EC Scholars Welcomes Class of 2015
May 2011

Fifteen incoming freshmen at East Carolina University were selected for the prestigious EC Scholars Program.  The four-year merit scholarship recognizes outstanding academic performance, commitment to community engagement and strong leadership skills. Recipients receive a scholarship for four years, along with a stipend for study abroad, for a total value of approximately $45,000.

For additional information on each student who received the honor, please visit the ECU News Services website.

EC Scholars Celebrated and Honored by Phi Kappa Phi
May 2011

The East Carolina Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi annually presents an award to the Outstanding Senior at ECU. The winner receives a plaque and a check for $1000 from the chapter. This year the chapter also selected three finalists of distinction. Each received a check for $100.

Parteek Singla, a native of Greenville, NC, is the first Finalist of Distinction. An EC Scholar and Brody School of Medicine Early Assurance Scholar, Parteek graduated in May 2011 summa cum laude with a BS in biology and a minor in international studies. During his undergraduate career, Parteek completed a summer research internship at the National Institutes of Health in HIV/AIDS research and one at Harvard University in immunology. He did his honors thesis research with Dr. Rachel Roper at the Brody School of Medicine on efforts to develop a safer poxvirus vaccine. Parteek has been an active community volunteer and leader. With the help of the Volunteer and Service Learning Center, he started his own nonprofit organization, Kids with Knowledge, and raised over $10,000 to help life-changing projects in Uganda and Ghana. This past summer he volunteered at an eye clinic in Ghana and in the summer of 2011 he will travel to Spain to take classes before starting medical school at Brody in the fall. Eventually he plans to become a physician in eastern North Carolina.

The second Finalist of Distinction is Rachel Steeb. Rachel too is an EC scholar and member of the Honors program. She graduated in May summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She completed an honors thesis under the direction of Dr. Kim Larson, examining the barriers to prenatal education experienced by women of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds in rural eastern North Carolina. Rachel also received the ECU Undergraduate Research Award and the Sigma Theta Tau Beta Nu research award. She currently serves as Vice President of the senior nursing class, is the student representative on the undergraduate curriculum committee in nursing, and is employed at Pitt County Memorial Hospital as a Nurse Aide II in the Emergency Department. Rachel has been a passionate participant in ECUs Relay for Life, serving as co-captain for the nursing team. Upon graduation, she plans to move to Charlotte to seek employment as a registered nurse.

The third Finalist of Distinction is Maggie Walston. A native of Snow Hill, Maggie is an EC scholar and member of the Honors program. She graduated in May with university honors and a major in Speech and Hearing Sciences with a minor in English. In the summer of 2009, she studied in London. Her senior honors thesis, under the direction of Dr. Betty Smith, examined observational data on clients from birth through age 5 in order to correlate the developmental stages of play with stages of speech and language development. At ECU Maggie has been an active member of the ECU Ambassadors service leadership society. She is currently their Philanthropy Committee chairperson. She is also a member of the National Student Speech, Language and hearing Association. Eventually she plans to become a speech language pathologist in a hospital or clinic setting. Her first step will be to enter a Masters degree program this fall.

The winner of the 2010-2011 Outstanding Senior award is Deepak Ravindranathan from Calabash, NC. Deepak is an EC Scholar and member of the university Honors program. He graduated in May summa cum laude with dual degrees: a BS in Biochemistry and a BA in Chemistry. He received an ECU Undergraduate Research Award to fund his honors thesis project with Dr. Shoqan Huo in Chemistry to develop and characterize highly emissive platinum complexes. He recently published his first academic article as lead author in the Inorganic Chemistry Journal. He has also presented his research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research and at the American Chemical Society. In the summer of 2011, Deepak will travel to Europe to conduct a comparative analysis of natural resource management and recreational practices in four countries. Active on campus, Deepak served for two years as the student representative to the Phi Kappa Phi executive board. He mentored children at Belvoir Elementary School, volunteered at Pitt Memorial Hospital and the Hobgood and Grimesland clinics, and is serving as President of the ECU Chemistry Club and Vice-President of the Rural Health Volunteer Society. Deepak was also a 2011 recipient of the Elite Pirate Award for top student leaders. Deepak plans to complete a Masters program in Chemistry before enrolling in medical school. Eventually he hopes to become a practicing physician in eastern North Carolina.

