The Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies (CLACLS) recently announced the winners of its inaugural Undergraduate Research Award, presented through a public poster competition held during Founders Day.

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The competition, which reflects CLACLS’s commitment to supporting interdisciplinary undergraduate research connected to Latin America, the Caribbean, and Latino communities in the U.S., was organized in two stages. During the first stage, a faculty committee reviewed student research posters and selected eight finalists based on the quality of their work and its connection to the mission of the center. The finalists then presented their research during a public poster session at Bromery Plaza during the Founders Day celebrations, sharing their work with the many people who stopped by the plaza.

The eight finalists represented four different schools and colleges across UMass Amherst, reflecting CLACLS’s ongoing efforts to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and create spaces where research can connect across fields and communities.

Jimmy Cantarero, a student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering, took first place with his project, which explored whether PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” disproportionately impact Latino communities in the Eastern U.S. His research examined patterns of environmental exposure and demographic data, contributing to broader conversations about environmental justice and public health inequities affecting Latino communities.

Nylla Henriquez, a student in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences, placed second for research that examined barriers to healthcare and social services experienced by Latinx communities in Lawrence, Massachusetts, while also highlighting the forms of cultural resilience that emerge within those communities. Drawing from oral histories, her project centered lived experiences and community knowledge to better understand how people navigate structural inequities.

More information about the Undergraduate Research Award can be found on the CLACLS website.