��ʤ������ Today - ��ʤ������ Today

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The trout donated to Gather by ��ʤ�� is raised and harvested in ��ʤ��’s integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) AquaFort, a self-contained aquaculture system that allows multiple species to grow at the same time within a single floating structure.

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Holloway Competition Delivers Lessons That Outlast the Finals

arq32 — Wed, 14 May 2025 14:11:06 +0000

At the Paul J. Holloway Prize Innovation to Market Competition, there’s more to gain than just first place.

Teams at all stages of the competition — whether eliminated early or finishing as runners-up — gain valuable feedback, connections and sometimes funding that advances their ideas. The process of brainstorming, pivoting, pitching and refining provides students with real-world skills they'll carry into their careers.

From Inspiration to Innovation: Student Ideas Take Shape

Brett Schultz ’25, a finance and sustainability dual major, had been thinking on and off about his idea for a few years — a system that reduces electricity costs for cold-storage warehouses through predictive pricing and strategic pre-cooling.

“I worked in a cold storage warehouse back in high school. For the finance folks in the room, it’s like having a heart attack every day because you never know what you’ll be paying. You don’t see the data until the utility bill shows up,” Schultz says.

Trent McGoldrick ’25 found inspiration in a different setting. While volunteering at senior living facilities in December 2024, the finance and entrepreneurial studies major noticed a service gap.

"Seeing how the seniors were so excited just to have someone come in, something new to do, made me realize there’s a real opportunity to bring new kinds of learning into these spaces,” McGoldrick says. “After talking with activity directors and seeing the activities already on the schedule, it became clear that a lot of what residents do is repetitive — there’s not always much cognitive stimulation.”

Building Stronger Teams: Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

McGoldrick knew his idea needed diverse perspectives. He partnered with classmate Mons Langaard ’25, but both recognized they needed senior care expertise. They distributed flyers through nursing and gerontology professors, attracting Sadie Caddell ’26 — a nursing student and licensed nursing assistant — to their team.

“I’ve been working in long-term care facilities throughout school, and I’ve seen how important it is to have that emotional connection with your patients, especially in hospice, where there often aren’t many medical interventions left,” Caddell says. “I’ve also seen the gaps in mental health care for these patients — how bored they are and how they lack a sense of community.”

By mid-January, the team created New Age Crafts, a direct-to-facility subscription service providing hands-on STEM learning activities for residents.

Meanwhile, Schultz assembled a complementary team by partnering with finance student Shea Garland ’27 and mechanical engineering student Rowan Baptista ’27 to form Granite State Systems. Baptista 3D-printed the hardware prototype in his dorm. At the same time, the team developed a data-driven pricing algorithm that pre-cools storage units during low-cost electricity periods — saving money while maintaining food safety.

Beyond Classrooms: Real-World Market Research

Both teams quickly learned that theories needed real-world validation.

The New Age Crafts team interviewed over 20 activity directors at senior living facilities across ��ʤ��, studying activity calendars and gathering budget information.

Their research showed that only 10% of residents typically engage in activities. Additionally, they learned that staffing issues can sometimes limit the offerings.

“We found that this low social engagement led to prevalent mental health disorders for this patient population — 85% of nursing home residents reported a mental health disorder, and there's also a correlation between depressive symptoms and dementia,” Caddell says.

The monthly subscription box activities the team developed included birdhouse building for hand-eye coordination, custom chess sets for problem-solving and socialization and donation projects like knitting socks for homeless shelters to enhance residents' sense of purpose.

Schultz and his Granite State Systems teammates connected with more than 150 facility managers at refrigerated warehouses. Their research revealed a key insight: only larger and medium cold storage operations are subject to volatile wholesale electricity pricing.

“That's allowed us to shift our focus to very specific markets rather than just targeting all refrigeration facilities," Schultz says.

Four companies committed to testing Granite State’s technology. Tests in a mini fridge and walk-in freezer demonstrated a 16% reduction in electricity costs and a 12% decrease in overall operating expenses.

The Pitch: Testing Ideas with Industry Professionals

The Bud Albin Challenge, the competition's semifinal round, provided both teams with professional feedback. The New Age Crafts team received positive responses about their unique product line, but faced questions about their go-to-market strategy and long-term scalability

Granite State Systems at the Holloway finals

“It’s not easy presenting under pressure, but I felt our presentation was strong, and we presented a problem that people could relate to,” Langaard said. “They asked about also marketing to other populations, which seemed like a good sign."

Despite their solid presentation, the team didn't advance to the championship round. However, Caddell sees lasting value in the experience and hasn’t ruled out revisiting the idea.

“I think our business idea has lots of potential, and I hope it inspires others to act on solving similar problems. While a lot of healthcare focuses on solving the clinical picture, I think it is valuable to look at the underlying issues that are often overlooked — like mental health and supporting patients holistically,” Caddell says. “Working in the field, this concept is something I wish to pursue further since true patient satisfaction is only met when we consider our patients’ mental well-being alongside their primary admission diagnosis.”

