FARMINGTON — Two students at the University of Maine at Farmington were recently recognized by the National Student Exchange organization for academic accomplishment, campus and community service and demonstrating the best use of their exchange participation.
Jennifer Gravrok who came to UMF from the University of Wisconsin-Superior as an exchange student during her 2013-14 academic year was awarded the NSE’s Wendel Wickland Student Achievement Award. Majoring in biology, she participated in the UMF exchange program with aspirations to study veterinary medicine but shifted her interest to research as a result of the many undergraduate research opportunities offered by the Farmington campus.
“My independent study . . . enabled me to see what research is really about and gave me experience presenting my work at an international undergraduate conference,” said Gravrok. “I was also afforded the opportunity to study for a week at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory performing DNA bar-coding and PCR amplification on plant and insect species collected from Acadia National Park.”
After her experience at UMF, Gravrok was able to obtain a competitive summer internship at Michigan State University.
Lauren Crosby, UMF student from Georgetown, Maine, spent her fall 2013 semester as an exchange student at the University of Memphis and received Honorable Mention from the NSE.
Majoring in secondary education, Crosby took advantage of the NSE program at UMF to pursue her creative interests as a singer and songwriter. “The University of Memphis enabled me to study Blues and Jazz vocals under some of the local industries top teachers,” said Crosby. “I was able to learn different techniques and music from the Southern culture. I am forever grateful for this experience, and it has made me a better person, adventurer and musician.”
“We are so proud of Jennifer and Lauren,” said Lynne Eustis, UMF assistant director of international and exchange programs. “They challenged themselves with new learning opportunities and benefitted by gaining not only knowledge but also confidence in their abilities.”
UMF’s Office of International and Exchange Programs coordinates services for UMF students wishing to study abroad or in other locations in the U.S. as well as for individuals and groups coming from other countries to study or teach at UMF.
The National Student Exchange fits into university initiatives for globalization, diversity and engagement. It provides tuition reciprocal, exchange and study away opportunities to students at its 170 member colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
