Mount Wachusett Community College Honors Students Present Research At UMass Amherst Undergraduate Conference

On April 17th, fourteen students from Mount Wachusett Community College’s (MWCC) Commonwealth Honors Program presented their research at the 2026 Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference (MassURC), hosted by UMass Amherst.

In its 32nd year, MassURC is an annual conference that brings together top undergraduate researchers from across the state to showcase scholarly and creative work across a wide range of disciplines.

The MWCC students presented projects spanning the humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields, highlighting the depth and diversity of academic inquiry fostered through the college’s Honors Program.

Student presenters and their research topics included:

• Leonardo Garay — From Sacred Crown to Secular State: Christianity and the Secular Transformation of Paris
• Michelle Gelpi-Balthazar — Psychological Research of Therapeutic Writing and the Divergent Healing Strategies of Mary Oliver and Sylvia Plath
• Cadyn Glynn — Virtue Ethics and Parts of the Mind
• Sophie Harrold — Organic Farming and Insect Pest Control
• Leila Marie — Are College-Aged Women More Likely to Be Misdiagnosed with Depression When They Meet Criteria for Inattentive ADHD?
• Josiah Potter — A Secular Idea of France: The Politics of Reaction and the Price of Overreach
• Spenzer Sanon — What We Can Learn From Past Global Crises to Resolve Current Ones and Prevent Future Disasters
• Joslynn Vautour and Uriah Truax — The In’s and Out’s of Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Brie Voorheis, Arie Voorheis, and Connor Tribou — A Look Into the 18th, 19th, and 20th Arrondissements of Paris, France
• Leila Santos-Diaz — A Genetic Anomaly and Its Role in Population Control: The Marbled Crayfish (Procambarus virginalis)
• Garrik Wilkins — Invasive Plant Awareness & Restoration Project

The students worked closely with MWCC faculty mentors throughout the research process. Faculty sponsors included Professors Kara Roche, Dan Soucy, Katie Fuller, Michelle Valois, George LoCascio, Elmer Eubanks, Heather Conn, and Josephine Amato.

“I am so proud of these students,” shared Professor Roche, who serves as the Commonwealth Honors Program faculty advisor. “They worked exceptionally hard in completing their posters and presentations, rivaling any four-year college student. Last year, we had six students present; this year we more than doubled that number. I loved how varied and how many different disciplines were represented–from the humanities to psychology to science to government and politics–the research ran the gamut. Part of what I love about being a professor is when I learn from my students as well. And I can honestly say: I learned so much from these students. It is truly an absolute honor to be the coordinator of the Commonwealth Honors Program, and I feel so fortunate to work with such gifted and diligent students! Their courage, confidence, and poise are beyond commendable. I’m in awe of what they accomplished!”

“Participation in MassURC is a significant achievement and reflects the high level of academic excellence our Honors students bring to their work,” said MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “These students engaged deeply with complex issues and contributed meaningful insights across disciplines.”

The Commonwealth Honors Program at MWCC provides motivated students with enriched academic opportunities, including independent research, faculty mentorship, and participation in statewide scholarly events such as MassURC.

The Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference provided students with the opportunity to present their work in a professional setting, connect with peers from other institutions, and gain valuable experience in academic research and communication.