Eve Carson scholarship recipients chosen

Juniors Emma DeWitt and Paige Holmes are the next two students who will continue Eve Carson’s legacy at UNC.

The pair was selected as this year’s recipients of the Eve Carson Scholarship, which covers half of the tuition for their senior years and provides $5,000 to pay for summer enrichment programs.

The scholarship was created in 2008 to commemorate and celebrate the life of former student body president Eve Carson, who was murdered in March of that year.

Kacie Neville, the executive director of the scholarship, said the two were chosen because of their service histories and specific plans for the summer enrichment money.

“I’m really excited to see what they do with their proposals and their time at Carolina,” Neville said.

DeWitt is an American studies major from Durham. She said she couldn’t believe it when she found out.

“I was floored,” DeWitt said. “They were asking me how to spell my parents’ names, and I got kind of confused. I was completely blown away. It was a good thing I was sitting down.”

She said she plans to use the summer enrichment stipend to travel to London to create an arts program that serves previously incarcerated youth.

“This is going to be slightly new,” DeWitt said. “I’ve done some arts work, but this is going to be working toward a continuous curriculum.

“I have been incredibly humbled to be one of the people to continue Eve’s legacy.”

The other recipient, Holmes, is a psychology major from Chapel Hill. Holmes plans to use the summer enrichment money pursuing her interest in positive psychology.

Her summer plans include two conferences on positive psychology in California, a position as a camp counselor for children with chronic diseases and work with a positive psychology organization founded by Patch Adams.

“I hope to continue (Carson’s) light and that passion to help others and help them believe in themselves,” Holmes said.

Senior Rena Avramidis, who was a recipient of the scholarship last year, said the program reshaped her life outlook.

“This experience has allowed me to realize that the only guide you should have ­— or the most important guide you should have — is your passion,” Avramidis said. “Everything I do now, I really love doing. I’m not anxious about what’s next.”

Avramidis, a business major, used the scholarship to study abroad in Spain and spent her summer working with two social entrepreneurships in California.

She said her biggest piece of advice for the new recipients would be to take advantage of the program’s opportunities.

“The scholarship allows you to access really important people,” she said.

“Take the chance to really get to know the individuals involved with the scholarship.”

Contact the desk editor at university@dailytarheel.com.