NSF Awards Four Graduate Fellowships to Williams Student, Alumni

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The National Science Foundation has awarded research fellowships to four Williams College students and alumni. In addition, the NSF has awarded honorable mentions to eight other Williams students and alumni. The NSF fellowships support graduate study in the natural and social sciences.

The four Williams fellowship recipients are Teresa Yu '20, a mathematics student from Chandler, Ariz.; Gabriela Suarez '17, who studies psychology at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor; Katherine Newcomer '14, a biological science technician at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center; and Daniel Maes '18, who studies mathematics at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Honorable mentions went to Christine Seeger '16, Sophia Robert '18, Ashay Patel '18, Dong Moon '16, Ben Logsdon '20, Eli Hoenig '17, Laura Elmendorf '17, and John Ahn '18.

With support from the NSF Fellowship, Yu plans to pursue a Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Michigan. Yu has participated in the 2018 SMALL REU in the Tropical Geometry group with Assistant Professor of Mathematics Ralph Morrison, and also in the REU at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, in 2019. At Williams, she has conducted research with Assistant Professor of Mathematics Pamela Harris, worked with the Center for Learning in Action (CLiA), and served as a teaching assistant with the mathematics department. In addition, she has performed on violin with the Berkshire Symphony. 

"I'm honored to have received this fellowship, and grateful to have been a part of the Williams math community," Yu said. "Without the many professors, mentors, and friends in this community, I would not be where I am today." She is currently writing a senior thesis with Professor of Mathematics Susan Loepp on commutative algebra.

The National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency, was founded in 1950 to further U.S. leadership in the sciences. Since its inception it has supported graduate research and awards more than 1,000 research fellowships each year.

Williamstown Fire Committee Talks Station Project Cuts, Truck Replacement

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Friday, April 26, 2024

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.

 

Some of the "value engineering" changes are cosmetic, while at least one pushes off a planned expense into the future.

 

The committee, which oversees the Fire District, also made plans to hold meetings over the next two Wednesdays to finalize its fiscal year 2025 budget request and other warrant articles for the May 28 annual district meeting. One of those warrant articles could include a request for a new mini rescue truck.

 

The value engineering changes to the building project originated with the district's Building Committee, which asked the Prudential Committee to review and sign off.

 

In all, the cuts approved on Wednesday are estimated to trim $1.135 million off the project's price tag.

 

The biggest ticket items included $250,000 to simplify the exterior masonry, $200,000 to eliminate a side yard shed, $150,000 to switch from a metal roof to asphalt shingles and $75,000 to "white box" certain areas on the second floor of the planned building.

 

The white boxing means the interior spaces will be built but not finished. So instead of dividing a large space into six bunk rooms and installing two restrooms on the second floor, that space will be left empty and unframed for now.