Alisson Fernandez Tuiro, a biomedical engineering major in the University of Vermont College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, has been awarded UVM’s 2026 Kidder Medal, recognizing extraordinary scholastic achievement, leadership, and service.

Fernandez Tuiro has maintained an exceptional 3.89 cumulative GPA while completing a demanding interdisciplinary curriculum with minors in pure mathematics and computer science. Her academic journey reflects both intellectual rigor and resilience. As an international student, she navigated the challenges of adapting to a new academic, cultural, and linguistic environment, experiences that deepened her persistence and commitment to learning. Over time, she became not only a high‑achieving student, but also a peer educator and mentor.

Her academic pursuits extend well beyond the classroom. Fernandez Tuiro has contributed to neuroscience research in UVM’s Glass Brain Lab and participated in Yale University’s highly competitive Leadership Alliance Program, where she conducted research on recurrent neural networks and presented her work at a national conference. She has also applied her technical skills to real‑world impact through internships with UVM’s Center for Biomedical Innovation, focusing on accessibility in healthcare.

Equally notable are her leadership and service. Fernandez Tuiro has served as president and vice president of the International Student Club, publicist for Alianza de Latines, resident advisor, teaching assistant in mathematics, and cohort member of the HHMI Our Common Ground Leadership Program. Across these roles, she has focused on fostering belonging, supporting student success, and leading with empathy.

A member of multiple honor societies, including Tau Beta Pi, Boulder and Mortar Board Societies, Fernandez Tuiro’s accomplishments exemplify the values of the Kidder Medal. Her time at UVM has been defined by academic excellence, purposeful leadership, and her commitment to uplifting others and creating impact beyond herself.