Vincent Cahill

Where are you from?
Elkin, N.C.

What high school did you attend?
The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, N.C.

In your opinion, what are the 3 best things about UNC Charlotte?  
This university boasts an unparalleled degree of academic freedom, a walkable, condensed campus, and access to a city that is brimming with food, arts, and entertainment.

Where is your favorite place on campus?
The Storrs library is the perfect place to study, even for non-architecture majors. It has wide windows to let in natural light and quiet spaces for independent study – definitely check it out if every seat in Atkins is taken.

What is your favorite Charlotte restaurant?
I think that the Ale’s University location opened early in the summer of 2016, and that quickly became one of my favorite places to eat. It’s right beside campus, almost always showing the game you want to watch, and has a delicious, expansive menu.

What was your favorite class that you have taken and why?
Organic chemistry was my very first class at UNC Charlotte, and it made an immediate, albeit slightly intimidating, impression. The professor’s high standards and the rigor of the curriculum forced me to adopt study habits that have been beneficial in the years since. I now work as a grader for that professor, and his mentorship has been invaluable.

Tell us 3 random things about yourself.
In the summer of 2016, I hit a hole in one at the Paradise Valley Par 3 next to campus.

I briefly flew an airplane over Durham, N.C. in high school.

My Ping-Pong record in matches played west of the Mississippi River is 63-1.

Alumnus
2017
Economics
Vincent Cahill was a Levine Scholar who majored in economics, chemistry and political science and graduated in May 2017. He held a variety of positions in UNC system student government and was a member of the Belk College Business Honors Program.
What major(s) did you pursue and why?

I completed degrees in chemistry, economics and political science. The workload has been challenging, but each of the three majors provides an opportunity to practice a particular skill set that I enjoy. Chemistry courses and the accompanying labs require precision and careful attention to detail. The economics curriculum covers broad conceptual trends and teaches data analysis methodologies. Lastly, my political science courses feature opportunities to study current affairs, understand the practical workings of government, and debate policy perspectives with my peers.

Why did you choose the Belk College of Business/UNC Charlotte?

I chose the Belk College of Business primarily because of the Business Honors Program (BHP). BHP is home to intelligent, engaged students, frequent volunteer opportunities, and wonderful advising resources.

What activities were you involved in when not working or studying?

Most of my extracurricular energy was focused on voter registration and education efforts on campus in my role as an Andrew Goodman Foundation Vote Everywhere Ambassador. Andrew Goodman’s story is personally powerful and moving, and contributing to his legacy by increasing voter engagement on campus has been one of the most rewarding facets of my undergraduate experience. Outside of that work, I have really enjoyed participating in SGA, Charlotte Dance Marathon, intramurals, and the North Carolina Student Legislature.

What was the best part of your academic experience?

I feel especially fortunate to have studied abroad at Charles University in Prague. That semester opened my eyes to the realities of a country that, because of communist rule by the former Soviet Union, is still shaping a democratic government that is barely older than I am. Many of my Czech professors participated in the country’s 1991 Velvet Revolution, and I could not help but to be inspired by the principled bravery that they demonstrated. Those teachers also taught me an assortment of subjects, ranging from Czech cooking to the Czech language, Central European literature and music, and European governance and policy. I recommend Prague to anyone considering studying abroad in Europe.

How would you describe the Belk College of Business to someone who is thinking about applying?

The Belk College of Business offers a diverse array of courses taught by intelligent, considerate professors, and so the academic energy that pervades the Belk College is electric.

What does professional development mean to you?

Professional development is experiential learning that happens outside of the classroom, and I have found it to be particularly helpful in determining possible career paths. My professional experiences in non-profit, student government, academic grading, and political campaign work have each informed my current decision to pursue a law career.

How did the Levine Scholarship Program help you pursue your educational and professional goals?

The Levine Scholarship has been so supportive in helping me to identify opportunities that match my interests, in surrounding me with another group of students that are deeply committed to their academic goals, and by providing advising guidance to keep my academic schedule organized and finish my majors on time.

What was it like for you and your family when you found out you were accepted into the Levine Scholars program? What did it mean to you?

I am the middle of five children, and the overwhelming feeling after being selected was the comfort in knowing that it would ease the financial burden on my parents to send my siblings to college. I am honored to have been a member of this program.

What are your plans after graduation?

I will work with the New York office of Davis Polk & Wardell as a litigation legal assistant, with the intention of applying to law school in two years.

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