Eric Knowles, a senior in the Materials Science and Engineering undergraduate program, has been named the recipient of the 2020 Lewis C. Hoffman Scholarship presented by the Awards Committee of the Electronics Division of The American Ceramic Society. This $2,000 scholarship is awarded to students who show outstanding performance in their academic and extracurricular activities.
In addition to excelling in his studies, Eric is a five times All-American swimmer for NC State’s collegiate swim team. When asked about his experience at NC State, Eric conveyed appreciation for his work with Dr. Elizabeth Dickey and her research group; “Dr. Elizabeth Dickey has been instrumental in my progress and learning in materials science. I had the privilege of working in her research group in the summers of 2019 and 2020. It was an awesome experience, and I learned a lot from Professor Dickey as well as the graduate students I worked with. I look forward to applying the skills I learned during undergraduate research to my future career”.
Eric also expressed his fondness for the Materials Science department and the positive experience of working closely alongside the department faculty; “I really enjoy the community that exists within the MSE program! The relatively small size of the department allows for better communication between students and faculty, and since most MSE students take the same classes, it doesn’t take long to make friends. Additionally, since nearly every professor is heavily involved in research, it’s very easy for students to get involved in MSE beyond the classroom.”
Eric exemplifies what it means to be a wolf pack student both in and outside the classroom. Congratulations to Eric Knowles on his outstanding achievement!