At the UNH Holloway Prize Competition, student teams gain more than just prizes — real-world skills, industry feedback and professional connections help turn innovative ideas into viable ventures, whether they win or not.

Two UNH nursing students earned awards at the recent Eastern Nursing Research Society regional nursing research conference, with Amber Li taking first place among bachelor’s students and Jordan Lavallee wrapping up second place among master’s students.

Jack Sullivan ’26 has been named a recipient of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the nation’s premier undergraduate award for sophomore and junior science, math, engineering and technology (STEM) students who intend to pursue a Ph.D. and career in research. Sullivan hopes to pursue a career in the energy industry, focusing on the sustainable production of alternative fuels.

“Through my research and career, I hope to make a positive and lasting impact on our climate,” Sullivan says.

As the Mel Rines Student Angel Investment Fund celebrates its 10th anniversary, founder Jeffrey Sohl reflects on a decade of real-world investing experience that’s launched careers, shaped future leaders, and built a legacy of student success at UNH.

Joshua Cyr '96, a dedicated mentor, innovator, and champion of New Hampshire's startup ecosystem, has been named the University of New Hampshire's Paul J. Holloway Entrepreneur of the Year. 

A team that developed a system that reduces electricity costs for cold-storage warehouses through predictive pricing and strategic pre-cooling earned the $15,000 grand prize at the 37th Paul J. Holloway Prize Innovation to Market Competition.    

After pouring so much time and effort – an estimated 6,000 man-hours – into a single project and spending what seemed like every waking minute as close to it as possible for the last year, five UNH students found themselves watching the ultimate culmination of that work from about a quarter mile away.

The more distant vantage point, though, did little to dampen the adrenaline – or the significance of the achievement.

Diliang Chen, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), has been awarded the prestigious 2025 J. Brent Loy Innovator of the Year Award for his groundbreaking work in wearable technology. The award was presented at a ceremony held at UNH on April 28. 

Economist Betsey Stevenson delivered the 2025 Hogan Lecture at UNH, exploring how economics transformed women’s roles in work and family through technology, policy, and social change — and what challenges remain.

The major challenges facing the local and national economy were at the top of students' minds when presenting at the UNH Paul T. Paul College of Business and Economics Undergraduate Research Conference. Whether it was the cost of housing, food, or challenges facing local businesses, students used their research to dig deeper into issues that impact us all.