Granite State Systems advanced to the championship round, where they impressed the judges with their market research and stage presence, and won the competition.

Schultz says the team built momentum heading into Holloway by competing in onther competitions, including Baylor University's New Venture Competition (earning an honorable mention and $1,500), TCU's Values and Ventures competition, and the e-Fest competition in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

"I think our ability to demonstrate traction with our product and showcase a clear market need helped us," Schultz says. "I'm leveraging these pitch competitions to accelerate our growth. We contributed personal funds to this company, which serves as a catalyst for the progress we've been able to generate."

In addition to their Holloway winnings, Granite State Systems, secured a grant from the ��ʤ�� Entrepreneurship Center and will be working on the product full time in the months ahead.

Subhead:

From early-round exits to victory, students say the experience sharpens skills and opens doors

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Innovation

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Peter T. Paul Entrepreneurship Center

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The New Age Crafts student team didn't advance to the final round of the Holloway Competition, but developed an idea with future potential. Pictured (L to R): Mons Langaard ’25, Sadie Caddell ’26 and Trent McGoldrick ’25.

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Two Nursing Students Take Home Awards at Regional Conference

ket1007 — Tue, 13 May 2025 14:03:53 +0000

Two ��ʤ�� 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.

The annual conference brings together representatives from mid-Atlantic and northeast schools of nursing. Li and Lavallee stood out from the crowd among nursing students from some of the nation’s leading schools in the discipline.

“Among all of those A-list universities, it’s really exciting to see our students get recognized,” says Jing Wang, assistant professor of nursing and Li’s mentor for the competition. “It shows that if you make the effort and you do great work, you do get recognized, even with strong competitors from other universities.”

Li’s presentation was titled “Ethical Considerations in the Use of Intelligence-Assisted Home Monitoring Technologies for Persons with Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review,” while Lavallee presented on “Acuity-Based Models of Care: Improving Wait Times and Efficiency in an Outpatient Infusion Center.”

Jing Wang and Amber LI.

Li says she was “pleasantly surprised” to find out that she had received first place for her presentation. She managed to complete the project while juggling multiple jobs in the summer alongside her research, and performing the same balancing act opposite schoolwork during the year. But she “continued to chip away at it,” she says, and was proud of the ultimate reward for the time she put in.

“There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your hard work pay off while reaping the greatest mentorship from experienced nurse researchers like Dr. Wang,” Li says. “I felt so honored, proud and delighted that our work was receiving recognition.”

Lavallee chose Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover as the site for a quality improvement project as part of her capstone for a master’s in the clinical nurse leader program. The work she conducted there inspired her presentation at the conference, which focused on a couple of areas of critical importance in her eyes.

“I was genuinely surprised and incredibly honored,” Lavallee says of earning the honor. “I’m most proud of the balance my project struck between data and compassion. It focused on improving patient care and nurse well-being – two things that are deeply connected but often overlooked in operational decisions. I was able to highlight the voices and concerns of bedside nurses and design an acuity-based model of care that supported both patients and staff. I’m grateful that the judges saw the value in bridging clinical insight with systems-level thinking.”

Pamela Kallmerten, clinical professor and clinical nurse leader and evidence-based nursing program director, served as Lavallee’s mentor for the project (alongsie Deborah Simonton) and has had an up-close view of her development from an undergraduate student to a master’s candidate poised to enter the nursing field.

“She took a class with me when she was a sophomore, and her growth has just been outstanding,” Kallmerten says of Lavallee. “Jordan has completed this program while being a full-time RN, and that’s really challenging. To exhibit that time management and priority management and still maintain that excellence, it’s so impressive.”

Lavallee is quick to give credit to those who lead the ��ʤ�� nursing program for providing the necessary encouragement and guidance, and is proud that her achievement helps elevate the ��ʤ�� program at a conference featuring so many national leaders.

Jordan lavallee.

“This recognition reflects the strength of the ��ʤ�� nursing faculty and their commitment to mentoring students not just clinically, but also in leadership and research. The support I received throughout the process — from refining my research to preparing for presentation — speaks volumes about the academic and professional rigor of the program,” Lavallee says. “I never imagined presenting my capstone project at a professional conference, but the faculty pushed me outside of my comfort zone — and in doing so, helped me grow tremendously as a nurse, a leader and a researcher.”

Adds Li: “I just completed my second year, and I can say confidently that I am incredibly happy and lucky to be a part of the ��ʤ�� nursing program. The nursing faculty make me feel like more than just a nursing student; they see me as an individual and it makes me appreciate the importance of a good educator. They are excellent mentors as clinical leaders and researchers and are great nursing mentors, too.”

