Chukwunonso Nwasike, a junior in the Scholars Program who is double majoring in biology and philosophy, recently won a $5,000 scholarship from the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. The aspiring pediatric hematologist/oncologist says he will likely use the funds to pay for a preparation class for medical school exams and to perhaps take a winter intersession course.
鈥淭his is an exciting victory that will help propel me towards what I want to do,鈥� says Nwasike, who adds he was more honored by the recognition than the financial award.
Nwasike, who is also a short story writer and published poet, says he has always been attracted to the sciences because 鈥渢hey explain how things work鈥� and he has always enjoyed working with children, so becoming a pediatrician was a natural choice.
He has spent a good deal of time working with kids, having taught Sunday School and currently volunteering with two organizations that go into public schools to teach kids about health-related issues.
He has also been a recipient of the Seymour Richman Memorial Scholarship and the David and Jessica Hammer 鈥�38 Memorial Scholarship, both given out by the biology department.
The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation is dedicated to helping improve the lives of children across the country. Nwasike was a counselor at one of their summer camps for children with cancer. His work at the camp qualified him to be considered for the scholarship.
