College names Greco, Nguyen, Wood 2018 Outstanding Undergraduate Students
Three graduating seniors were recognized for their outstanding achievements during their time at UMaine at the college’s annual Celebration of Excellence on April 18. The college also honored eight graduate students and three faculty members at the event.
Callie Greco, Frank B. & Charles S. Bickford Memorial Prize
Callie is an honors biology major who has been an outstanding student since her very first semester. She chose to take many of our biology program’s most difficult courses while earning perfect grades in her major. She balanced academics with volunteer service at the Alzheimer’s Association of Maine, St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, and as an ambassador for the School of Biology and Ecology. Callie has also applied her learning in numerous internships and undergraduate research positions where her mentors describe her as a star for her quality of work and interpersonal skills. After graduation, Callie plans to attend medical school.
Duc Ngoc Hong Nguyen, Outstanding International Student
Duc, who grew up in Vietnam before moving to Maine, majors in biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular and cellular biology. Her research experience focused on toxicology, plant pathology, and immunology in four faculty laboratories in the college. Mary was a tutor for Student Support Services. Outside of the lab and classroom, she was involved in the International Student Association, the Maine Society for Microbiology and Biomedical Sciences, Health Professions Club, and the UMaine chapter of the Association of Computing Machinery — Women in Computing. She plans to pursue graduate research in cancer biology at the University of New Hampshire.
Jessica Wood, Wallace C. & Janet S Dunham Prize
Jessica is a food science and human nutrition major with a concentration in food science. Life presented Jessica with some overwhelming challenges that inspired her to pursue a career dedicated to improving food quality and safety. During her time at UMaine, Jessica succeeded in a rigorous academic program and thrived as an active member of the campus community. Outside the classroom, she advanced her education by working in the chemical food safety lab, and as a quality control intern at an international food company. Jessica’s upbeat attitude, professionalism, and dedication to her education set her apart as an incredibly deserving recipient of this award.