Dhwani Hada
Dhwani Hada had other schools on her list, but once she visited East Carolina University and met a few Pirates, she decided Greenville was the place for her.
So in August, she’ll unpack her bags as part of the newest class of EC Scholars.
Hada saw ECU as just the right mix of academics and fun, a place that seemed small yet offered a wide variety of academic programs. “You can have friends in so many different areas,” she said.
Hada, 17, plans to major in psychology and neuroscience with a goal of going to medical school. She wants to become a neurologist and study and help people with neurological disorders. She’s the daughter of Dipesh and Ronak Hada.
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 and a stipend for study abroad for a total value of nearly $64,000.
“For me, being an EC Scholar means having a positive impact on those around me and leaving a lasting impact on the world,” she said. “I’m grateful for this scholarship and program because I know it will give me the resources to excel.”
Hada graduated May 10 from Wake Early College of Health Sciences in Raleigh. She also took online classes at the N.C. School of Science and Math.
In high school, she founded her school’s Rubik’s Cube Club and was a founding officer of the Quiz Bowl Team.
This summer, Hada will compete in the 2022 ATA Taekwondo Worlds in Phoenix; she’s a second-degree black belt and teaches at Vision Martial Arts in Morrisville. She also plans to spend a month in India visiting family; she was born in Gujarat, a state in India.
She’s looking forward to getting to campus. Once she arrives, Hada wants to join the Martial Arts Club. She’s also interested in the equestrian and rock-climbing club sports teams.
She wants to study abroad in Germany. “When COVID started, I started learning German for fun,” Hada said. She also wants to go there to visit friends and study music; she plays guitar, ukulele, piano and violin.
“For me, being an EC Scholar means having a positive impact on those around me and leaving a lasting impact on the world.”
High School: Wake Early College of Health Sciences
Intended majors: Psychology and Neuroscience
Hometown: Morrisville