Sophomore EC Scholars visit DC during spring break
Written by Ilaria Noonan
The sophomore cohort of EC Scholars had the opportunity to go to Washington, DC during spring break 2023. In the nation’s capital, scholars were able to connect with alumni, go to must-see locations, and have bonding experiences that will last them a lifetime. Impact trips are a time for EC Scholars to make memories with their cohort as well as mentors.
The trip began Sunday, March 4th with a 5-hour train ride from Rocky Mount to the city. Students were able to take the metro for the first time right when they arrived in DC, which is definitely a staple of the city. The first night was dedicated to exploring the city and the local restaurants.
Day two started with breakfast and conversation with their small group. Afterwards, the scholars made their way to the metro station to head to their first stop: the Pentagon. The scholars met with Vince Smith from the ECU Board of Trustees, who was able to give them a tour of the facility. After the tour, the scholars headed to a local restaurant, Proper 21, for lunch with ECU alumni.
“There are a lot of incredible people who went to ECU that are in DC and it is really cool to connect with them and see how successful they are,” said Sarah Maisto, a finance major.
At the end of the day the scholars were given the chance to explore DC life including the monuments and more restaurants with their cohort and friends.
As any productive day does, day three began with breakfast and networking with Mark Tanner, a recent ECU graduate and former FBI specialist. The scholars, along with Tanner, headed over to the International Spy Museum. They toured the museum and were able to experience the interactive elements that the museum has to offer.
After a lunch break, their next stop was the National Portrait Museum. Scholars were able to see limited time exhibits done by artists around the world. To end this eventful day, scholars and mentors ate dinner and enjoyed great conversation at a DC classic: Founding Farmers.
On their fourth and final day, the scholars were able to take advantage of many of the opportunities DC has to offer. They began their day with a tour of JP Morgan Chase with two ECU graduates, Tremayne Smith and AJ Malicdem. Smith is the operations manager at JP Morgan Chase, and Malicdem is the chief of staff for Congressman Davis. The scholars were able to get a unique insight into working in different environments throughout the DC area.
“They were so authentic and genuine and gave us the path of how their ECU journey looked like and it was very reassuring,” Maisto said.
Overall, this experience was one to remember for the sophomore cohort. The connections made and the experiences had will be something that follows them into the rest of the personal and professional lives!