First Eve Marie Carson Scholarship Awarded

Posted on Feb. 6, 2009

Junior Elinor Benami has been named Carolina’s first Eve Marie Carson Scholar.

The scholarship will fund a summer experience after Benami’s junior year and financial aid for her senior year.

Benami, of Knoxville, Tenn., is double-majoring in international studies and economics. She plans a career in environmental consulting.

The Eve Marie Carson Scholarship Executive Committee, composed of students, designed the scholarship program. The value of the award will be the cost of attendance for an in-state student for one year, which varies from year to year.

A separate selection committee of students, faculty, staff and alumni chose Benami from 138 applicants. She was selected for her leadership and dedication to environmental issues, as well as her high level of academic performance.

“Elinor was chosen for the breadth and depth of her passion,” said senior Andy Woods, director of the scholarship’s executive committee. “She has done a ton of work with the environment, and she has demonstrated a commitment to leadership and service while still pursuing her passions.”

Carson, a senior from Athens, Ga., and UNC’s 2007-08 student body president, was killed in March 2008. One of her main goals as president was to create a merit-based scholarship for UNC juniors. In her memory, the scholarship was established last year to honor balanced, ambitious students who have shown strong involvement in a leadership role at Carolina and have at least a 3.0 GPA in their first three undergraduate years.

Benami is in the honors program and N.C. Fellows, a leadership development program. Her activities include interning for the N.C. Botanical Garden in Battle Park on campus. She co-chairs the Student Government Environmental Affairs Committee, which collaborates with students, faculty and staff to promote key environmental principles, encourage sustainable lifestyles and facilitate cooperation between student environmental groups and the University.

She has her sights set on graduating as one of UNC’s public service scholars – students with notes of distinction on their diplomas for having performed at least 300 hours of community service during their time at Carolina.

Last year, she was awarded a Morris K. Udall Undergraduate Scholarship, one of the nation’s top merit awards, for her leadership potential, academic achievement and commitment to a career in the environment.

Benami has received other merit scholarships that funded study-abroad experiences in Germany during high school and Southeast Asia two summers ago.

---

Related coverage is available online:

• Death Penalty Sought Against Carson Suspect
  News report from August 2008
• Two Charged In Eve Carson’s Death;  Second Charged Also in Duke Killing
  News report from April 1, 2008
• Videos of “A Celebration of the Life of Eve Carson 1985-2008”
• “Born Bathed in Carolina Blue,” essay published March 19 by Wall Street Journal reporter Wendy Bounds ’93, a 2007 recipient of the GAA’s Distinguished Young Alumna Award
• Never a Stranger – Three Classmates Remember Eve Carson
• Letter from Chancellor Moeser
• Eve Carson’s student body president Web page

---