FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington Undergraduate Research Council recently named area UMF students to its prestigious fall 2012 Michael D. Wilson Scholars and Fellows Program. The competitive Wilson Research Program helps top UMF student scholars — supported one-on-one by faculty mentors — pursue original, high-level undergraduate research projects.

The UMF Wilson Program names student awardees twice a year, including single-semester scholars and year-long fellows, and provides funding to help underwrite student project expenses.

The local fall 2012 Wilson Fellows are: Grace Kendall of Vienna and Anna Soule of Kingfield.

Kendall is a senior majoring in history and is using a psychological theory to analyze the behavior and decisions of U.S. President Andrew Jackson. Her faculty sponsor is Chris O’Brien, associate professor of history.

Soule is a senior with an individualized studies major and a concentration in art and is researching the role DNA plays in musical aptitude. Her faculty sponsor is Jean Doty, professor of biology.

The local fall 2012 Wilson Scholars are: Adam Black and Catherine Farsaci, both of Farmington.

Black is a senior majoring in mathematics and is investigating geometric group theory. His faculty sponsor is Nicholas Koban, associate professor of mathematics.

Farsaci is a senior majoring in history and is discussing the evolving social and medical paradigms of infectious disease that engendered the lethargic adoption of germ theory. Her faculty sponsor is Chris O’Brien, associate professor of history.

The Wilson awards are funded by a generous gift from Michael and Susan Angelides, of Stonington, Conn., in honor of their good friend and UMF alumnus Michael D. Wilson, class of 1976, who died shortly after graduating.