University of North Carolina Athletics
Two Student-Athletes Among Three 2015 Eve Carson Scholars
December 5, 2014 | Women's Soccer, Fencing, Student-Athlete Development
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Two North Carolina student-athletes – one current and one former – are among three people named 2015 Eve Carson Scholars. As announced on Wednesday, this year's honorees are Michael Adams, Paige Nielsen and Nancy Smith. Nielsen is a current member of the UNC women's soccer team while Smith is a former member of the women's fencing team.
“I join our women's soccer and women's fencing programs and everyone in the Department of Athletics in saluting Paige and Nancy on this recognition,” UNC Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham said. “We all can be inspired by their achievements, and I expect that this scholarship will aid them in accomplishing even more. It's a wonderful honor and great way to recognize Eve Carson, whose legacy continues to resonate on our campus and beyond.”
Nielsen, a junior from Lincoln, Neb., helped the Tar Heels to a national championship in 2012 and an Atlantic Coast Conference regular season title this fall. A business administration and biology double major, she is active in the Richard A. Baddour Carolina Leadership Academy and has earned ACC Academic Honor Roll recognition.
“Coaching Paige Nielsen has been an absolute privilege,” UNC women's soccer coach Anson Dorrance said. “She is everything that is good about athletics. There are so many things I enjoy about my profession I don't know where to begin, but I know where it ends, and the way it ends in the most positive way is watching an extraordinary young woman's life as a never-ending ascension. This is going to be Paige Nielsen and I am going to enjoy watching the remarkable arc of her life.”
Smith, a junior from Asheville, N.C., walked onto the fencing team as a freshman and earned a starting spot on the women's epee squad as a sophomore. An Arabic cultures major, she lettered for the Tar Heels in 2012-13 and 2013-14 but is now devoting her time to other pursuits and served as a Navy ROTC platoon commander.
For more information on all three winners, click here.
The Eve Carson Scholarship was established in 2008 to commemorate and celebrate the life of former student body president Eve Marie Carson. She had envisioned a junior-year scholarship and included it on her platform for student body president in 2007. Her goal was to reward students who had grown significantly in the areas of academics, social justice and leadership since their college matriculation.
The scholarship is available to all junior students at UNC-Chapel Hill who have at least a 3.0 grade point average and are not currently receiving a full merit-based scholarship.
Approximately 3,500 individuals have donated to the scholarship, providing support for Eve Carson Scholars' school expenses during their senior year. It also provides funding for a summer experience.
Players Mentioned
