Editor's note: This is excerpted from remarks made during an Aug. 26 press conference on a scholarship named for the late UNC student body president, Eve Carson.


Once again, I want to thank you all for being here and for your interest and enthusiasm for the fulfillment of Eve's vision for the Eve Marie Carson Junior Scholarship. Part of what made Eve such a great leader her ability to empower others to do their best and to be their best. The creation of the scholarship and the hard work by so many over the past few months to make the scholarship a reality is a testament to her ability. In the past few months, Eve has continued to work her magic bringing people together to do their best and be at their best in working on this scholarship. I believe that Eve's guiding touch will continue to live on and empower us to make this scholarship what she originally intended it to be -- an opportunity to recognize and reward those who truly make Carolina great with their energy, leadership, and passionate commitment to others.

We are very excited to offer the first set of Eve Marie Carson scholarships this year. These scholarships are a testament to Eve, to the loving caring person she was, and to her remarkable ability to create innovative ways of fully living our commitment to our Carolina values. In her dedication to Carolina Eve saw a need for Carolina to recognize those who are most dedicated to it, who although they bloom late, come to shape Carolina and define the excellence we pursue here.

The Eve Marie Carson Scholarship is also a testament to the Carolina community and the love and support of that community. In the days and weeks following Eve's death, Carolina came together to mourn Eve and to honor her life . In the face of tragedy, I was warmed by how Tar Heels from all over came together to support each other.

It is thanks to the Carolina community that Eve's vision of a junior scholarship for students who become their best at Carolina is coming true. The thousands of small gifts from our community -- both from people who knew Eve and from people who simply mourned with us at her loss -- have made it possible for us to offer the first of these scholarships this year.

Eve was a visionary who believed in values and specifically in Carolina values. It is our responsibility now to continue the work she left us with, to continue, as a community, to be at our best and to reward those who have given their best to Carolina through the Eve Marie Carson Junior Scholarship.