FARMINGTON -— Eighteen undergraduate research student scholars at University of Maine at Farmington, Gillian Laidlaw of Eustis among them, have recently been honored as Spring and Summer 2009 Michael D. Wilson Scholars for their outstanding original scholarship and innovation by the UMF Undergraduate Research Council. This selective academic award has become increasingly sought after by students at UMF as it underwrites research project expenses and helps promote expanded opportunities for pre-professional academic investigation.

Gillian Laidlaw, of Eustis, is a junior with an individualized major in anthropology with an emphasis on socio-cultural and archaeological studies, Laidlaw is conducting an ethnographic study of the New England lumberyard culture. Her faculty sponsor is Julianna Acheson, UMF associate professor of anthropology.

The 18 student scholars are Emily Baer of Brunswick, Amy Blankenship of Naples, Michael Camacho of Chelmsford, Mass., Adam Case of New Vineyard, Danielle Cerone of Winslow, Derek Gilbert of Augusta, Anthony Greenlaw of Thorndike, Sara Groves of Brooksville, Adeline Harris of Falmouth, Gillian Laidlaw of Eustis, Kenneth Masloski of Monroe, Conn., Oreva Olakpe of Idheze-Delta State, Nigeria, Carla Powers of Buckfield, Ian Putnam of Presque Isle, Christopher Stevens of Bedford, Mass., Andrew Thompson of Plymouth, Mass., Ty Thurlow of Lee and Christian Tuttle of Cape Cod, Mass.