Neha Makanangot

EC Scholars have a reputation for being star students, and Neha Makanangot is no exception.

Before ever stepping foot on ECU’s campus as a freshman in the class of 2023, Makanangot will have already conducted research in Dr. Krista McCoy’s biology lab studying the effects of certain chemicals on common birth defects. Before that, she spent a summer in Dr. Paul DeVita’s lab in the College of Health and Human Performance learning about biomechanics. Now, she’s working in Dr. Karen Litwa’s lab at the Brody School of Medicine on a project in the anatomy and cell biology department.

The Greenville resident from Junius H. Rose High School said being in such close proximity to ECU made it “feel like home.” Her positive experiences at ECU made it an easy choice for college.

“I would like to continue to conduct research while at ECU and further foster my fascination for the natural world,” she said.

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 nearly $63,000.

“Being an EC Scholar is a tremendous honor to me and I hope that I can utilize this program to the best of my ability and give back to not only ECU, but the greater community,” Makanangot said.

Makanangot is the daughter of Nuhman Makanangot and Nazra Nuhman. She intends to major in biology, attend medical school and one day become an emergency room physician.

A role in the ER would allow her to work on the front lines of medicine and have an immediate impact on a patient’s care.

“From delivering a baby to suturing a small wound, ER physicians are required to be well-rounded, and this is a role that I think that I would be very much capable of filling. I hope that during my undergraduate studies at ECU, I can explore the world of medicine in much more depth,” Makanangot said.

For her study abroad experience, Makanangot is considering Buenos Aires as a way to immerse herself in Latin American culture and become involved in the public health advocacy programs that Argentina offers.

This summer, she will also go abroad to volunteer at a hospital in Kerala, India.

“Being an EC Scholar is a tremendous honor to me and I hope that I can utilize this program to the best of my ability and give back to not only ECU, but the greater community.”

High school: Junius H. Rose High School

Intended major: Biology

Hometown: Greenville