Wang is similarly proud of Li’s commitment and hard work, and credits ��ʤ��’s dedication to providing research opportunities to undergraduate students as a significant factor in opening doors, for her and future students.

“��ʤ�� has a wonderful nursing program, and beyond teaching, it’s great to see how our college and department are putting more resources and effort into creating a nurturing, supportive environment for undergraduate students to do research,” Wang says. “I’m really happy for them to know that there are different paths to contributing to the field of nursing. I’m glad our students can see these opportunities and pathways and have the opportunity to grow as future scholars in nursing, that’s really exciting to me.”

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Li and Lavallee recognized at event featuring mid-Atlantic and Northeast nursing schools

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Sullivan ’26 Earns Goldwater Scholarship

ket1007 — Tue, 13 May 2025 13:55:28 +0000

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.

Sullivan is one of 441 recipients of the prestigious scholarship, which provides $7,500 toward the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board.

A chemical engineering major, Sullivan transferred to ��ʤ�� from Boston College in the fall of 2023. He discovered an academic home in Nan Yi’s lab and has been published in ��ʤ��’s Inquiry journal, submitted an article for publication in a national journal and has presented a poster at a national conference.

“After transferring to ��ʤ��, I wanted to become more involved in the university community and dedicate my spare time to something meaningful,” Sullivan says. “I was particularly driven by my passion for addressing climate change, what I believe is our most pressing and critical challenge. Fortunately, I found the ��ʤ�� catalysis laboratory, where researchers focus on designing and applying efficient and selective catalyst to produce alternative fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and repurpose byproducts of biofuel production.”

Sullivan’s research at ��ʤ�� has centered on the photocatalytic conversion of methane to chemicals. He designs and synthesizes catalysts that enable selective conversion of methane using light, he says, and through that process, is able to reduce greenhouse gas through a free and sustainable energy source.

Sullivan is actively involved in the ��ʤ�� Energy Club, for which he will serve as treasurer next year, and he is also a student ambassador for the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research and a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

After graduating from ��ʤ��, Sullivan plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemical engineering, with a research focus on catalysis science, before aiming to enter the energy industry.

“Receiving the Goldwater Scholarship is an incredible honor that validates my commitment to make meaningful contributions to our society,” Sullivan says. “When I first found out, I was overjoyed and relieved. It was incredibly rewarding to have my hard work recognized at such a meaningful level. But more than anything, I was super excited to share the news and enjoyment with my family and friends.”

Sullivan was quick to credit Yi, his advisor, as well as Leigh Pratt, director of ��ʤ��’s Office of National Fellowships, noting that securing the scholarship “would not have been possible” without their guidance and assistance. He says he is also grateful for the SURF and URA research fellowships he received from the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research.

He is viewing the scholarship as an opportunity to open doors, both academically and professionally, and looks forward to taking the next step on his journey to the career he envisions for himself.

“I believe the Goldwater Scholarship will be instrumental advancing both my educational and professional career,” Sullivan says. “It will accelerate my current trajectory, making me a competitive candidate for leading chemical engineering Ph.D. programs. And beyond my academics, I am excited and eager to join the Goldwater Scholar Community, where I hope to build valuable connections and gain career advice that will help guide my future career.”

Interested in pursuing a Goldwater Scholarship? Learn more about this and other opportunities available through the Office of National Fellowships.

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Chemical engineering major hopes to pursue career in the energy industry

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Paul College’s Rines Fund Celebrates a Decade of Deal-Making

arq32 — Mon, 12 May 2025 21:30:48 +0000

Jeffrey Sohl thought he had a winning idea when he helped launch the Mel Rines Student Angel Investment Fund in 2015.

"I never thought it was going to fail, but then I also never realized just how much we would accomplish creating this successful fund," says Sohl, the fund's founder and managing director, looking back as the fund celebrates its 10th anniversary at the ��ʤ�� Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics.

When the fund launched with a generous gift from S. Melvin “Mel” Rines ’47, a former Wall Street professional, it was the first undergraduate-only investment fund of its kind, giving students real-world experience evaluating start-up pitches, conducting due diligence and making investment decisions.

For Sohl, a professor of entrepreneurship and decision sciences with an extensive background in angel investing research, it was essential to provide students with an authentic experience. The fund operates as a selective year-long, four-credit course, where students participate in a rigorous selection process.

"We run it like a business," Sohl says. "We rarely look at GPA. We really look for motivation — someone who's going to run through a brick wall for Rines and take care of the capital for future generations.”

Nate Brennan ’25 shakes hands with Mel Rines as David Rines looks on.

Mel Rines and his son David remain closely involved with the fund.