 

EC Scholar Awarded Pierce Graduate Fellowship by Phi Kappa Phi
May 2011

Each year, the ECU Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi sponsors a competition among graduating seniors for a fellowship to help fund their first year of graduate or professional study. Named in honor of a former chapter member and faculty member in Nursing, the award includes a fellowship of $1500 and a plaque.

The 2010-2011 Fellowship winner is Brittany Carr. A native of Mt. Olive, NC, Brittany is an EC Scholar, Brody Early Assurance Scholar and member of the Honors program. She graduated in May summa cum laude with two Bachelor of Science degrees: one in Biology and one in Multidisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Asian studies. In the latter program, Brittany was able to study abroad twice in Japan and in India. Her senior honors thesis combines here interests in Asian culture and medicine, exploring the development of the Chinese health care system in response to the nation’s many political changes throughout its history. Brittany also works in the Biochemistry Department in the Brody School of Medicine as an undergraduate research assistant. She received an Undergraduate Research Award to explore genetic control mechanisms of the protein Zfp206. She also won an award last year for her undergraduate research project on plant diversity. Brittany is an active campus volunteer and received the Elite Pirate Award as a top student leader. She has volunteered as head volleyball coach with the Pitt Community Schools and Recreation Program, been a patient escort at Pitt Memorial Hospital and a volunteer at Goshen Medical Center. She completed an alternative spring break program volunteering in Russell County, Alabama. This fall, Brittany will enter the Brody School of Medicine. Her long-term goal is to become a primary care physician in a rural area and to eventually build a model for developing healthy communities in rural areas.

EC Scholars Students Named as Outstanding First Year Students by Phi Kappa Phi
May 2011


The ECU Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi recognizes annually an outstanding first-year student. The winner receives a plaque and a check for $500 from the chapter. In addition, this year the chapter also chose to recognize a finalist of distinction.

The finalist of distinction is Rachel Pollard, a graduate of the NC School of Science and Math. Rachel is an EC Scholar and member of the Honors College who plans to major in biology and eventually study veterinary medicine. Since arriving on campus, Rachel has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average and volunteered with the Little Willie Center, the Rocking Horse Ranch Therapeutic Riding Program, the Golden Living Center and has served as a biology and chemistry tutor for fellow students. She is also the Co-Chair of the Rising Leaders Circle.

The 2010-2011 Outstanding First-Year Student is Hannah Potter, a graduate of Forest Hills High School in Marshville, NC. While in high school, Hannah lived and studied in Egypt and continues taking Arabic lessons from a private tutor. An EC Scholar and member of the Honors College, Hannah plans to double major in International Studies and Religious Studies. She will travel to India in the summer of 2011 to study religion. In addition to maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average, Hannah has volunteered at the Little Willie Center, the golden Living Center, and has participated in the Language Exchange program through the International House. Over the recent spring break, she traveled with the Service Learning Center to New York City to do volunteer work. Eventually, Hannah would like to work with nongovernmental organizations abroad offering humanitarian assistance.

 

EC Scholars Recognized as URCA Grant Winners
March 3, 2011

Four EC Scholars were among the twenty-one recipients of the 2011 Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (URCA) awards.  Each of the students is working alongside a faculty mentor within a department related to their research.  The 2011 URCA recipients for the Honors College, and their faculty mentors, are listed below:

Mr. Jonathan Lee, junior Neuroscience Studies major and Honors student in the EC Scholars Program, is working with Dr. Lu (Anatomy & Cell Biology) in the Brody School of Medicine.

Ms. Tiffany Lee, senior Neuroscience Studies and Biology major and Honors student in the EC Scholars Program, is working with Dr. Bareiss (Physical Therapy) in the College of Allied Health Sciences.

Ms. Eden Rouse, junior Neuroscience Studies major and Honors student in the EC Scholars Program, is working with Dr. Warner (Psychology) in the Harriot College.

