North Carolinians asked for help from both Virginia and South Carolina. Virginia did not have much interest in North Carolina’s problems, and it thus did not send any troops. They turned to South Carolina, who saw profit in helping North Carolina. If they captured the Indians, they could sell them as slaves.[3] With help from South Carolina, the North Carolinians launched their last attack of the Tuscarora War. Colonel James Moore of South Carolina led 900 Indians and 33 white colonists into Fort Nooherooka. There the Indians killed, scalped, sold into slavery, or buried alive at least 900 Tuscarora Indians. By March 23, 1713 the battle and the war was over. The survivors migrated northward, to upstate New York.[4] This battle was significant because it was Indians fighting Indians, and it was the last Tuscarora stronghold in North Carolina.

The events of March 21-23, 1713 should be remembered in North Carolina, and specifically in Eastern North Carolina in Pitt and Greene Counties because this battle took place on the land where we live. The Tuscarora people lived on the land where we work and go to school. Studying and commemorating the events of the Battle at Fort Nooherooka, and the related Tuscarora history can give insight on the way many Indians felt during the time period. All over North Carolina and the colonies, Indians were being confined to smaller pieces of land, but did not know what that meant, which caused the resulting wars. These Indian wars are often looked over by our society today, but had the Indians prevailed, we may not be going to school or living in this area.

In the three hundred year commemoration in March 2013, several events were held to commemorate the battle, as well as teach to Americans about the Tuscarora Nation then and today. There is an exhibition in East Carolina University’s Joyner Library. This exhibit attempts to tell the story from the time the colonists settled in the New World, through the Indian Wars, specifically the Battle at Fort Nooherooka, and ending with the Tuscarora Nation in New York today. The exhibition has the potential to give an audience a view of what the times were like both before and during the Indian Wars.

A website was created for general information about the Tuscarora tragedy and the commemoration. There are specific topics on the website such as artifacts found on the archeological dig, information about the exhibit, the Tuscarora story, and other specific topics. One key feature of this website is the videos that were created when four Tuscarora delegates came to North Carolina. They are asked a variety of questions about their lives, their traditions, struggles, and views that are related to the Tuscarora Nation today. These videos will give the audience a look into the lives of the Tuscarora Nation.

During the commemoration, there was a series of lectures, dealing with different topics and aspects of the Tuscarora Nation. There are lectures on the tragedy, their current homeland in New York, their language, and the repatriation process, among many others. These lectures allow the general public to learn more about specific aspects of the Tuscarora Indians, both past and present.

During the first day of lectures, East Carolina was presented with a wampum belt. This was an immense honor because the last time the Tuscarora Nation presented a wampum belt was to George Washington. The belt was presented during a wampum ceremony. Wampum belts represent treaties and tell stories through the design. The treaty is read into the belt and each chief and clan mother held the wampum belt before it was presented to the Provost. The belt represents the appreciation shown by the Tuscarora nation to East Carolina for putting this event and commemoration on, as well as to accept the apology for what happened to their people.

On the last day of the commemoration, a monument was dedicated near the Nooherooka Fort site. The monument is in remembrance of the Tuscarora men, women, and children, who lost their lives, were held captive, or forced to move from their homeland, during the battle. It is important to have something on the site where the main battle took place because it is a reminder of the sacrifice those Indians made so we can live, work, and go to school on the land where they once hunted and lived.

The last part of the commemoration, which I believe speaks the most about the events of March 1713, is the migration walk. Members of the Tuscarora Nation walked and currently are walking from the fort site back to their reservation in New York. This migration represents the walk that the remaining Tuscarora survivors made after the battle at Fort Nooherooka. They will return to the reservation June 1, 2013.

The story of the Tuscarora Nations is largely unknown, even in the present areas where they lived three hundred years ago. It is important for the public to understand this specific tragedy, as well as many others like it across the colonies. To be a part of this event was a great honor. I appreciate all the hard work by ECU faculty, staff, and fellow students, as well as the Tuscarora Nation. The events that took place on March 21-23, 1713 are among some of the most important in Native American and North Carolina history.

[1] Elizabeth Fenn, The Way we Lived in North Carolina, (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2003), 53.

[2] Ibid., 55.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid., 58.

Speaking of the football games, nothing will give you a stronger sense of Pirate Pride than attending one of ECU’s football games. When you stand in the student section in a sea of purple and gold, and everyone is chanting the same cheers at the top of their lungs, you can tell that we really love our school.  The atmosphere is indescribable and something you can only understand if you go and experience it. I’ve also made a lot of friends during the football games.  At the first game, I only knew the small group of people that I came with. By the third home game of the season, I knew everyone around me and we were all cheering and having a blast together! It’s funny how a big school like ECU is able to have a small-community feel.