"It’s met, and exceeded, our expectations in a wonderful way. Just seeing all the different levels of development for the students — from their education to their marketable skill sets to their professionalism — is incredible. They're already bringing real-world experience into this stage of their education,” David Rines says. “It's second to none. So often, when you're in a classroom, you wonder what the real world is going to be like after you graduate. But these students are already experiencing it now."

Students begin on due diligence teams that produce comprehensive investment reports, valued by angel investor partners at $50,000 to $60,000. As they gain experience, they advance to leadership roles on the executive committee. Professional presentation is essential for pitches and industry events.

"These entrepreneurs come in thinking they're just talking to a bunch of students, and then we knock their socks off because not only do the students know all about their business and industry, but they also look professional,” Sohl says.

Authenticity Leads to Success

The fund maintains 12 investments across sectors including software, biotech, edtech, fintech and food products. Their first investment — a Harvard biotech company — has since secured more than $400 million in additional funding. While all investments have secured follow-on funding, they've experienced the industry's typical failure rate of 70 to 80%.

"We expect to lose on some deals. We aim for home runs, but we also like doubles and triples," Sohl says.

Rines has a 100% job placement rate, with most securing positions by February of their senior years, according to Sohl.

Kelsie Dawe ’22, a former co-managing director at Rines, led the fund by overseeing the executive board and analysts, networking with founders to source potential deals, and managing the due diligence process. She says the experience helped her land internships and secure a full-time job by September of her senior year.

"I gained a lot just in understanding what my ability was. By the time I graduated, I felt like I had grown a lot in a short amount of time,” Dawe says.

Now a senior analyst at Hercules Capital on the life sciences team, where she provides venture lending to biotech companies, Dawe credits Rines with giving her a professional edge.

"I definitely think it gave me a huge leg up," she says. "Students from Rines have skills that aren't necessarily taught in the classroom — knowing how to structure emails, how to present yourself in group settings, showing up appropriately dressed. Those are huge changes from being a college student to working full-time that you don't necessarily realize will be a big part of your day-to-day."

Morgan Kahn ’24, who served as co-managing director for two years, spearheaded incorporating sustainability considerations into the due diligence process — adding a new section to reports and teaching fellow students that sustainability extends beyond "just solar panels and recycling."

"Jeff was willing to hear from me and was excited to see that I was excited to contribute something," Kahn says. "Once I graduated, we had already invested in a sustainability-focused company, and my class members were writing articles about sustainable investment opportunities. I really could see that it had created a positive impact."

Kahn says company representatives were consistently impressed by Rines students' preparation and thoroughness during pitches.

"We were asking questions at a higher level, really showing that we had already put in the work," Kahn says. "They really appreciated that we cared about their business at the same level that they do."

Now at Silicon Valley Bank as an associate development program analyst, Kahn evaluates startup companies for various debt facilities.

"I can accredit this whole career and just finding the things that I really enjoy with Rines," says Kahn, who secured her job offer during the first semester of her senior year. "I definitely would not be here without the organization."

Taking A Step Back

Jeffrey Sohl (Katherine Keenan photograph)

Sohl is retiring from teaching and transitioning away from day-to-day involvement with the fund. He'll continue to chair the investment committee, work with the executive committee, and stay involved with alumni activities. ��ʤ�� colleagues Jianhong Chen, associate professor of strategic management, and Khole Gwebu, professor of decision sciences, will take on larger roles with the fund.

Sohl acknowledges Paul College staff member Laura Hill's contributions during her 25 years at the Center for Venture Research before her retirement. Looking back at the decade of success, he's proud of what his team has built and the many student success stories.

“I feel pretty secure in our future, at least with the students that I see in my class,” Sohl says. “I tell them as many times as I can, I would put my students up against any undergraduate or graduate program in the country.”

Subhead:

Student-led angel investment fund provides authentic experience and professional edge for graduates

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Center for Venture Research

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Alumni

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Aaron Sanborn

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Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 3:00pm

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Jeffrey Sohl (center), who launched the Mel Rines Student Angel Investment Fund in 2015, is stepping back from his role as the fund marks its 10th anniversary.

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Joshua Cyr Named ��ʤ�� Paul J. Holloway Entrepreneur of the Year

arq32 — Wed, 07 May 2025 18:44:12 +0000

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

Cyr was presented the award at this year's Paul J. Holloway Prize Competition.

Cyr graduated from ��ʤ�� with a degree in business administration from the Whittemore School of Business and Economics (now the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics).

Cyr's career spans the intersection of entrepreneurship, mentorship, startups and emerging technology. Currently serving as the interim director of the Peter T. Paul Entrepreneurship Center (ECenter) at ��ʤ��, he has become an invaluable connector for students, faculty and staff, helping bridge ideas and opportunities through ��ʤ��Innovation's Venture Studio, the library and entrepreneurial programs across campus.

In the 2024-2025 academic year alone, Cyr has held 139 formal one-on-one meetings with students about their ideas, alongside countless informal interactions, all dedicated to advancing students' entrepreneurial journeys.

