Levine Connection - May 2011

May 2011

UNC Charlotte Publication

Vol 1 Edition 1

Levine Scholars’ Inaugural Year

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he Levine Scholars Program is UNC Charlotte’s most prestigious merit scholarship program that was established in 2009 by benefactors Sandra and Leon Levine.

Approximately 15 Levine Scholarships are awarded each year to extraordinary high school seniors based on scholarship, ethical leadership and civic engagement. The four-year scholarship includes full tuition, room and board, a grant to implement a service project of the Scholar’s own design, and four summers of experiences that will develop leadership skills, social awareness, and an international perspective.

The total value of this fouryear package is estimated at $90,000 per in-state student and $140,000 per out-ofstate student.

lectively. Scholars have persevered through 25 days in the wilderness; participated in numerous civic engagement activities; hosted the very first student led Campus Conversations Sustainability Symposium; joined campus organizations and held various leadership positions all while having successfully navigated the academic demands of a freshman schedule in college.

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o learn more about their activities and accomplishments over the inaugural year, we hope that you will take some time to read through the pages that follow in this newsletter.

All of the articles have been written

by Levine Scholars and recount their freshman experiences as UNC Charlotte students. If you would like to find additional information and videos that document the first year, we invite you to visit our newly designed website at http://levinescholars.uncc.edu.

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he Levine Scholarships carry a high honor, one that bestows tremendous opportunities and assumes high expectations of its recipients – as students, as leaders within the university, and as citizens of the greater global community.

No matter what their interests, Scholars find campus and community partners eager to embrace their contributions and enhance their education through hands-on experiences.

To complement classroom learning, Levine Scholars participate in rich and varied opportunities in the vibrant commercial and cultural center of Charlotte. After four years of study, Scholars graduate fully prepared for a life of learning, service and leadership in their chosen field.

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he inaugural class of Levine Scholars entered in the fall semester of 2010 and have been making their mark on campus and in the community ever since. Throughout the first year, Levine Scholars have taken full advantage of the opportunities provided both individually and col-

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Table of Contents Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 7 Page 8

Levine Scholars’ Inaugural Year One More Hill

By Evan Danchenka and Jasmine Patterson Meeting Chancellor Dubois and Provost Lorden

By Anna Bawtinhimer Mr. and Mrs. Leon Levine

By Vrushab Gowda and Sam McClenney Extracurricular Involvement at UNC Charlotte

By Jacob Huffman and Jon Wainwright Levine Scholars’ Enrichment

By Mack Herman and Cassady Schulte Civic Engagement

By Christina Neitzey and Caitlin Vaverek 2011 Finalist Program

By Celia Karp and Laura Outlaw Summer Internships

By Caroline Brewer Incoming Class of 2015

5/19/2011 1:56:35 PM

One More Hill

By Evan Danchenka and Jasmine Patterson

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s the battering of the rain subsided into a rhythmic pitter-patter, a peripheral glow took over the walls of our tent. After a silent glance at one another, we dared a peak outside. The view, framed by distant misty mountains and passing storm clouds, was a spectacle of golden surrealism. The transfixion beckoned us from our tents, calling us forward for a sight to never forget.

Careful not to break the suspension of the moment, we dispersed around camp, each of us claiming our individual spectator booths. For a brief time that evening, the sky glowed in gold, painting the mountain cliffs and the valley floors. A double rainbow slowly emerged from the fading rain clouds, and a neighboring waterfall rumbled in a renewed energy.

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ur time in the Absaroka Range was marked by gifted moments like this - moments when pure serenity and natural beauty left us speechless. Of course, to call the experience an entirely quiet one would be very inaccurate. In between these moments of tranquility, the group would partake in loud and rambunctious games, entertain each other with stories that evoked gut-busting laughter, and even participate in late night “raves” in our tents with flashlights. During our time in the wilderness, we hiked about 100 miles through forests and mountain passes and reached an elevation of 11,200 feet. In between hikes, we took classes on Leadership, First Aid, and “Leave No Trace” principles taught by our NOLS instructors.

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his experience brought us together as a group of inspired and unique scholars, setting a precedent for an incredible four years ahead. With college luring on the near horizon, we now had the confidence that we could, as our motto had become, always climb “one more hill”.

