Alumnus Evert Garcia-Guzman accepted into Physics Ph.D. program at UNC-Chapel Hill
Chemistry has always been Evert Garcia-Guzman’s strength academically. However, when he enrolled at UNC Pembroke four years ago, Guzman decided to push the boundaries and challenge himself by studying physics–a subject guaranteed to offer the academic rigor he needed. “I had never taken a physics course, and I wanted to learn more,” he said.
UNCP nursing student wins a $25,000 scholarship
Dekiah Parson, a junior nursing student at UNC Pembroke, has won a $25,000 scholarship from the Taco Bell Foundation. Parson, an employee of Taco Bell in Fayetteville, was among 26 students nationwide to receive the full scholarship amount. She plans to use the money toward graduate school. Parson discovered her passion for medicine after her godsister, London, was born prematurely. Her birth led to several health issues.
COMPASS2 Program to participate in 2021 STEM for All video showcase
The 2021 STEM for All Video Showcase will feature UNC Pembroke’s COMPASS2 scholarship program. The event will be held online May 11-18 at https://stemforall2021.videohall.com/.
Lynch, Walton named Udall Scholars
Aiyana Lynch and Sonny Walton have been named 2021 Udall Scholars–marking the first time two UNC Pembroke students were honored in the same year.
UNCP honors local icon establishing the Dr. Adolph L. Dial Endowed Professorship of American Indian Studies
Dr. Adolph L. Dial was once described as “a man for all seasons” largely due to his vast and varied life experiences which he readily shared with both students at UNC Pembroke and his community. His goal was always to inspire and make his world better than he found it. A key figure in the history of the university and Lumbee Tribe, Dial founded the American Indian Studies department and served 30 years as a faculty member directly influencing generations of students—an impact evidenced in the region’s leaders of today who called him a mentor, teacher and scholar.
Dr. Laura Staal wins Board of Governors 2021 Award for Excellence in Teaching
Hannah Middleton reached a crossroads during her sophomore year at UNCP. She began questioning whether a career in teaching was in her future. “I began having doubts about whether teaching was for me. I was actually about to talk to my advisor about getting out of the teaching program altogether,” she said. After taking Dr. Laura Staal’s Foundations of Reading course, Middleton rediscovered her passion. Rejuvenated, she went on to earn her degree and is weeks away from completing her first year as a special education teacher in Robeson County.
UNCP pair admitted to School of Veterinary Medicine at NC State
Alexis High is one step closer to fulfilling her dream of becoming a veterinarian. High will become the first graduate of UNCP’s Veterinary Education Access Scholars Program, a pathway initiative formed four years ago granting a select number of biology students guaranteed acceptance into N.C. State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine program. She is on track to complete her biology degree in May and begin the veterinary program this summer.
UNCP research scientist Ben Bahr earns top mentoring award
UNC Pembroke neuroscientist Ben Bahr has received the 2021 Outstanding Mentor Award from the health sciences division of the Council on Undergraduate Research. The award is a testament to Dr. Bahr’s passion for teaching the next generation of scientists and researchers. The award honors exceptional mentoring and advising by higher education faculty across all subdivisions of health sciences. Bahr joined the UNCP faculty in 2009 as the William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry.
Former Trustee Mary Ann Elliott gifts $6M to establish the McKenzie-Elliott School of Nursing
A new school is on the horizon at UNC Pembroke to honor Mary McKenzie Edwards, a strong mother and role model who overcame obstacles in the 1930s to become a registered nurse. UNC Pembroke announced today it has received a $6 million planned gift–the second largest in the university's history–from former trustee Mary Ann Elliott to name the McKenzie-Elliot School of Nursing. The future new school will be established by transitioning the existing Department of Nursing into a School of Nursing within the College of Health Sciences.
Undergraduate Researchers in Bahr Lab win Conference Awards
Undergraduate researchers Mercedes Dos Santos and Jared Tuton won awards for their oral presentations during the 117th Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Academy of Science. Their presentations, based on research in Ben Bahr’s Alzheimer’s Disease Laboratory, were judged in the “Cell & Molecular Biology, Microbiology, and Physiology” section of the Collegiate Academy of the North Carolina Academy of Science (CANCAS).