Ms. Rachel Steeb, senior Nursing major and Honors student in the EC Scholars Program, is working with Dr. Larson (Nursing) in the College of Nursing.

EC Scholar Recognized with Inaugural Bassman Thesis Award
November 22, 2010

The winner of the 2010 Michael F. Bassman Honor Thesis Award is Daniel Landon Allen, a graduate of the University Honors Program and an EC Scholar alumnus.  Mr. Allen will accept the award at the ceremony on Tuesday, December 7 at 4:00 p.m. in Room 2409 of Joyner Library.

Landon’s winning thesis project was completed under the direction of Dr. Colin Burns in the Department of Chemistry at ECU. In Fall 2008, Landon began working on a project involving the study of a protein called prothymosin-alpha.  Dr. Burns and his research associates were studying this unusual protein’s abilities to modulate the human immune system, and in particular how it helps our body in fighting viruses like HIV. In Dr. Burn’s words, “The research question Landon posed in the course of his work was very interesting and extremely complex – something worthy of being a Ph.D. dissertation project on its own.“

Landon was also chosen as the Outstanding Senior for 2009-2010 at East Carolina University by the local chapter of Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society. An Honors Student and EC Scholar, Landon graduated summa cum laude with University Honors in May 2010. He completed dual degrees in Biology and Chemistry with a minor in Business Administration and a certificate in Hispanic Studies. During his undergraduate career, Landon won multiple awards – an Elite Pirate Leadership Award, the Keith D Holmes Scholastic Chemistry Achievement Award, the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences Academic Award, and several ECU Research and Creative Achievement Week awards, including one for his project “Women in Guatemalan and Nicaraguan Societies: From the Twentieth Century Onward” completed under the direction of Dr. Bassman.

Landon is completing his Master’s of Business Administration degree here at ECU and will enter the Brody School of Medicine next year.  He plans to study family medicine in preparation for opening a small practice in rural eastern North Carolina.

 

EC Scholars Recognized as URCA Grant Winners
November 9, 2010

Six Honors College students were among the fourteen recipients of the 2010 Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (URCA) awards.  Each of the students is working alongside a faculty mentor within a department related to their research.  The 2010 URCA recipients for the Honors College, and their faculty mentors, are listed below:

Ms. Brittany Carr, senior Biology major and Honors student in the EC Scholars program, is working with Dr. Phillip Pekala (Biology) in the Harriot College.

Ms. Meagan Decker, junior Chemistry major and Honors student in the EC Scholars program, is working with Dr. Andrew Morehead (Chemistry) in the Harriot College.

Mr. Jeffrey Dwulet, junior Biology major and Honors student, is working with Dr. Anne Spuches (Biology) in the Harriot College.

Mr. Wayne Rummings, junior Biology major and Honors student, is working with Dr. Tim Christensen (Biology) in the Harriot College.

Ms. Kelli Shortt, senior Biology major and Honors student, is working with Dr. Jean-Luc Scemama (Biology) in the Harriot College.

Ms. Caitlin Trumbo, senior Biochemistry major and Honors student, is working with Dr. Ann Sperry (Cell Biology) in the Brody School of Medicine.

Lee Showcased in Harriot College's Newsletter: Cornerstone Magazine
Fall 2010

Ms. Tiffany Lee, a senior Multidisciplinary Studies major and Honors student in the EC Scholars program, has been featured in the Harriot College's newsletter as the student in the spotlight.  Please visit the newsletter online and find Tiffany's story on page 14.


Ravindranathan Listed as First Author in the Journal Inorganic Chemistry
November 8, 2010

Mr. Deepak Ravindranathan, a junior Biochemistry major and Honors student in the EC Scholars program, has been listed as a first author in the journal Inorganic Chemistry.  Mr. Ravindranathan's publication is entitled, "Improvement in Phosphorescence Efficiency through Tuning of Coordination Geometry of Tridentate Cyclometalated Platinum(II) Complexes."


New EC Scholars Announced
Summer 2010

The incoming class of fall 2010 EC Scholars has been announced.  For more information, please visit the ECU Release.