Agne Shields
Beginning her college career at East Carolina University will be a big transition for 17-year-old Agne Shields, but not the most dramatic of her life so far. Born in Lithuania, Shields moved to the United States at age 10. “It was a very interesting transition,” she said. “It was my first time on an airplane. We moved from the second-largest city in Lithuania to Jonas Ridge, which has a population of about 700. And I was learning English.”
Math helped. “I didn’t necessarily love math as a little kid, but when I came to the U.S., I could still understand it. The language was the same. I like how I can understand the world through math and chemistry,” she said.
Shields plans to use the language of math and science to pursue a career in medicine. “Three generations of my family have been in the medical field. I’d be honored to continue that tradition,” she said.
She has a head start: In addition to earning an associate of science degree while in high school and working as a research assistant in the chemistry lab at Mayland Community College, Shields has volunteered in the emergency department of the Charles A. Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville since June of 2019.
“I love watching how the doctors work as a team to help the people who come there,” she said. “You see what a huge role they play in people’s lives, and sometimes those people don’t even realize it. I want to be the one helping them. That’s exciting to think about — to be able to save someone’s life.”
As an EC Scholar, Shields is especially looking forward to research opportunities and study abroad. She’s traveled to 15 countries in the past five years and has many more destinations she’d like to experience. “It would be fun to study in Scandinavia or northern Europe, close to where I’m from. Or maybe the Semester at Sea program —my dad did that when he was in college and talks about how it changed his life,” she said.
“Being an EC Scholar means a world of opportunity to me, to widen my horizons and see how far I can go as a person.”
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 got accepted to a number of universities,” Agne said, “But when I visited campuses, ECU felt different. People were really excited and happy to have me there. I spent a day with students going to classes and getting to know them. I already have a network of people on campus that I can go to and that’s really special.”
She is the daughter of Douglas and Ingrida Shields.
“Being an EC Scholar means a world of opportunity to me, to widen my horizons and see how far I can go as a person.”
High school: Mayland Early College High School
Intended major: Chemistry
Hometown: Jonas Ridge