I think that the Honors College has truly helped me to transition into college life. The Honors College faculty is helpful and supportive, and they care about what Honors College students want and need out of their college experience personally, socially, and academically. The first month of college—although a lot of fun—was very stressful.  I had to get used to living away from my family, moving into a small dorm room with a stranger, juggling my rigorous academic schedule, and figuring out exactly where I belong at ECU.  I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but the Honors College has helped ease the process by helping me bond with the other honors students (we went sailing the very first weekend!), providing me with volunteer and internship opportunities, and offering information sessions. For example, next week they’re holding a meeting at the Mamie Jenkins building so that Honors freshmen can talk about registering for classes with upperclassmen Honors students.

My newfound support among the Honors College has allowed me to confidently pursue new things at ECU. I’ve always loved writing, so I took a chance a couple of weeks ago by submitting one of my short stories to ECU’s Rebel Magazine and ended up winning 1^st place in their fiction category! Although I’ve never danced, I spontaneously decided to go tango dancing in Mendenhall, and I’ve never played volleyball, but I decided to join an intramural volleyball team just for fun! Some of these experiences turn out really well, and some don’t turn out as well as planned, but I’ve learned that college is all about trying new things, making mistakes, and figuring yourself out.  And at the end of the day, I have a network of Pirate friends with whom I can celebrate my victories and with whom I can shake off my mistakes.

I could go on and on about all of the reasons why I love ECU, but the best part about college so far is the feeling that I’m making friends that I’ll have for a lifetime. ECU is the total college experience—it has challenged me academically, socially, and personally, but now I have close friends that are growing with me and helping me every step of the way.

Being an Honors student at ECU means so many unique things. It means having tuition paid for a full four years, and who couldn’t use that help? College is crazy expensive. It means living in Garrett Hall–the best dorm on campus because it’s close to the gym, library, academic buildings, and most importantly of course, the dining hall! I describe the Honors College in this way to everyone who asks me about college: it’s like a sorority without all the bad stuff. We get to know each other really well because we live together and participate in service projects as well as other events that are just for fun, and have grown to know each other so well in these short two and a half months we have been here. It’s like living with a bunch of brothers and sisters I have already laughed with, cried with, taken care of, and given advice to. It’s an amazing bond I trust will last forever.

The thing that stands out most about being an Honors Student at ECU is the personalized education. I have classes with only 10 other students in them because I get to take honors classes as an Honors Student. I get to take a class all about leadership and service. I stand out to all of my professors because they see how hard I work as an Honors student. I get to check books out for a whole semester and I get to run over to the Mamie Jenkins building at 9:45 and print out a paper for the next day for free. I can email any one of the faculty members of the Honors College and know I will be sitting in their office the next day working out whatever issue I have. I’m not a number; I’m a student that will succeed because I am surrounded by support.

I know that many high school seniors will be in the same boat I was in less than a year ago. Don’t be scared! Don’t be scared to move away and become more independent. I see my family all the time, but now I have my own life at ECU as well. Don’t be scared to do what people least expect when it comes to choosing colleges. Don’t be scared to be proud of your choice. Most of all don’t be scared to listen to you. Be brave, be daring. You will receive an outstanding and challenging education here at ECU and in the Honors College—I know I am. GO PIRATES!!

EC Scholars also have two trips they get to look forward to enjoying during their time at ECU. The first trip is during their sophomore year to the wonderful city of Washington, DC. The second trip is during their senior year where locations may vary depending on the year and group of students. As an EC Scholar in my second year, I had the privilege of going to Washington, DC for my 2012 Spring Break trip.

My fellow EC Scholars and I enjoyed so many different things while in DC. We met some really amazing people, saw some pretty remarkable sights, and ate some extremely incredible food! One of my favorite parts of the trip was the private tour of the Pentagon that was given to us by Pirate Alumni, Tom Shubert. It was so interesting to see the inner workings of the Pentagon and the overwhelmingly reverent scenery of 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. It was an experience that I will never forget. After showing us around the Pentagon, Mr. Shubert took us to lunch at the Army-Navy Club. I felt honored to sit around a table and talk with the very people that help to defend our great nation.

Another Pirate Alumni, Dr. Roger Sharpe, gave us a tour of the Capitol. He even gave us passes into the Senate and House of Representatives Galleries. I was extremely humbled by this kind and unexpected gesture. That same day, we had lunch with representatives from Nucor (the largest steel production company in the United States). This presentation gave us a break from tours, history, and government. It was a refreshing change of pace that was just an added bonus to the trip.

