Junior scholarship to launch

This spring, one University junior will be the inaugural recipient of the Eve Marie Carson Scholarship, created in honor of the former student body president.

The scholarship will be awarded to a junior based on merit.

“I think it’s a wonderful way to honor Eve and her leadership at Carolina,” said Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Margaret Jablonski.

The scholarship committee does not yet know how large the award will be or for how many years it will be awarded.

A meeting was held Thursday for those interested in helping promote, run or raise funds for the scholarship. Another meeting will be held Wednesday.

The idea of a junior-year scholarship was part of Carson’s platform as student body president. Her original plan was to name the scholarship in honor of former Chancellor James Moeser for his service to the University.

The scholarship will now be given in remembrance of Carson, who was killed in March.

“I think it’s very true to her original intention,” said Andy Woods, student director of the Eve Marie Carson Scholarship.

Woods said he and Carson discussed how there were not a lot of merit scholarships based on students’ time at UNC. He said they also spoke of how it is hard to show leadership before junior year.

The scholarship will also pay for a summer program between the recipient’s junior and senior year. Applicants will be asked to describe what they would do with the summer money.

“The summer is meant for self-development,” said Emir Sandhu, vice student director of the Eve Marie Carson Scholarship.

The current proposal states that the recipient of the scholarship must fulfill several qualifications: a minimum grade point average of 3.0, involvement in service work, a minimum of 48 hours at the University and not already have a full-ride merit scholarship such as the Morehead-Cain or Robertson scholarships.

“I think it’s an excellent way to honor student leadership that emerges while students are at Carolina, as opposed to students who were leaders in high school and awarded a scholarship on entering Carolina,” Jablonski said.

The selection committee will include the student body president, the associate director or director of scholarships and financial aid, three appointed students, an alumnus and a faculty or staff member.

Many donations for the scholarship have come from individuals in the community, Woods said.

Donations have also come from online contributions and proceeds from selling Eve Carson T-shirts and posters of the four places on campus Carson loved the most.

“We have the funds to fully fund one and the sustainability to fund more scholarships,” Woods said.

Senior music major Emily Joy Rothchild attended the meeting. She said she hopes the scholarship brings the recipient many opportunities.

“I hope the recipient of the Eve Marie Carson Scholarship receives the opportunity to have the most meaningful, dynamic and active senior year as possible.”

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.