FARMINGTON — Eight University of Maine at Farmington students have been named as Fall 2016 UMF Michael D. Wilson Scholars and Fellows.

This competitive, campuswide research program provides project funding to top student scholars as they pursue the highest level of undergraduate research.

The UMF Wilson Program names student awardees twice a year, including single-semester scholars and yearlong fellows. Student researchers are individually sponsored by faculty mentors and supported at every stage of their research.

Faculty mentors assist with proposal development, research methodology, project presentation and continuing followup on pre-professional and post-graduate opportunities.

This semester’s student researchers are exploring topics from mathematical group theory to literature and magic.

The Fall 2016 UMF Wilson Fellows are Brigid Chapin of Winthrop; Eli Kidson, Farmington; and Cassie Scott, Somerset, Massachusetts.

Fall 2016 UMF Wilson Scholars include: Ben Rodriguez of Readfield; Richard Southard, Gray; Jamie Austin, Springvale; Joseph Needle, Northfield, Vermont; and Kristen Tarr, Dyer Brook.

The Wilson program was originally established by Michael and Susan Angelides, of Columbia, Connecticut, in honor of their good friend and UMF alumnus Michael D. Wilson, Class of 1976.