Brice Nielsen (2006) will keep an online journal for the NC State Alumni Association for a year.

As most graduates leave NC State, they find themselves immersed in a world of new and exciting experiences. Few, however, find themselves sharing those experiences with the entire alumni body. But that’s exactly what Brice Nielsen is doing.

The biological sciences major is documenting her weekly acitvities on the Alumni Association Web site as part of a feature known as Follow the New Grad.

New experiences aren’t new for Brice—the Jacksonville native studied abroad in England and Ecuador and participated in Alternative Spring Break, doing service work in Belize. She was also heavily involved and took on numerous service roles at NC State.

For the past four years, Brice has helped promote and strengthen NC State’s Dance Marathon, a 24-hour event that raises money for the NC Children’s Hospital. This year’s marathon, which she chaired, raised more than $10,000. ”Working with this incredible group has helped me discover my passion for the nonprofit sector and for medicine,” she says.

Brice also helped organize a new fundraiser for the hospital, the Krispy Kreme Challenge. Part race, part eating competition, the new NC State tradition drew over 180 participants. On Founder’s Day, Brice was recognized for her contributions to the campus community with an inaugural Mathews Medal. Similar to the Watagua Medal for alumni, this new honor awards students who, through outstanding service and leadership, promote and benefit NC State.

But NC State isn’t the only one who benefits from Brice’s contributions. She has been active with Hope for the Homeless and tutored at Broughton High School. She also volunteers as an eligibility screener with Wake county’s Open Door Clinic.

After graduation, Brice will continue to serve. She will spend a year in Washington, DC, volunteering with City Year, an AmeriCorps-sponsored service program, as part of Team Hope, an outreach group that promotes AIDS awareness and prevention in local public schools. ”Serving others energizes me,” she says. ”I love using my talents and vigor to help other people; and through Americorps, I will be able to harness my energy and work as a change agent.” Afterwards, Brice plans to attend medical school.

Last year, the Alumni Association featured the online journal of another Park graduate, Kerr Robinson (2005).

Read more about Brice and her journal here.

~posted 2006.06.16