Previously, Cyr created and ran a startup accelerator for the NH Tech Alliance (formerly Alpha Loft) in ��ʤ��, where he supported hundreds of startup founders over the past decade. He developed and led all educational programming, helped founders refine their business fundamentals and fundraising pitches and facilitated introductions that resulted in millions of dollars raised for area startups. His leadership also included organizing hundreds of events that fostered ��ʤ��'s innovation ecosystem.

Before his accelerator work, Cyr served as a CTO and software developer, co-founding a company that built commercial content management software used by Fortune 500 companies, universities, banks, municipalities and small businesses.

Beyond his professional career, Cyr has been active in community service, having served as a city councilor for Portsmouth, ��ʤ��, president of his children's elementary parent teacher organization, and as a board member for numerous area nonprofits. He has also been a member of Portsmouth's Economic Development Commission, Recreation Board and Joint Budget Committee.

Cyr remains deeply engaged with emerging technologies, having focused considerable time in recent years on early-stage startups, cryptocurrency and web3 technologies. He is a frequent presenter at events across ��ʤ��, typically speaking on emerging technology and early-stage startups.

Among his distinctions, Cyr was named one of the "10 to Watch Under 40" by Catapult Seacoast and Seacoast Media Group. He has also testified at two U.S. congressional field hearings — one on net neutrality and another on the importance of broadband in rural areas.

Students and colleagues praise Cyr's impact and mentorship style. He encourages experimentation and views failure as part of the process — not something to fear — communicating that perspective with kindness, humility and humor.

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Joshua Cyr, interim director of the Peter T. Paul Entrepreneurship Center (ECenter), was recently named Paul J. Holloway Entrepreneur of the Year. Pictured (L to R) Lisa Keslar, lecturer of management and entrepreneurship, Cyr, and Paul College Dean Lucy Gilson.

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Granite State Systems Earns Top Prize at Holloway Competition

arq32 — Wed, 07 May 2025 00:28:15 +0000

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.

Granite State Systems secured the victory following the final round of the competition on May 6, where six teams of student entrepreneurs from across ��ʤ�� pitched their business plans to a panel of esteemed alums and industry-leading judges.

Granite State Systems leverages novel sensor technology and a proprietary algorithm to integrate machine learning into heating, ventilation and air conditioning units to optimize energy consumption by pre-cooling or pre-heating cold storage warehouses during periods of lower electricity prices.

The team included Brett Schultz ’25, a finance and sustainability dual major; Shea Garland ’27, a finance major; and Rowan Baptista ’27, a mechanical engineering major.

“I participated in this competition as a freshman and a sophomore, and I did not make it to the final round either year,” Schultz says. “This is my third and final year at ��ʤ��, and to make it to the finals and win, I have goosebumps.”

Named in honor of Paul J. Holloway, an accomplished business leader and successful entrepreneur, the Holloway competition is USNH's premier business plan competition for undergraduate and graduate students across the university system.

��ʤ�� President Elizabeth Chilton said hosting the competition is something that ��ʤ�� takes pride in.

“The Holloway Competition is more than a contest. It's a reflection of who we are here at ��ʤ�� and where we're headed,” Chilton says. “Our commitment to entrepreneurship at ��ʤ�� has never been stronger, and now with Paul College proudly serving as the new home for the ��ʤ�� Entrepreneurship Center, the future is bright and full of possibility.”

Paul College Dean Lucy Gilson said that every team that competes in Holloway has an opportunity to positively impact ��ʤ�� and beyond. She also noted the interdisciplinary nature of the competition, with all ��ʤ�� colleges represented at the start of the competition and three represented in the finals.

“Entrepreneurship is alive and well at ��ʤ��,” Gilson says. “Look at how many freshmen we had competing this year and last year, and the number of different colleges and disciplines represented – that is truly what entrepreneurship is. Entrepreneurship does not reside in any one place.”

The top prize in the Holloway competition continued a trend of growing success for Granite State Systems. Four companies have committed to testing Granite State’s technology, and pilot tests in both a mini fridge and a walk-in freezer demonstrated a 16% reduction in electricity costs and a 12% decrease in overall operating expenses.

The team also recently secured a grant from the ��ʤ�� Entrepreneurship Center and will be working on the product full time in the months ahead.

Dominic Rainville from Thrival

“We have folks that want to buy it, we just needed capital to make the product and ship it out, and now we have it,” Schultz says.

Second Place

Thrival, a self-massage tool focused on deep tissue therapy, earned the $10,000 second-place prize and the $2,000 People’s Choice Award.

Thrival was co-founded by Dominic Rainville ’25, a finance major and ��ʤ�� alpine ski team member. Rainville started the company with Cam Smith, a competitive skier from Boston College.

