The Hamel Scholars Program was founded in 2007. It provides merit scholarships and special recognition to exceptional students from New Hampshire who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and community service.
Funded through gifts from Dana Hamel, a long-time UNH supporter, the programs seek to help students develop their full potential and become active, engaged leaders in communities throughout the state after graduating from UNH.
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Alana Gudinas |
Tejas Moses |
Jacob Baker |
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For Alana Gudinas, studying exoplanets— planets that orbit stars outside of our solar system—is the best kind of research, on the edge of scientific discovery. The sophomore is majoring in physics, with a concentration in astronomy. “I believe that physics is an area of study that will provide me with information about the world we live in (and maybe future worlds as well), and give me an opportunity to study the why’s and how’s of space, something we as a society know so little about,” says Gudinas. She hopes to add some theatrics into her UNH academics before she graduates. “Acting is something I was involved in in high school. I think that acting in a play (or two) before I graduate will help me keep this interest alive,” she says. |
Tejas is interested in contributing to a community that lives off the land in a sustainable way, so UNH’s Sustainable Agriculture major is a perfect fit. “I want to have the skills and knowledge to foster a better relationship between people and the earth,” he says. The Dublin native is passionate about designing and building tools and working on hands-on projects. “The best part is when the project is finished and I get to see how well it really work sand what I might do better next time.” After college, Tejas hopes to be living in a house he helped build, on a piece of land with woods, fields, and streams nearby. As for his career, he hopes to be working outside every day in a job that is key to the well-being of his community. |
Jacob, who hails from the Lakes Region, is studying computer engineering at UNH. “Computer engineering explores topics in both hardware and software, and provides engineering experience through the firsthand design and testing of systems. It is the perfect balance of computer science and electrical engineering,” he explains. His free time is usually spent programming and learning more about computer systems, but he also pursues other creative projects. “Through writing and drawing, I hope to keep my mind active and improve my art capabilities and design skills,” he says, adding that he hopes to combine his right-brain studies with his left-brain hobbies by designing and developing video games and creating graphic novels based on his own writings. Upon graduating, Jacob plans to find a computer-related career that allows him to continue learning and exercising his skills. |
