Eve Carson Scholars serve in memory

Two UNC juniors now have the responsibility of carrying on Eve Carson’s legacy.

Sarah MacLean and Kyle Villemain were named the 2014-15 recipients of the Eve Carson Scholarship on Nov. 25.

The scholarship was created to commemorate the life of former Student Body President Eve Carson, who was murdered in March 2008, and to celebrate two UNC juniors each year who have exhibited passion and transformative growth during their first two years of college.

Caroline White, director of scholar programs, said the applicants were judged on multiple criteria, including leadership and community involvement.

MacLean works with Embody Carolina, an organization that trains students to serve as allies for people who struggle with eating disorders.

She also participates in UNC’s APPLES Service-Learning program and serves as the Reflection and Facilitated Learning co-chairwoman.

“I work with the committees of APPLES to better implement reflection in their programs,” MacLean said.

The scholarship gives the recipients up to $5,000 to explore their passions over the summer.

MacLean hopes to visit Peru this summer to look at resources available for children with autism and other developmental disorders. She said she wants to work with early intervention programs in Lima.

The other recipient, Villemain, has a passion for water conservation and sanitation.

“I applied for the scholarship because Eve Carson represented the ideals I want to emulate,” Villemain said. “To me, the scholarship demonstrates growth during college.”

Villemain is the co-president of A Drink for Tomorrow, which hosts campus awareness events on water conservation and has worked internationally to update water systems in Peru.

He also does research on water sanitation and helps plan the annual Nexus Conference, which brings practitioners and policymakers together to look at climate, food, energy and water.

Villemain is planning to work with the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, over the summer, but said he still has some hurdles to clear before he can get there.

“Regardless, the scholarship is going to allow me to do more than I could have done, and hopefully I can connect that back to UNC,” Villemain said.

White said MacLean and Villemain will represent Carson’s legacy well and will continue to influence campus and the surrounding community.

“I think the Eve Carson legacy is celebrating students and supporting those who attend the University,” White said. “The scholarship is an outlet to celebrate students.”

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