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5/19/2011 1:56:42 PM

Meeting Chancellor Dubois and Provost Lorden

By Anna Bawtinhimer

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pon arriving to UNC Charlotte the Levine Scholars were welcomed by campus staff and faculty. Among those distinguished faculty were Chancellor Philip Dubois and Provost Joan Lorden. Few students know the names of such professionals or even have the opportunity to formally meet both academic administrators. We scholars were blessed with meeting Provost Lorden upon orientation and were invited to dine with Chancellor and Mrs. Dubois on two occasions. The first evening invitation was extended to the Levine Scholars and our parents. The conversations expanded beyond the exquisite dinner towards discussing our aspirations as scholars and how the UNC Charlotte community extends opportunities for all students to excel. Chancellor Dubois encouraged all of us to continue pursuing our personal passions in addition to serving the Charlotte community and campus. Mrs. Dubois also supported the scholars’ endeavors to make professional connections and networking. As most orientations and formal meetings involve dining, Mrs. Dubois invited the Levine Scholars to a second evening with her and the Chancellor to learn proper etiquette for professional dining scenarios.

Beyond learning which beverage is yours on a round table (the one to the right), Mrs. Dubois advised us to always remember the importance of the meeting itself: forming a connection with the host. With Provost Lorden and Chancellor and Mrs. Dubois’ guidance and support, the Levine Scholars’ transition and sense of welcome into the UNC Charlotte community was exceptional and most appreciated.

Mr. and Mrs. Leon Levine

By Vrushab Gowda and Sam McClenney uring our first semester on campus the Levine Scholars had a few opportunities to meet and get to know the benefactors of the Levine Scholarship. Most people probably wouldn’t guess it, but the first time we actually got to meet Mr. and Mrs. Levine was at a Carolina Panthers preseason football game. The Levine family hosted us in their Bank of America suite for an evening of food and football. It was great to finally be able to meet the people who have given UNC Charlotte and our class so much. What surprised us most, however, was their genuine interest in getting to know us not only as students, but as individuals.

It was definitely a true testament to the kind of people that Mr. and Mrs. Levine are and the importance they place on investing in a school with a great future. They truly care about the next generation and the difference we can make in the community if presented with the opportunities. We also quickly learned that they not only care about us, but are Panthers fanatics! They know everything about the team from the individual players all the way up to management. It was comforting to not only talk

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about school and our future, but to also discuss something as simple as football with them.

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n addition to meeting Mr. and Mrs. Levine at the football game, we were also fortunate to receive an invitation to attend a formal dinner at their home. Throughout the night, we met several people who are deeply involved in The Leon Levine Foundation and continued to discuss our academic goals and plans for our summer experiences. However, the most inspiring conversation was being able to hear Mr. Levine share his story of how he created Family Dollar from the ground up. His story motivated many of us to see that the possibilities for our own accomplishments are limitless. It is one thing to hear about people who have done amazing things, but it is another to actually meet them. We all left with a new outlook and a burning desire to leave a legacy at UNC Charlotte that Mr. and Mrs. Levine will be proud of in the years to come. Needless to say, meeting the Levines was truly a highlight of our freshman year as Levine Scholars.

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5/19/2011 1:56:45 PM

Extracurricular Involvement at UNC Charlotte

By Jacob Huffman and Jon Wainwright

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pon entering UNC Charlotte, Levine Scholars are given the opportunity to participate in numerous program supported events, as well as campus activities. As a cohort, we have spent the last year fully immersing ourselves in a variety of activities in and outside of the classroom. When not in class, you are likely to find one of us working with the Formula SAE Team, performing on stage in a band, or playing intramural sports. In fact, we even fielded a Levine Scholars’ flag football team this fall!

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lthough we participate in many activities collectively, we also like to pursue on own individual interests. For one scholar, Jacob Huffman, who has a love for the music scene, you can find him involved in any club that has the words “band, music, or concert” in the title. He has found his niche with three different activities: Concerts & Causes, Grayson and Radio Free Charlotte.

Concerts & Causes is a campus organization that puts on concerts to support causes in the community. This year they have hosted a number of open mic nights and a few concerts with top notch musicians.

Jacob’s own band, Grayson, has even performed for Concerts & Causes.

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rayson is a folk/acoustic project that was started by Jacob and several other UNC Charlotte students at the beginning of the fall semester. The band has 11 songs completed so far and they are planning to record this summer, as well as play in a few shows in Charlotte. When Jacob’s not performing live or practicing on Thursday nights, you might find him on Radio Free Charlotte, the campus radio station. In the past he has worked a regular shift on Tuesdays and Fridays and hopes to return next semester.

