Grace Krell described the day she found out she was an EC Scholar as one of the best days of her life.
“We were in the car … and as we were pulling into the driveway, I grabbed the mail. I opened the beautiful card, and the music began to play. My family went crazy,” she said.
Krell says her older brother, who’s already a student in the Honors College, introduced her to East Carolina University. She visited campus a few times, with it feeling more like home each time, and she soon realized ECU had everything she was looking for in a university.
For example, she wants to be an engineer, and the small engineering classes appealed to her.
And she plans to minor in music, plays several instruments and was involved in high school and community ensembles and orchestras.
“A strong college music program was a must for me,” said the 18-year-old who who lives in Clemmons. “East Carolina is truly the full package, and I can’t imagine myself anywhere else.”
EC Scholars is the most prestigious undergraduate award program offered at ECU. The four-year merit scholarship recognizes outstanding academic performance, commitment to community engagement and strong leadership skills. Recipients receive an Honors College scholarship for four years, along with a stipend for study abroad, for a total value of $62,000.
Krell says having a college education paid in full, including studying a semester abroad, is “amazing.” However, since she was selected, her attention has shifted away from the financial award to the academic and social rewards being an EC Scholar can offer her.
“I realized at Selection Sunday that the current scholars were fantastic role models that I wanted to have as mentors,” she said.
Before Krell immerses herself in activities, such as auditioning for the East Carolina Wind Ensemble and other musical endeavors, she plans to take time this summer to spend with friends and family and continue volunteering with the Ronald McDonald House.
Once in the Honors College, Krell is not sure where she plans to study abroad. It’s a question everyone asks, and her answer is always different.
Pirate Profile: Joel McAuliffe
This Pirate uses numbers to research the atmosphere
At age 5, the question “Why is the sky blue?” made East Carolina University senior Joel McAuliffe realize that the atmosphere could be truly magnificent.
“We shouldn’t just view the sky as simply air,” McAuliffe said. “I have always loved sitting outside, watching the darkness of a thunderstorm loom on the horizon.”
A Stephens City, Virginia native, McAuliffe is double majoring in applied atmospheric science and mathematics.
“I have always been curious about the atmosphere and the environment,” McAuliffe said. “I added math as a major because I found the mathematics behind the sciences just as interesting.”
During his sophomore year, McAuliffe participated in an undergraduate research project studying sea breezes on the Atlantic Coast with associate professor Dr. Rosana Ferreira.
“This research experience was very beneficial because it was a way I could get a sense of the research process, and I was able to develop valuable skills in coding and scientific writing,” he said. “The sea breeze was actually a topic my professor was researching and though it was something I learned in class, I felt I could learn even more if I participated in the research project.”
In summer 2015, McAuliffe participated in the 10-week Research Experiences for Undergraduates program with the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma where he contributed to a study relevant to predicting future climate and possibly increasing warning times for severe storms.
The program admits approximately 10 students out of nearly 100 applications.
“Along with research, the program focused on skills such as presenting, writing a formal scientific paper and continuing education,” he said. “I made some quality friends and memories during my stay.”
Last April, McAuliffe presented at ECU’s Research Creativity and Achievement Week regarding his time at the National Weather Center. He has also attended the national American Meteorological Society conference twice.
“At the national conference, there are multiple presentations on different scientific research projects conducted by real atmospheric scientists and informational panels regarding various career opportunities in the field,” he said. “I attended the student conference last year and had the opportunity to present my research.”
This past spring, McAuliffe was also awarded an N.C. Space Grant to study precipitation variability in the Atlantic Ocean.
“The application required an essay along with an original research project,” he said. “Overall, this was a rewarding experience because I was able to conduct my own research project with a trusted faculty member. I was also exposed to atmospheric modeling and new coding languages, which will be handy in the near future.”
After graduation, McAuliffe said that he wants to focus on climate research. “I’m looking into grad schools now, but for now I want to focus on atmospheric research, specifically studying climate research and numerical modeling.”
However, McAuliffe said that he does not want to be a meteorologist on TV. “Unfortunately, no, I believe it would be better to keep me as far away from cameras as possible,” he said.
McAuliffe is a member of the Student Association of Latino and Spanish Affairs, the ECU American Meteorological Society Chapter and the Society of Physics Students Club.
What is something cool about ECU that you wish you knew during your first year? That no one wears their lanyard around their neck.
What advice do you have for other students? Remember why you came here. Live your life for the present and the future.
Statistics
College: Thomas Harriot College of Arts & Sciences
Major: Applied Atmospheric Sciences/Mathematics
Age: 22
Classification/Year: Senior
Hometown: Stephens City, Virginia
Hobbies & Interests: Volleyball, cooking, working out
Clubs & Organizations: Student Association of Latino and Spanish Affairs, ECU AMS Chapter, Society of Physics Students Club
Favorites
Favorite place to eat: Japan Inn
Favorite Movie: The Orphan
Favorite website: Google
Favorite place on campus: Student Rec Center
Favorite hangout: Other people’s apartments
Favorite class: Partial Differential Equations with Dr. David Pravica
Favorite TV show: Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Favorite band/musician: Hiatus Kaiyote, Alina Baraz
Motivations
Professor who influenced you the most: Dr. Rosana Ferreira
The one thing you cannot live without: Food
Dream Job: Atmospheric Research
Role model: My parents for keeping me around
Words of Wisdom
“You will always fail if you never try.”