With one researcher and two students taking home awards, UConn was well-represented at the recent Women of Innovation awards gala hosted by the Connecticut Technology Council.

At the April 1 ceremony, held at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, 10 women received awards in eight categories that focus on leadership and innovation in academia, industry and community. There were 56 finalists, six of whom are with UConn. The Women of Innovation program recognizes women in the workforce and students across Connecticut who are innovators, role models and leaders in their technology professions or fields of study.

The three winners from UConn are:

Radenka Maric, Connecticut Clean Energy Professor in Sustainable Energy, for Research Innovation and Leadership

Radenka Maric joined UCONN in 2010, where she focuses on developing new materials and novel structures for energy storage and conversion, structural ceramics and hydrogen production and separation. Previously, she was group leader and program manager at the National Research Council of Canada’s Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation, program manager at nGimat and senior scientist/team ILeader at the Japan Fine Ceramics Center in Japan. Radenka has published over 150 scientific papers.

Sapna Gupta, Ph.D. Student, for Collegian Innovation and Leadership

Sapna Gupta is a graduate research assistant at the Center for Clean Energy Engineering and a Ph.D. candidate in materials science and engineering at UCONN. Sapna’s academic achievements, innovative research and creativity are evident in the many fellowships, distinctions, and awards she has received, including her honorable mention for the 2014 Baker Student Researcher award. She is founder and president of UCONN Keramos, and delegate of the ACerS PCSA.

Keshia Ashe, Chemical Engineering student and Co-Founder & CEO of ManyMentors

Keshia Ashe is a Ph.D. candidate in chemical engineering at UCONN and co-founder and CEO of ManyMentors. ManyMentors is a STEM online and in-person mentoring nonprofit organization that connects university mentors with middle and high school students interested in STEM degrees and careers. She is a mentor, role model, TEDx speaker, and an unwavering advocate for STEM education in Connecticut.