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nother Levine Scholar, Jon Wainwright, also known as our resident engineer and math whiz, has been involved in a wide variety of clubs and activities on campus. He’s played in five intramural sports this year including singles and doubles tennis, flag football, softball, and inner tube water polo, which he claims has been the most fun of all. In addition, Jon plays basketball a couple nights a week and is involved in Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU). When he’s not playing sports or enjoying fellowship through CRU, you can always find Jon at the Motor Sports Lab working with the Formula SAE Team. The Formula SAE Team builds a racecar from scratch each year, and takes it to an international competition in Michigan at the end of the spring semester. Jon is looking forward to attending this competition in May and hopes to bring home a winning title.

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ther Levine Scholars have enjoyed participating in student government and various academic organizations, such as the American Medical Student Association, Model United Nations and the Public Relations Student Society of America. Joining clubs and organizations on campus has provided us with an outlet to network with many of our peers and form lasting friendships. At UNC Charlotte, if there is anything you want to do, there is an opportunity available for you, and we are looking forward to expanding our involvement next year.

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5/19/2011 1:56:48 PM

Levine Scholars’ Enrichment

By Mack Herman and Cassady Schulte

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he inaugural class hit the ground running this year with an array of cultural, ethical, and educational events in the Queen City. Our first formal outing as members of the Levine Scholars Program was the Echo Foundation’s film premiere of In the Footsteps of Elie Wiesel. This “Evening to Remember” introduced us to the first of many eye-opening stories of people who have continued to spur us on in our efforts to connect, transform, and make a difference in the Charlotte community. After this memorable occasion, we were given the opportunity to delve deeper into the rich history and origins of a region to which we are no longer simply visitors. Through the Charlotte Immersion Experience, we learned a great deal about how our new home became the lively and diverse city that it is today. These are just two of the many exciting events we have attended throughout our first year as 49ers. In preparation for the incoming class of Levine Scholars, our latest undertaking has been an exploration of the world of New Courage as presented in the Levine Museum of the New South. An inspirational and eye-opening journey, the Jim Crow South has provided us with a wealth of new insight to share with the 2015 class of scholars.

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5/19/2011 1:56:53 PM

Civic Engagement

By Christina Neitzey and Caitlin Vaverek

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s part of the Levine Scholars Program at UNC Charlotte, each student is expected to participate in some form of community service. At the start of the year, we began to seek out volunteer opportunities within our various fields of interest, but what we didn’t realize was that giving back, especially after we had been given so much, would be truly rewarding. Each of us has a distinct, diverse set of interests that have led us to very individualized activities in the community. Together, we have collaborated with various on-campus organizations such as Niners Chipping In, Campus Activities Board and the University Honors Program in order to become actively involved students.

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arlier this semester, several LSP students had the opportunity to speak as part of a panel to a teen leadership board for the new Ronald McDonald House set to open this spring in Charlotte. As the House prepares for its ribbon-cutting, we are eager to “adopt” it as a group endeavor. In addition, many of us took part in planning and fundraising for the Honors College’s Relay for Life team. To raise money, we sold luminaries, organized a pancake breakfast, coordinated a 50/50 raffle and even held a black-and-white themed gala. Through these assorted ventures, the fourteen of us have been able to show our gratitude towards our community while, at the same time, growing closer as a group.

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ndividually, we have all found ways to help others, both locally and internationally. A few of us volunteer weekly with underprivileged second grade students at Albemarle Road Elementary School; some have become involved with Habitat for Humanity and others with causes such as the Student Council for Exceptional Children and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. One of us even spent her spring break in Honduras building an orphanage and teaching at a village school.

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e are so fortunate to be part of such an incredible program and have been able to demonstrate our gratitude in part by serving others. Many of us would consider these activities as some of our favorite aspects of our college experience, and we look forward to continuing our involvement with the community in the years to come.

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5/19/2011 1:56:53 PM

2011 Finalist Program

By Celia Karp and Laura Outlaw

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t was 6:45am and for the first time all year we found ourselves dressed and prepared for a busy day, already en route to the Student Union. Unlike other Mondays, this early morning was filled with excitement as we anxiously awaited the arrival of the finalists for the Levine Scholars Program, class of 2015. Although the events of the weekend began on Sunday evening with a dinner welcoming all of the finalists and their parents, greeted by Provost Joan Lorden and members of the UNC Charlotte faculty, Monday was the day when interviews took place and each of us finally had the chance to meet this amazing group of students and future Levine Scholars.

