East Carolinian

Issue date: 3/26/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: Jaymee Mason

Determination is an important element of success and ECU Scholar and nursing student Malissa Sampson has proven that.

Now in her sophomore year at ECU, Sampson is already participating in four collegiate honors programs and is a member of ECU's chapter of the NAACP. She was recently accepted into the nursing program at the university and is currently enrolled in 14 semester hours of prerequisite courses.

Sampson is a member of the N.C. Nurse Scholar program. As a member, she has received a $5,000 scholarship to attend ECU, and in return has agreed to work as a nurse in North Carolina for four years after she graduates.

"I want to be a pediatric nurse," said Sampson. "But I'm also considering pursuing my degree further and becoming a nurse practitioner."

Sampson says ECU was the only nursing school she considered.

"ECU is the best," she said. "It is truly the best nursing school in the state and I'm a pirate at heart."

In order to become an ECU Scholar and receive her scholarship for the program, Sampson had to maintain a 3.7 grade point average and take honors courses as a freshman last year. She also has continued to be involved in campus activities.

As a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Sampson is encouraged to do volunteer work and must keep her grades up. Through NSCS, Sampson has been volunteering at the T.E.D.I. BEAR Children's Advocacy Center, an outreach program that helps children who are victims of physical and sexual abuse.

Sampson has recently become involved with the honors program, Golden Key, where she attends conferences with other Golden Key members and completes community service projects.

Sampson volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House of Pitt Memorial Hospital as a part of her NAACP work. She attends weekly meetings at the NAACP center in Greenville, N.C., where she and other members discuss social issues surrounding the ECU community and participate in community service projects. One project included charity work to the Ronald McDonald House.

Sampson is a member of the ECU Gospel Choir and held a presentation for pledging sorority members into Sigma Gamma Rho. She is also involved in the Phi Beta Sigma honors fraternity.

Sampson's days are full of activity and begin very early.

"I wake up in the morning around 6:30 a.m. and have to be to work at Mendenhall Student Center at 7:30 a.m.," Sampson said. "Then I have classes from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m."

Continued...

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