Ochylski Family Foundation Grant Award
Enabled the strategic long-term investment in a 2025 Mazda BT50 to solve issues related to transportation in rural areas, including support for the growth of the magnet school, local church activities, medical emergencies, and the movement of cash crops to local markets.
Impact Video: The Children’s Initiative, September 2024
Maine Humanities Council Major Grant Award
Powered the impact campaign for and production of Courts of Belonging, a documentary short that captures the intimate stories of immigrant youth who find strength in community and soccer.
Maximized the potential of storytelling for impact by spearheading a campaign to engage the public and bridging the worlds of policy and documentary filmmaking by shedding light on human stories behind global issues.
Documentary Short: Courts of Belonging
Featured: Portland Press Herald
Honors College Service Award
Recognition for outstanding dedication and commitment to the Honors College Community.
Actively recruited prospective students and mentored accepted students during their transition to higher education, representing both the Office of Admissions & Recruitment and the Honors College.
Participated in prospective and accepted student days, open houses, ceremonies, convocations, orientations, panels, campus tours, marketing communications campaigns, community building events, and more.
Organized free and recurring soccer programs with the Office of International Programs and Campus Recreation, successfully mobilizing hundreds of international students year-round.
Featured: We Are UMaine
︎ “Santi has demonstrated an outstanding dedication and commitment to Honors both on and off campus. He was always willing to lend or offer support, and we have come to deeply value his eloquence, his poise, his passion, when speaking about his Honors experience. Santi has served as an honors ambassador, representing Honors at many, many prospective and accepted student events, again both on and off campus. This fall I had the pleasure of working with Santi when he became a peer facilitator for Honors 175. I especially appreciated his commitment to building a sense of community and belonging among first-year students in that class. And this Spring, Santi became a peer facilitator for another Honors course, Honors 170, where he respectfully guided students through difficult conversations on controversial topics.” – Associate Dean of Honors College, Dr. Melissa Ladenheim ︎
Center for Undergraduate Research Fellowship & Symposium 1st Prize Award
Powered the production for Climate Action at the University of Maine – captures the vibrant student activism at the core of the University of Maine’s climate action movement, and the collective advocacy efforts behind convincing the University of Maine System Board of Trustees to divest from fossil fuels.
This Fellowship in conjunction with the Honors College Charlie Slavin Research Grant supported the qualitative research requirement for the Honors Thesis.
Documentary Short: Climate Action at the University of Maine
Featured: Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center
︎ “Santi has been a joy to work with. From each stage of his research project, both in making his documentary film and his disquisition, he’s worked reflectively, showing great attention to audience expectations, the wider context of documentary filmmaking, the science of climate change, and of course, how his film will contribute to addressing this existential threat. His film provides students, faculty and community leaders a platform for their voice to be heard, which will amplify their message and aid in helping them achieve their goals. He’s produced a wonderful film, so make sure you see it!” – Associate Professor of Art, Dr. Michael Grillo ︎
Fulbright Canada Killam Fellowship & Cultural Awareness Program
Thrived academically in a direct exchange study abroad program at a top tier and globally recognized Canadian research institution, University of Alberta.
Organized community building events for international students year-round.
Recipient of the Fulbright Canada Cultural Awareness Program, which enabled cultural exchange at University of British Columbia & McGill University.
Featured: University of Maine News (June 2021), University of Maine News (May 2021)