Aliah Spencer
Aliah Spencer was drawn to East Carolina University partly because of how entrenched ECU is in the Greenville community. She liked the layout of various campus buildings, but what stood out to her most might have been the proximity of ECU’s health sciences campus to main campus as she is preparing to major in public health.
“I really liked that,” Spencer said of the ECU Health system. “I got really interested in the programs and looked at courses and really could picture myself at ECU when I went on tours. It kind of all happened from there. … I visited like three or four times. It was beautiful and all of the tour guides were very welcoming. I just looked around and felt like it wasn’t too big for me.”
Spencer, 17, was selected as an EC Scholar and wants to pursue a career in health information management.
“I definitely want to help people recognize disabilities and also disparities with minorities,” Spencer said. “I want to help with that since it is within the public health field.”
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.
“I think of it as a community and a support system,” Spencer said. “It can help you continue on with your future and make things happen. … Once I got into (the) Honors (College) at ECU, it was a sign I needed to go. Then I got into EC Scholars and it was an even bigger sign. I’ll have financial support and knew this was it.”
Spencer comes to ECU after a unique and versatile experience of studying at John A. Holmes High School, North Carolina School of Science and Math and College of the Albemarle. She said relying on her daily planner is instrumental in her time management.
Spencer already visited Paris and Barcelona, Spain, while participating in study abroad at College of the Albemarle.
She was honored as a North Carolina High School Athletic Association scholar-athlete in volleyball and has received awards for her artwork, including clay pottery and scenic photography. She also helped peers as a tutor in remote learning.
At ECU, Spencer is looking forward to establishing herself in Greenville and hopes to visit Sweden to learn more about their healthcare system.
“I really want to find myself and just see where the future takes me,” she said.
“I really want to find myself and just see where the future takes me.”
High School: John A. Holmes High School
Intended major: Public Health
Hometown: Edenton