Third Place

Aerial Perspectives, LLC, a business that provides drone services and education, earned the $5,000 third-place prize.

The business was founded by Ryan Guerette ’26, a homeland security and justice studies major, and offers private and commercial services, along with thermal search and rescue, while its educational programs include flying lessons and an overview of drone rules and regulations.

The three runner-up teams, each earning $1,000, were:

Ryan Guerette from Aerial Perspectives, LLC.

QuickQuery AI: An AI-powered assistant for local government websites that can help citizens locate the proper forms and create citizen newsletters. The business was founded by Arthur Murphy ’27, a business administration major.

QuickQuery AI also earned the Embrace ��ʤ�� Award. The award recognizes ventures, regardless of where they place in the competition, that would significantly impact the ��ʤ�� community and economy if successfully launched.

Nuelife: All-natural skin serums crafted with sustainability in mind. It offers a clean, eco-friendly alternative to the synthetic ingredients commonly used by major brands and meets the growing consumer demand for natural, environmentally responsible skincare solutions. Nuelife was founded by Aiden Bondaz ’28, a mechanical engineering major.

Obscura AI: A privacy tool that protects your digital fingerprint from being used against you. Founded by Shaun Devan, ’28, a computer science and cybersecurity major, and Xander Cogan ’28, a computer science student.

Subhead:

Additional student finalists also make impressive business pitches

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Granite State Systems won the Holloway Competition Finals on May 6. Pictured (L to R) Rowan Baptista ’27, Shea Garland ’27 and Brett Schultz ‘25.

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Ultralight Aircraft Built by Student Team Takes Flight

ket1007 — Tue, 06 May 2025 14:09:09 +0000

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 ��ʤ�� 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.

Five ��ʤ�� engineering students watched the ultralight electric aircraft they conceived, designed and built officially take flight last month, marking the successful completion of a senior project so ambitious and groundbreaking that faculty adviser Ivaylo Nedyalkov said it has “redefined what's possible.”

It is believed by Nedyalkov and the students to be the first time ever that an undergraduate student team conceived, built and flew its own custom-designed electric aircraft, all within the span of one academic year.

“Very few student projects – at ��ʤ�� or worldwide – can match the scope, technical depth and level of completion we saw with this ultralight aircraft,” says Nedyalkov, senior lecturer in mechanical engineering. “This team has set the bar exceptionally high. They’ve shown that with the right mix of vision, drive, discipline and teamwork, students can take on challenges that many would consider out of reach.”

Marcus Herold ’25 works on the ultralight aircraft ahead of the first test flight.

For the students – Marcus Herold ’25, Ethan Tillinghast ’25, Seth Chartier ’25, Philip Mather ’25 and Brian Viscido ’25 – watching the first test flight take off and land safely was an energizing culmination of months of hard work and long hours. Though they had to view the flight from a distance for safety purposes, little could have changed the gravity of the moment.

“We were more than a quarter mile away from it, so it was kind of hard to see what was happening, but you could tell it got off the ground. It was pretty unreal,” says Herold, the team lead and visionary of the project. “Everybody dumped a lot of their time and energy into making this happen. It’s been a long-term goal of mine – I’ve always wanted to build a full airplane – so to see it happen was quite awesome.”

The aircraft was flown by Zach Yeaton ’26, a fellow ��ʤ�� student who has his pilot’s license. Yeaton guided the ultralight down the runway before lifting off, getting about 10 feet off the ground and flying for just over 10 seconds – the proposed height and duration parameters proposed for the flight due to safety considerations – before touching down safely (you can see the test flight and hear from team members in this video.)

It was the initial test flight for the students after spending so much time crunching numbers and revising specifications to ensure maximum safety.

“What made it even more remarkable was that they succeeded on the very first day they brought the plane to the airport,” Nedyalkov says. “More than anything, I felt genuine joy for the students. They worked hard and fully earned that moment of celebration.”

It was a long time coming. After the team pitched the idea at the beginning of the spring semester in 2024 and Nedyalkov signed off, the members dived into the process by composing a detailed proposal before building a functional quarter-scale model (“making a strong case that this wasn’t just an ambitious idea – it was a realistic and achievable goal,” Nedyalkov says).

From there, they set out to complete the official structure. The entire project, start to finish, was designed by the students, and they also manufactured and assembled essentially all of the parts. Aside from a few components like the motor, propeller, wheels, brakes and battery cells, the students built everything themselves – including the wings, fuselage, empennage, landing gear and control surfaces.

Many of the parts were made using a 3D printer, they said, while others were created with a waterjet cutter that cuts out pieces of sheet metal that can be bent into any necessary shapes. The students also cut pipes by hand and welded them together to form parts of the frame and did a lot of woodworking, as well.

