Stephanie Stewart

Stephanie Stewart has traveled to 12 countries around the world so far — through books.

She’ll continue her journey this summer by reading stories from Hispanic countries in Spanish script and moving to Carolina Beach to work in a restaurant with her brothers before packing this fall for East Carolina University.

Stewart is one of 20 students joining the EC Scholars, 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. Students receive an Honors College scholarship and a stipend for study abroad for a total value of nearly $64,000.

While Stewart was accepted to several top schools, only ECU made her feel wanted. “I wanted to be more than a number, and ECU was willing to treat me like my attendance is important and impactful,” she said.

Stewart plans to major in mathematics with a minor in Hispanic studies. She intends to study abroad in Spain to help perfect her Spanish. And she’s looking forward to participating in clubs and organizations. “I’m hoping to find a spot in service, dance, art and frisbee clubs, so I can continue to explore my passions and hobbies,” she said.

She wants to use her mathematics degree as a tool to advance the medical field. “I hope to prove women are entirely capable of solving advanced problems in math, a subject dominated by men,” said Stewart, who plans to enroll in medical school after completing her undergraduate degree.

“Being an EC Scholar means being a thinker, someone who can take thoughts and use language and expression to teach them,” she said. “It means applying knowledge across multiple fields to answer questions like using carbon dating to learn about geography. Being an EC Scholar to me means having a love of learning and sharing that with others of common interest.”

Stewart will graduate from Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh as a scholar-athlete, AP Scholar of Distinction and National Spanish Exam Gold Level achiever. She has served as president of the Spanish Club and CREWsaders Dance Team and has been a member of the Biology Club leadership team, the Ink Writing Club and American Sign Language Club.

She has competed in high school soccer, track and field, and ultimate frisbee. Off the field, she has worked as a camp counselor, cheerleading camp coach, and photography and office assistant. She has volunteered in the community by organizing book drives and reading to children, collected food with Catholic Parish Outreach, and hosted Mardi Gras parties at a senior center where she helps with activities and games.

As for Stewart’s book project, she hopes to get through all the world’s countries by age 30. She began last spring around the start of the pandemic. “I was curious about how literature differs based off region, culture and history,” she said.

She said her most notable discoveries were in China with Sun Zhu’s “Art of War” and from Spain with “Don Quixote.” She read two English translations of “Art of War” to compare how different people can interpret a work. That led to “Don Quixote,” which she read in English and Spanish. “It was crazy to me how much beauty of literature could be lost in translation, and from there this ‘project’ just kind of took off!” Stewart said.

Stewart, 18, is the daughter of Kristin and Gregory Stewart of Raleigh.

“Being an EC Scholar to me means having a love of learning and sharing that with others of common interest.”


High school: Cardinal Gibbons High School

Intended major: Mathematics

Hometown: Raleigh

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