UMaine Announces 2025 Student Symposium Award Winners

The University of Maine announced the winners of the 2025 UMaine Student Symposium for Research and Creative Activity, a signature event that highlights student research and creative work across disciplines. Organized by the Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR), the Symposium drew more than 1,500 attendees to the New Balance Field House on April 11, showcasing over 430 student-led projects in poster, oral and exhibit formats.

Now in its tenth year, the Symposium brought together undergraduate and graduate students from across the university’s colleges and centers, offering a unique opportunity for public engagement with emerging research and innovation. This year’s Symposium featured ten academic award categories, each recognizing both an undergraduate and a graduate winner. In total, 27 individuals and teams were recognized and honored with medals and a $500 prize. Special distinctions included the 3-Minute Thesis awards, the Bruce and Joanne Fournier Award, and the Susan J. Hunter awards for excellence in undergraduate and graduate research.

The Symposium is a cornerstone event of Maine Impact Week, an annual campus-wide celebration of research, scholarship, and creative activity at Maine’s research university. Led by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, Maine Impact Week 2025 featured more events than ever before. The milestone reflects a growing commitment to connecting research with the public and demonstrating how UMaine’s work contributes to social and economic advancement across the state and beyond.A full list of Symposium awardees and project titles is available in a story by Deanna Rice on the Center for Undergraduate Research website.