About

Amanda Bowman, from Rockingham, North Carolina, graduated in May of 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Biomedical Concentration. Amanda was proud of her involvement on campus and within the community as a Relay for Life team captain, Community and Civic Engagement site leader for the days of service, Chancellor’s Ambassador, Outstanding Senior of the Year finalist for 2017, member of the Health Careers Club, Service Chair of the Lambda Sigma Honors Society, member of the Tri Beta Biology Honors Society, Sergeant-at-Arms for the Gamma Sigma Epsilon Chemistry Honors Society, officer in the Alpha Chi Honor Society, and Vice Chair of the Student Honors Council. She was thankful for the all the opportunities UNCP gave her. She participated in the Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) at UNC Chapel Hill and Summer Biomedical Research Program at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. Being in the Honors College gave Amanda a small community feel in and out of the classroom. She said, “I was thankful for the resources the honors college gave me. I never had to stress about getting into a specific class because of preregistration.”

Amanda tutored tenth-grade students at Purnell Swett High School in biology for her senior project. She helped students prepare for the EOC exam and for semester exams. She also brought several students to UNCP’s campus to gain experience in laboratories. Amanda designed a chemistry acid-base abbreviated experiment for the students to perform on campus and to experience what it is like to be a science major and have a head start before they take chemistry in the eleventh grade.

After graduation Amanda planned to attend medical school in her pursuit to become a physician in rural North Carolina. Her greatest memory at UNCP was making life-long friendships, interacting with the best faculty and staff, and going to watch the play Beauty and the Beast in the Givens Preforming Arts Center during her freshman year. She advises honors students to plan head because initial plans may change, and it’s best to be always prepared. She said, “Get involved in an organization or club as a freshman and within the community. Also, remember you always can start a new organization or club.”

Senior Project

Thesis: Supplementing Biology Instruction at Purnell Swett High School: A Service-Learning Project

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sivanadane Mandjiny