Roxboro Community School (RCS) alumna Megan Carroll wants to give back to her alma mater by providing a scholarship to help today’s and future students.
Megan graduated RCS in 2017. She said, “looking back to high school has made me realize how prominent RCS was in influencing my career path. The school truly fostered my love for the sciences.” Because of that, she said, she wants to give back in the form of a $1,000 scholarship for a senior who intends to study STEM (sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics) in college.
She said, “I remember the senior banquet I participated in back in 2017 and how much of a blessing those local scholarships I received were for me and my family. I want to be able to provide a similar experience for the up and coming graduates of RCS.”
After graduating from RCS, Megan majored in biology, with minors in neuroscience and chemistry at UNC-Chapel Hill. She received her degree in 2021.
Megan currently works as a research associate at Charles River Laboratories and is pursuing a master’s degree in clinical research and product development. She said, “I am in the safety assessment sector and work closely with veterinary pathologists to communicate important experimental findings to our research sponsors. Safety assessment is an important step for test articles to go through since it is needed for the FDA's rigorous Investigational New Drug submissions, where sponsors seek approval for further investment and clinical trials.”
She continued, “I chose this line of work because I have grown to love research. I worked in a lab at the UNC School of Medicine in my undergrad years that fostered my love for research and development. Directly contributing to life-changing research for so many people around the world has been fulfilling thus far.”
While in high school Megan was in Science Club, Art Club, Beta Club, and played varsity tennis and softball.
She said, “One of my favorite memories at RCS was participating in MOLO Day as a senior in Beta Club. (MOLO Day is a project founded by 2012 RCS graduate Morgan Long Ferrell. On MOLO Day, Beta Club members take disabled students to Mayo Lake to fish, talk with park rangers and explore.)
Megan said another good memory from her days at RCS was working on a recreation of Julius Caesar with some of her friends in 10th grade English. “I still remember accidentally getting fake blood on my friend Luke’s pants,” she said.
She said she would tell current RCS students “to never be afraid to ask questions or to ask for help. This was a problem I had to overcome once I got into college. There are many people who want to see you succeed and will give you support when it’s needed. Whether it is emailing a teacher for help with a tough test question or asking a lab manager more about their research and how to get involved, asking questions is of the utmost importance. The worst someone can tell you is no.”
The scholarship Megan is providing is open to anyone who is planning to pursue a career in a STEM-related field. She said, “I want to hear about why students are choosing STEM! If anyone has any questions about working in research, finding a lab to work in during college, or college essay advice,” she said, she would be happy to help.