UAM Grad Students Earn Top Conference Honors

Three University of Arkansas at Monticello master's students recognized for outstanding research presentations.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 9:50pm

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A bold, abstract painting in muted greens, browns, and blues featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex scientific research conducted by UAM graduate students to study and protect natural systems.Graduate student research at the University of Arkansas at Monticello is advancing critical knowledge in fields like forestry, wildlife management, and geospatial analysis to support sustainable natural resource stewardship.Monroe Today

The University of Arkansas at Monticello announced that three of its graduate students recently earned top awards at professional conferences in March. Asmit Neupane, Maddison Allen-DeVries, and Obioma Ogwo were recognized for their research presentations on topics ranging from forest ecology to waterfowl management and wetlands mapping.

Why it matters

The awards highlight the strength and real-world impact of UAM's graduate programs in forestry, agriculture, and natural resources. The students' ability to effectively communicate their research at high-profile conferences demonstrates the university's commitment to preparing the next generation of scientists and natural resource managers.

The details

Asmit Neupane, a master's student in forest resources, earned the Outstanding Student Poster award at the Central Hardwood Conference for his research on how seasonal hydroclimate affects the growth of bottomland red oaks in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Maddison Allen-DeVries, a master's student in waterfowl ecology and management, won the Outstanding Student Oral Presentation award at the Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture Waterfowl Symposium for her work measuring direct harvest rates of wintering mallards in Arkansas. Obioma Ogwo, a master's student focused on GIS, remote sensing, and wetlands management, received the Best Student Poster Presentation award at the same Little Rock symposium for research using high-resolution imaging to improve emergent marsh mapping.

  • The awards were presented in March 2026 at professional conferences.

The players

Asmit Neupane

A master's student in forest resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Neupane earned the Outstanding Student Poster award at the Central Hardwood Conference for his research on how seasonal hydroclimate affects the growth of bottomland red oaks in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley.

Maddison Allen-DeVries

A master's student in waterfowl ecology and management at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Allen-DeVries won the Outstanding Student Oral Presentation award at the Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture Waterfowl Symposium for her research measuring direct harvest rates of wintering mallards in Arkansas.

Obioma Ogwo

A master's student focused on GIS, remote sensing, and wetlands management at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Ogwo received the Best Student Poster Presentation award at the Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture Waterfowl Symposium for research using high-resolution imaging to improve emergent marsh mapping.

Dr. Michael Blazier

The Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Blazier said the awards reflect the strength of the university's graduate program.

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What they’re saying

“Everyone was so interested in the Mississippi Valley and the work I am doing. I felt very good, but I did not expect that I would win an award.”

— Asmit Neupane, CFANR master's student in forest resources

“Finally getting to that level where I'm super comfortable presenting and getting an award … it was really rewarding.”

— Maddison Allen-DeVries, CFANR master's student in waterfowl ecology and management

“It was strange and surprising … because this is my first poster presentation. It was a very elating experience.”

— Obioma Ogwo, CFANR master's student focused on GIS, remote sensing and wetlands management

What’s next

The University of Arkansas at Monticello plans to highlight the students' achievements and research at an upcoming campus event.

The takeaway

The awards won by these UAM graduate students showcase the university's commitment to preparing the next generation of scientists and natural resource managers through hands-on, real-world research opportunities that have a meaningful impact.