To qualify as an ultralight, the aircraft had to weigh less than 254 pounds – a challenge made even tougher by the team’s commitment to making it electric (gas-powered planes lose weight as they fly as fuel burns off, while electric components can be heavier and remain a static weight).

The team noted that so many other modes of transportation – like cars, trains and bikes – had successfully implemented electric power, so aviation was the next logical, albeit daunting, frontier.

“Electric aviation is in the near future. It’s not as far away as people might think it is,” says Tillinghast. “Our main goal was to prove that it can be done and be done at a relatively reasonable cost.” The project cost about $8,000 in total, he says.

Adds Herold: “That certainly made it a much larger engineering challenge. There would have been lots of benefits as far as the engineering side to make it gas-powered, but we really wanted to try to show that it could be done, that you can fly with an electric power system. I also think it puts a good foot forward for the university, thinking about sustainability and looking toward the future.”

As the aircraft came together, the challenge of keeping the weight down landed more and more on Chartier’s shoulders, as he was responsible for constructing the landing gear and making it maximally safe while adding as little heft to the design as possible.

Ivaylo Nedyalkov with students Marcus Herold ’25, Ethan Tillinghast ’25, Seth Chartier ’25, Philip Mather ’25, Brian Viscido ’25 and Zach Yeaton ’26.

“I did a lot of different designing, and I was constantly trying to shave off as much weight as I possibly could while still making sure it could withstand the impact,” says Chartier, who during that process adapted the design to move from steel springs for suspension to bungee cords.

“It got to the point where that was the only thing we could change to save weight. He kept giving us new designs and we kept handing them back and saying, ‘we need you to make it lighter.’” Tillinghast quips.

The focus on maximum safety also required making the frame a little heavier than it otherwise could have been, as the team opted for a sturdier roll-cage style frame to protect the pilot that “came at a cost of a little bit of range,” limiting the distance the aircraft could fly before touching down.

All the calculations and revisions and the late nights making sure everything was in order were worth it to see the aircraft fly, the team says. It was a particularly bold venture – Herold noted that other student teams around the country have retrofitted electric aircraft, pulling the original gas-powered engine out of an existing structure and adding electric components, but there is no record of a team designing and building one from the ground up in a single academic year.

Nedyalkov backs up the assertion that the project was truly trailblazing, and he remains in awe of what the students were able to accomplish.

“I can’t overstate how impressive this project is—not just for ��ʤ��, but globally. This is the kind of hands-on experience that defines a top-tier engineering program and shapes the engineering leaders of tomorrow,” Nedyalkov says. “We’re fortunate to have students with this level of talent and ambition, and I’m proud that ��ʤ�� provides an environment where even the sky isn’t the limit.”

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Trailblazing senior project 'redefined what's possible,' according to professor

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Zach Yeaton ’26 in the cockpit of the ultralight aircraft built by a team of ��ʤ�� engineering students.

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Diliang Chen Wins 2025 Innovator of the Year Award for Work in Wearable Technology

ket1007 — Tue, 06 May 2025 13:56:14 +0000

Diliang Chen, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at ��ʤ��, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 J. Brent Loy Innovator of the Year Award for his groundbreaking work in wearable technology.

Chen’s innovative research in wearable technology has the potential to significantly advance health and safety applications, making a profound impact on both the academic community and the public. His work includes the development of smart sensor technologies such as rings, glasses, and insoles, which have broad applicability in the medical device field and the potential to improve lives through long-term, reliable data collection.

“Our faculty innovators not only advance knowledge and discovery, but they also inspire and elevate our entire community,” says Marian McCord, senior vice provost for research, economic engagement and outreach. “��ʤ�� is in the top 10 among institutions without a medical school in active licenses and we generate higher licensing revenues than most of our regional peers.” Faculty innovations not only further the field with new discoveries, but ��ʤ��'s patented innovations, like those Chen is being recognized for, can generate significant public health improvements and economic benefits for the university and the state.

Chen has a distinguished career marked by significant contributions to the fields of wearable technology and human-centered computing. He has been actively involved in research that bridges the gap between theoretical advancements and practical applications. His innovations have previously been advanced through the ��ʤ�� Innovation Fund, which supported the development of his early-stage technology.

“Wearable systems are able to collect the unique data that is very difficult with a traditional system. I believe that new data will lead to new solutions to address healthcare challenges,” says Chen. “I noticed there was a research gap in this field, [and] the problem lies in the challenge of the reliability in wearable systems when using for long-term measurement. My research at ��ʤ�� focuses on developing reliable wearable systems that can ensure accurate measurement over time in a real-world environment.”

“Chen's smart wearable technology, where sensors, AI and robotics come together, really has the potential to change lives,” says Marc Eichenberger, associate vice president and chief business development and innovation officer.

Looking ahead, Chen plans to collaborate with industry partners to bring his wearable technologies to market, aiming to make them accessible to a broader audience. For information about licensing this intellectual property, contact unh.innovation@unh.edu.

