Undergraduate Awards

About the Brenda Tessmann Education Fund

For 34 years, Brenda Tessmann was a grounding force and leader of the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics’ educational mission. Her incredible passion, dedication, empathy, and integrity positively impacted generations of MMG students and alumni, and all others around her! To honor Brenda’s contributions to MMG and the University as a whole, we created the Brenda Tessmann Award. The award will be given in recognition of excellence in the study of Microbiology.
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2023 Senior & Outstanding Research Award WINNERS!

2023 Senior Award Winners

Sharing the Lucille P. Markey Outstanding Senior in Molecular Genetics Award for the Class of 2023 is Hannah Kubinski

Sharing the Warren R. Stinebring Outstanding Senior in Microbiology Award for the Class of 2023 are Remi Savard and Andrew Crompton

Sharing the Brenda V. Tessmann Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Award for the Class of 2023 is William Keegan

Please join us in congratulating these outstanding MMG Senior Award winners!

2023 Senior Award Winners

Nicole J. Ferland Award

Recipient: Elizabeth Amelotte

Inflammatory Markers of Aortic Stenosis

Mentor: Dr. Nimrat Chatterjee, PhD.

Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Distinguished Undergraduate Summer Research Award

Recipients:

Sara Jaffrani

Investigating the role of RAB25 in Influenza A Virus Replication.

Mentor: Emily Bruce, PhD.

Angelina Carando

Role and Significance of Toxoplasma gondii ROP2 Protein in the Formation of the Parasithophorous Vacuole Membrane.

Mentor: Bruno Martorelli Di Genova, PhD.


 

Interested in donating to one of our student awards? By giving to these awards, you can help prepare our students for groundbreaking research careers. Visit the UVM Foundation giving page and let them know you want to support MMG student research!

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Senior Award Information

Warren R. Stinebring Outstanding Senior in Microbiology Award

Dr. Stinebring was the chair of the Department of Microbiology in the College of Medicine from 1967 to 1978 and this award, created in 1997, is in recognition of academic excellence and professional growth demonstrated by a student(s) majoring in microbiology. 

Lucille P. Markey Outstanding Senior in Molecular Genetics Award

Mrs. Markey was a philanthropist who developed the Lucille P. Markey Charitable Trust to provide monies for the advancement of basic medical research. Founded in 1993, this award is in recognition of academic excellence and professional growth demonstrated by a student(s) majoring in molecular genetics. 

Brenda V. Tessmann Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Award

Established in 2012, this award is in recognition of excellence in the classroom as an undergraduate teaching assistant.  In 2019, this award was renamed in honor of Brenda V. Tessmann in recognition of her outstanding contributions to MMG laboratory teaching and undergraduate advising since 1987. 

 

Outstanding Research Award Information

Nicole J Ferland Award

Nicole J Ferland was an exemplary Microbiology and Molecular Genetics double major and a 2011 Magna Cum Laude graduate of UVM. To honor their daughter, Armand and Debra Ferland have established a fund to provide assistance for a student majoring in Microbiology or Molecular Genetics to undertake summer research or an internship to enhance his/her degree program and to help prepare him/her for advanced degree study.

Distinguished Undergraduate Student Research Award

An alumna & parents of alumni, both of whom wish to remain anonymous, contribute monies to fund the Distinguished Undergraduate Summer Research Awards (DUSRA). Similar to the Ferland Award, these funds are to provide assistance for a student majoring in Microbiology or Molecular Genetics to undertake summer research or an internship to enhance his/her degree program and to help prepare him/her for advanced degree study.

To learn more about these awards and how to apply, email Dr. Janet Murray.