Braden McPhillips
Finding out whether he was an East Carolina University EC Scholar was a very stressful process for Greenville’s Braden McPhillips. The week he was supposed to find out, the mail ran late, and meanwhile, newly informed EC Scholars posted their acceptance letters online.
“I was sitting by my mailbox day after day thinking that I didn’t get in,” said McPhillips.
Eventually, his acceptance letter came, first via email and then the actual hard-copy letter.
“When I got the email, I looked down … and saw the header: ‘Congratulations EC Scholar,’” said McPhillips. “I immediately stopped what I was doing, told my mom, and since my family has always been there for me, I had to call my siblings and dad to make sure they were the first to know.”
McPhillips’ excitement about the news is understandable. He’ll follow in the footsteps of his older brother and three sisters, who also attended ECU. And, McPhillips now joins the university’s most prestigious undergraduate award program. 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 value of nearly $64,000.
“Being an EC Scholar means fulfilling and living up to ECU’s motto, ‘Servire,’” said McPhillips. “All of my life, my parents have stressed how important it is to serve our community and to give more than we get. I have actively been involved with numerous organizations serving the Greenville community and plan to increase my involvement once at ECU.”
McPhillips’ involvement will not be idle and content. He plans for his ECU experience to be very hands-on.
“I don’t want to be that student that sits locked in their room studying 24/7,” he said. “I want to have an even balance between time spent studying and getting involved with the ECU community, whether it be sports and games, clubs and organizations around campus.”
Still uncertain about his major, McPhillips said the time he allocates for studying will be focused on business, environmental health and environmental studies.
“After I graduate from ECU, I hope to take my passion for the environment and pursue a sustainability analyst or environmental health specialist career,” said McPhillips.
The EC Scholars program will allow McPhillips to sate his passion for travel. As he puts it, he wants to spend as much time abroad as possible.
“While I hope to have multiple semesters abroad, I currently plan to spend a semester abroad at ECU’s campus in Certaldo, Italy,” said McPhillips. “The Certaldo campus provides an out-of-the-box educational experience that so many students long for by offering classes not readily available at ECU’s main campus.”
Before setting foot on campus as a freshman, McPhillips will get a quick taste of being a student. He plans to serve in a part-time research position with Dr. John Hoben, research assistant professor in ECU’s Department of Biology.
“After I graduate from ECU, I hope to take my passion for the environment and pursue a sustainability analyst or environmental health specialist career.”
High School: DH Conley High
Intended majors: Undecided/Business & Environmental Health/Studies
Hometown: Greenville