The Innovator of the Year Award was presented to Chen on April 28 at the annual celebration recognizing ��ʤ�� researchers and scholars, which honors faculty members, graduate students and Extension staff who received prestigious external awards and accolades for their scholarly achievement. See the full list of honorees.

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Assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering honored at April 28 event

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Diliang Chen, winner of the 2025 J. Brent Loy Innovator of the Year Award, is flanked by Marian McCord, senior vice provost for research, economic engagement and outreach (left) and Marc Eichenberger, associate vice president and chief business development and innovation officer (right).

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Former Chief Economist of Dept. of Labor Delivers Hogan Lecture at Paul College

arq32 — Fri, 02 May 2025 16:31:17 +0000

Girls growing up today are surrounded by images of successful women, like Taylor Swift, that reflect a world of opportunity.

While not everyone can be Taylor Swift, the images are far from those of the 1950s, where women were often portrayed in domestic settings. Economist Betsey Stevenson says this isn’t just a cultural shift — it’s an economic revolution that has enabled women to move from constrained domestic roles to diverse and influential positions that drive the labor market.

"Economics has a lot to tell us about how that transition happens," Stevenson says. “Because families and the labor force are connected. In economics, each decision you make creates an interdependency that shapes the constraints for the next decision you're going to make."

Stevenson delivered the 2025 John A. Hogan Distinguished Lecture at the ��ʤ�� Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics on May 1. A professor at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy, former chief economist at the U.S. Department of Labor and member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers under the Obama administration, Stevenson traced the interconnected forces that transformed women’s choices around work, education, marriage and family.

Her lecture, "Women's Evolving Role in the Labor Market: Families, Work, and Gender Equity in the 21st Century," outlined three significant forces driving the change: technological advancements, legal reforms and global trade.

In the home, innovations like washing machines and prepared foods reduced the need for skilled domestic labor, while trade made once-expensive goods like clothing more affordable and eliminated the need for tasks like sewing and mending.

Stevenson also pointed to policy milestones — like the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and Title IX — as pivotal in removing women's work and education barriers. Access to birth control and changes in divorce laws further reshaped decisions around marriage, parenthood and career planning.

The Changing Nature of Marriage and Family

In previous generations, marriage was often seen as a prerequisite to stability — something to secure early in adulthood. But that urgency has faded, Stevenson explained, as the marriage model has shifted. No longer rooted in economic specialization where one partner worked outside the home and the other managed domestic life — modern marriages are more likely to be partnerships based on shared goals, interests, mutual enjoyment and couples spending more time together overall.

“We're getting an increase in the age of first marriage, particularly among those with greater market skills, because now I'm looking to marry somebody who has a lot of the same interests as me, so it's more optimal to wait until I actually know what my adult interests are going to be, because people evolve in their 20s,” Stevenson says. “Hint, hint, hint for all of you in your 20s.”

These evolving dynamics have also reshaped family life. Although birth rates initially declined as women delayed marriage and parenthood, Stevenson shared data showing a rebound in completed fertility. Women today are waiting longer to have children, but many are ultimately having more children than previous generations.

Women Surpassing Men in Education

Stevenson’s data showed that women outpace men in education at nearly every level. They comprise 59% of doctoral degree recipients, including 61% of those in health and medicine. Undergraduate enrollment trends show a similar pattern, with girls significantly more likely to pursue postsecondary education.

That trend is reshaping the labor force. After decades of gains and a setback during the COVID-19 pandemic, female labor force participation has not only recovered but reached new highs, according to Stevenson.

“Women are working more than ever before. They're getting more education than men … they're out-earning their husbands,” Stevenson says. "America's comparative advantage is high-skilled workers. Who are high-skilled workers? They're female workers.”

More Progress Needs to be Made

Despite decades of gains, Stevenson says the structure of work and public policy still hasn’t fully adapted to modern family life's realities. Issues like inadequate parental leave, expensive childcare and inflexible work schedules make it harder for families to thrive.

“Today's families are continuing to struggle with workplace norms and public policies designed for households in which one person is responsible for all the life outside of work and raising children,” Stevenson says.

Stevenson is optimistic that artificial intelligence and the next wave of technological change will become tools for creating more flexibility in how we work.

“My hope is that we can finally use this new technological innovation to take the time that we want to be with our families,” Stevenson says. “I want those AI robots to give you the space to be able to enter and exit work as it suits your lifestyle instead of feeling like you have to make a decision that is for now and forever.”

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Betsey Stevenson shares how economics reshaped women's choices and changed the labor market

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Betsey Stevenson, former chief economist at the U.S. Department of Labor, discusses how economic shifts opened new doors for women and altered the landscape of work during the Hogan Lecture at Paul College on May 1. (Photo by Kayla Vine)

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