2023 Young Alumni Achievement Award
Presented each year at Homecoming, this award recognizes a young alumna/us for significant achievement and contribution within her/his chosen field and community. Eligible nominees should reflect positively on Colby-Sawyer while providing an example of leadership and inspiration to young alumni. Alumni of the last 15 years are eligible for this award.
Benjamin Maines ’18
Ben Maines received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with a minor in studio art from Colby-Sawyer College in 2018. During his time at CSC, Ben was a student leader and took advantage of the numerous opportunities afforded him on campus. He worked as a resident assistant, a student ambassador for the Admissions Office, a writing tutor and as an undergraduate research assistant. Additionally, he was a member of the Wesson Honors program and the biology majors club. Ben was the recipient of numerous student awards during his senior year, including the David H. Winton Baccalaureate award, presented to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average.
Following graduation, Ben conducted cancer research at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, where he served as a research fellow and program coordinator from June 2017-August 2018 and then as a research assistant until November 2019. He then served as a Fulbright scholar, working as an assistant professor of English at the University of Colombo and the University of the Visual and Performing Arts, both in Sri Lanka.
Currently, Ben is a graduate student at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Additionally, he is pursuing a joint master’s degree in global, community and environmental health at the Stanford School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences.
Given Ben’s deep involvement as a student, it’s no surprise that he has remained engaged with Colby-Sawyer, even while pursuing his graduate studies. Ben currently serves on the CSC School of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board and volunteers as the class correspondent for the class of 2018. He has volunteered as a mentor to current CSC students and has served on alumni panels at student networking events.
In addition to his volunteerism at his alma mater, Ben is a student mentor and discussion leader for the US-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission, where he mentors and advises Sri Lankan students who are interested in pursuing secondary education in the U.S. He is also an extracurricular English and art teacher at a home for orphaned children in Sri Lanka.