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tudents from North Carolina and many other states across the east coast including New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida were represented in the 50 finalists being considered as scholarship recipients. Meeting each one of the finalists seemed an impossible task with the sea of business suits and pencil skirts congregated in the upper level of the Student Union, but our packed schedules of activities from campus and residence hall tours to NOLS presentations to student panels provided us with countless opportunities to interact with each student one-on-one.

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he social we held as the last event of the weekend was a great way to meet and connect with the students without the pressures of parents and faculty surrounding us. In a much more relaxed environment, the finalists, who had each gone through a series of interviews, tours and information sessions, were finally able to breathe, enjoy some Italian food and get to know the people with whom they had been roaming the campus all day.

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fter a year of togetherness as the inaugural class of Levine Scholars, it was neat to see all of these new faces and know that next year 16 of them would become part of the program that played an active role in our lives each day.

We could not be more excited to get to know the new class of Levine Scholars this upcoming fall semester and together discover new ways of identifying what the Levine Scholars Program is all about.

Summer Internships

By Caroline Brewer

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s the semester comes to a close, many college students begin to make plans for the summer months. For the Levine Scholars, the beginning of our summer is already planned. This summer, we will be involved in a full-time internship for five weeks at a non-profit organization in Charlotte. The purpose is to connect us to a non-profit organization that carries out a mission that we see as important, serves a population that we care about, or addresses a social interest for which we have a passion.

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hile working for the non-profit, the scholars are going to learn how it works from the ground up as they interact with clients, directors and the board of directors. Scholars will come away with a deep understanding of how organizations are created, how they are maintained, and what the challenges and triumphs are in running such an organization. The activities of the internship will introduce us to the multiple aspects of non-profit organizations and allow us to familiarize ourselves with multiple areas of the operation and interconnectedness to other, related organizations in the greater Charlotte community.

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cholars will be placed with organizations throughout Charlotte and in some cases, will be the first intern the agency has ever agreed to support. This will allow us the unique opportunity to start a new internship program while developing long lasting relationships and ties to UNC Charlotte. Personally, I will be working with Florence Crittenton Services, an organization that provides shelter and prenatal care to young women in the Department of Social Services who are pregnant. Other scholars will be interning at sites such as Habitat for Humanity, Discovery Place, Make a Wish Foundation, Stop Hunger Now, Carolinas HealthCare Foundation and the International House. Given our passion for these non-profit organizations, we are anxiously Page 7 awaiting our start dates and the real world experience we will gain over the five weeks. newsletter.indd 7

5/19/2011 1:56:57 PM

9201 University City Boulevard Charlotte, NC 28223

Incoming Levine Class of 2015…

We are pleased to announce that the next incoming class of Levine Scholars has been selected. The class consists of 12 students from North Carolina, 2 from Florida, 1 from New Jersey and 1 from Pennsylvania.

Congratulations to: Mr. Kevin Caldwell - Northwest School of the Arts, Charlotte, NC Ms. Noelle Cornelio - Holmdel High School, Holmdel, NJ Ms. Samantha Creasy - West Forsyth High School, Clemmons, NC Mr. James Dicus IV - Central Davidson Senior High School, Lexington, NC Mr. Jacob Emerson - Forestview High School, Gastonia, NC Ms. Kailey Filter - Marvin Ridge High School, Matthews, NC Mr. Austin Halbert - Crest High School, Shelby, NC Ms. Bethany Hyde - Providence Academy Hyde Home School, Saluda, NC Ms. Callie Jamison - Hayesville High School, Hayesville, NC Mr. Matthew Kesler - East Gaston High School, Dallas, NC Mr. Patric King - Piedmont High School, Indian Trail, NC Ms. Elizabeth Koehler - Lake Norman High School, Mooresville, NC Ms. Kelsey Mongeau - Topsail High School, Hampstead, NC Ms. Chloe Rodengen - Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, Fort Lauderdale, FL Mr. Kevin Rodengen - Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, Fort Lauderdale, FL Ms. Anna Swartz - Oley Valley High School, Fleetwood, PA Stay tuned for additional information regarding this incoming class of Levine Scholars who will be entering UNC Charlotte this fall.

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5/19/2011 1:57:02 PM