2010-2011 Eldean Pierce Graduate Fellowship Award

Brittany Carr, winner of the 2010-2011 Eldean Pierce Graduate Fellowship Award

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.