place on campus?
Cottrell: My studio! Having the luxury of a private space where I can work on my paintings or objects is really a pleasure and necessity. There is nothing like closing out the world and being able to focus 1,000% on my work in a meaningful way. My department really works hard to make sure its student’s needs are met and I never take that for granted.
Graduate School: What awards or other significant recognition (both on or off-campus) have you received since beginning your degree program?
Cottrell: Last year I was nominated for the Student Employee of The Year Award. This summer I was elected to the board of directors for a local non-profit, The Hemophilia Alliance of Maine, which I had a hand in founding. I have written over $10,000 in successful grants. I was elected to the position of secretary for the GSG.
Graduate School: What other important information about yourself would you like us to know?
Cottrell: Graduate school is incredibly rewarding and I am a proud UMaine student. I am even more proud to be a mother of a small child who has hemophilia. Outside of the UMaine community I can be found drumming up support for Maine’s bleeding disorders community.
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January 2012 - Student of the Month - Nicole Heller
Nicole Heller, a Developmental Psychology Ph.D. student is the Graduate School's January Student of the Month.Graduate School: Where are you from originally?
Heller: Allentown, PennsylvaniaGraduate School: What undergraduate institution(s) did you previously attend?Heller: I attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio from 2004 to 2008 where I earned a BA in psychology and English prior to attending UMaine.Graduate School: Why did you choose to attend UMaine?Heller: I was drawn to the current research project being conducted by my mentor, Dr. Marie Hayes, examining the impact of prenatal methadone exposure on infants.Graduate School: What degree program are you pursuing?Heller: Ph.D. in Developmental PsychologyGraduate School: What are your plans after graduation?Heller: I hope to enter the professoriate at an institution where I can share my excitement about psychology with undergraduate students through both teaching and research.Graduate School: What do you consider your most important accomplishment here so far?Heller: I think the most important accomplishment for any graduate student is learning to juggle the demands of academia while still finding time to eat, do laundry and see our friends. For me, this year was especially challenging when I started teaching my own course while simultaneously taking classes and trying to keep up with research in the lab. I’m still standing so I consider that an accomplishment.Graduate School: What is the highlight of your academic experience so far?Heller: My interactions with students and faculty on campus as well as the people from the community who participate in my lab’s research. Because the students in my class are from such diverse backgrounds, I think I learn as much from them as they do from me. Additionally, my colleagues and the faculty in the psychology department make the long hours seem less tedious – I can always count on them for a coffee break and a laugh. Finally, working with women in recovery and their infants is an incredibly rewarding experience as is knowing that this research will have a profound impact on not only this sample of women and children but also the state of Maine.Graduate School: What is your favorite place on campus?Heller: Besides my office? I like hiding out in the stacks on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the library. Wells is also up there on my list of favorite campus places.Graduate School: What awards or other significant recognition (both on or off-campus) have you received since beginning your degree program?Heller: I've received the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Assessment Graduate Teaching Solo Instructor Award along with letters of commendation from the Psychology faculty for outstanding overall performance.Graduate School: What other important information about yourself would you like us to know?Heller: I am one of the Psychology representatives for GSG.