My fellow EC Scholars and I shared many other experiences together during that 4-day trip. We went to a variety of different art and history museums, as well as the Patent and Trademark Office. But, one of the best parts of the trip was the exploring we did around Georgetown. The shopping was wonderful and the food was divine! And, for the first time ever, I got to taste a TV-worthy cupcake. A few of us snuck off for a sweet treat at Georgetown Cupcakes, (this is the location where the TLC show DC Cupcakes is filmed). Word from the wise: Get the red velvet cupcake! It’s their most popular for a reason! From delectable cupcakes, to personal tours, to meeting fellow Pirates (and enjoying some of the perks of their successes), the DC trip was an experience that I will not soon forget and will always be grateful for the Honors College for providing me with such an opportunity.

The College experienced a tremendous number of successes this past year.  In August, we hosted our inaugural Honors College Convocation.  This event featured remarks from Chancellor Ballard, Provost Sheerer, and others, and served as a milestone event for the Honors College.  Each of the freshmen students had the opportunity to meet with senior administrators and friends of the university in a reception that followed the event.  Our EC Scholars program continued to engage in strong partnerships around the region and contributed significant amounts of service to the local Golden Living Center and the Children’s Hospital at Pitt County Memorial Hospital.  The freshman class was fortunate to have a private audience with New York Times best-selling author and ECU alumnus, Tommy Spaulding.  In April, The Honors College relocated to the historic Mamie Jenkins Building and held a rededication event hosted by the chancellor.  Throughout the year, a number of our faculty and students received university and national awards and recognitions.  Finally, we congratulated 42 Honors students and 16 EC Scholars as they graduated from the university this past month.

As we look forward to the next academic year, there is much to be excited about.  Interim Dean and Chancellor Emeritus Richard Eakin is leading an incredible team of faculty and staff who are committed to delivering an experience second-to-none for each of our students.  As we continue to upgrade the facilities available to Honors students, our living-learning community is relocating this summer to Garrett Hall, just steps away from Mamie Jenkins.  Additionally, the student library space within Mamie Jenkins is being upgraded to include more technology and support for our students.  Our programs are growing stronger as we continue to pursue new partnerships and strengthen existing ones.  As we embark on the summer months and finalize planning for the upcoming year, we will continue to work hard to identify unique and exciting opportunities for our Honors College students.  We hope you will keep up with our progress by following us online or by planning a visit to the Mamie Jenkins Building so you can see the incredible space that is now fully functional for the Honors College.

On behalf of all of us at the Honors College, thank you for taking an interest in our new program for talented undergraduate students.  We truly believe that we are making an important impact to these students, our university, the region, and the state.  Should you be in a position to support the Honors College as a partner, mentor, or contributor, please never hesitate to be in touch.

Kevin Baxter
Associate Dean of the Honors College

East Carolina University encourages students to take part in the Greenville community in many ways. Part of ECU’s mission statement explains that the university’s goal is to positively impact eastern North Carolina by training students and sending them back into the community. The fact that a service project was the first activity that I participated in as an ECU student really put into perspective what would be expected of me as an EC Scholar. It set the standard very high and it showed us the community is as much a part of learning as the classroom.

In fact, the 11 freshman EC Scholars also participated in service learning at Golden Living, an assisted living home close to Brody School of Medicine. Over the course of the semester, we met with one resident for a total of about 18 hours in order to learn from these senior citizens. Not only were these meetings powerful lessons about relationships, but they taught us all something about ourselves.  We also were able to compare our lives to the ones they have led and see how different life was when they were our age. It also showed us how much of an impact we could have on one individual’s life.

ECU has offered me, personally, many opportunities to excel as an individual. But more importantly, it has instilled within me, and I believe many of my peers, the idea that we are indebted to our community and to all those who live in it. I have learned that being a student at East Carolina University is about so much more than going to class. It’s what we do with the minds that ECU is shaping and developing that really matters.

Then there is another layer to add to our growing stress: friends. You love to hate them and can’t live without them. They are your family away from home, but just like family, they have the ability to crowd your space and annoy you. This can be especially true in the 12-by-12 cube that is your dorm room.

The last major component of our escalating stress levels is perhaps the classic reason we come to college—to discover who we truly are. We do this by joining clubs, rushing fraternities and sororities, joining honor societies, finding jobs, internships and shadowing, changing majors (and changing them again), and trying new experiences. Now I’m not saying that to have a full college experience you must try everything, but you should try everything that interests you. When else in your life will you be able to do this?

The answer is never. So do a lot, but everyone must learn to balance all of these things and do what feels right for them. Now you will slip, everyone does, but there are ways to deal with a full load and still achieve and do everything you want.

I know this from experience: I am a senior biology and chemistry double-major who will be graduating in three years. This means I have to take about 17+ hours every semester and attend summer school. But I also like to be super involved. I volunteer in pediatrics every week, coach and referee soccer year round, hold a committee position for ECU’s Relay for Life, participate in several active clubs on campus (like Scuba Club, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Phi Eta Sigma), I am in the Honors program, hold a part time job at the Brody School of Medicine, plan to study abroad this summer, and am currently studying for the MCAT. Now I do not recommend becoming this involved. I feel like sometimes I’m clinically insane. I’ve even been told this by some of my close friends and family. But I have learned to deal and to relieve my stress, which allows me to maintain my crazy schedule.

A big thing for me is to have close friends and family. They supply me with the emotional support that I need. Whether I need to vent, scream and cry, or need a good kick in the pants to snap me back on track, they are there for me no matter what and I am there for them.  I have a rule with people who I care about that no matter what if they need me, call me. No exceptions! And I know they would do the same for me. Now you would think this could only add stress, but nothing feels better than helping someone who is having a rough time. It lifts your mood and makes you re-evaluate your problem and puts them in a better perspective. This can actually significantly decrease your stress level, and it also lessens your burden when you can share it with someone else.

Another way to de-stress is take some personal time. Whether it is an hour a day or just five minutes, everyone needs a moment to sit, breathe deeply, and enjoy the moment. You can do this by reading a good book, listening to a favorite song, playing a video game, or just smelling the roses. There needs to be some time in every day where you do whatever strikes your fancy. Not schoolwork, not anything that has a deadline, just something personal. Now the trick is not to spend forever doing your personal moment, but to unwind and then get back to work.

One last method for managing stresses it to schedule fun things into your week. They give you something to look forward to, but also force you to work on time management because you want to be able to enjoy your fun event without stressing over everything else you still need to do. Fun things my friends and I schedule are dinner and movie nights, and plans on the weekends, but I also like to schedule regular fun things. My new de-stress/fun event is underwater hockey; it’s for pure fun and it happens every week at the same time, so I can always look forward to it. But I have to schedule everything to make sure I can accomplish all I need to do. I use Google Calendar because I can have different calendars in different colors so they are easy to see. But I also know people use agendas or their phones, to plan events as to not forget them.

But no matter what you do to de-stress or how involved you get, remember college is a place where we are supposed to try new things, mess things up, and make mistakes. This is all part of growing up, and we have to learn to manage our stresses because to be successful, we have to overcome the stress.

I met so many new people, and they made my first semester a special experience. Our first Honors College colloquium class required us to complete several group projects. It was extremely helpful to be able to just walk down the hall to meet up with my group. I also met many other students who were taking the same chemistry class as I was. During the semester, we formed a study group and got together to study for our exams and for the final. I know that these study sessions helped me tremendously. I had never been part of a study group before. Not only was it beneficial for me from an academic standpoint, but I also found that many of the other students in the Honors College were very interesting, and that each student had their own story and their own background. It was nice to walk down the hall and to be able to talk to someone and find out that they had done something extremely exciting in high school or that they wanted to do something amazing with their life.

I truly believe that living in the Honors College community helped me in my first semester here. Thanks to study groups and to motivation from the students around me, I achieved excellent grades and was able to make it through my dreaded chemistry class. I was surrounded by students who wanted to be as successful in life as I want to be and who were truly focused on making the most of their college career.

Living in the Honors College community on campus gives a student the opportunity to be successful in all that they do while at East Carolina University. I would definitely recommend living on campus in the Honors College dorm to any Honors student who is looking for a great place to live.

I formed great relationships with my two mentors and the people in their labs over time. I literally began to absorb knowledge from my mentors like a sponge, learning how to do some of the techniques by observing. My mentors showed me how to apply scientific theory through their research. I learned how important the mitochondria in heart muscle cells were for life and the energy they provided to each individual heart muscle cell for the entire heart to beat. I also learned the potential of stem cells of how they can differentiate into heart cells to replace dead heart cells after a heart attack to restore the heart’s function back to normal.

I also learned much more after my high school research ended in the summer of 2010. My mentors encouraged me to start an individual research project once I started college in the fall of 2010 because I had observed them for several years. Since I had gained enough knowledge to conduct research, I began my research during my first semester at ECU, under the supervision of my two mentors. My new research topic became the mitochondrial physiology of human mesenchymal stem cells as they attempt to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. My original experiences with research allowed me to delve more deeply into a more complicated topic. I began to see how mitochondria work in stem cells and their potential for better differentiation into heart muscle cells.

Overall, my experience with research has been incredible! It provides me with the chance to meet new people and have a better understanding of science. For me, research is a stimulating process where you can come up with unique ideas and ways to find your own answers. I encourage any student to get involved with research because whatever answers you find will always lead to new questions, and soon it will develop into a continuous process of wonderful learning.