Research campus fall interns

The David H. Murdock Research Institute on the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis welcomed two high school and two college interns this fall who are working in its laboratories and administration.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte freshman Brandon Furr is the first intern in the In Vitro Sciences Laboratory, which provides biochemistry, biology, immunology and clinical chemistry services. Furr is entering samples and reagents into a computerized inventory management system.

“Brandon’s resume really spoke to us,” said his supervisor Senior Research Associate Lisa Dewey. “He was a really strong student in high school, and has a really strong desire to learn about the industry. He’s doing really well and picking up everything very quickly.”

At UNC Charlotte, Furr is majoring in chemistry. He is a 2014 honor graduate from Mt. Pleasant High School in Mt. Pleasant.  In high school, he took pharmacy technician classes and attained his national certification as a pharmacy technician. By spending two afternoons a week at the Research Campus, he hopes to gain insight into a specific career path in the pharmaceutical industry.

“I’ve always been interested in drugs and how they interact with the body,” Furr said. “Working here teaches you analytical skills, and gives you a behind the scenes look at everything that goes into research.”

Brooklyn Philips, a student in the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College biotechnology training program and a former student in the NCRC’s Plant Pathways Elucidation Project, is interning with the David H. Murdock Research Institute supporting the Crown BioSciences’ team.

Matthew Borst, senior at Cannon School in Concord, and Logan Barnett, senior at A.L. Brown High School in Kannapolis, are both interning in the DHMRI administration office.

 

North Rowan reading pep rally
Students and parents packed the North Rowan Middle gym to celebrate the school’s academic successes last Friday. Students proudly wore their new literacy T-shirts, provided by Mark Jennings at Nationwide Insurance, Hendrick’s BBQ, Dr. Washko Family Dentistry and Gildan.  Every student earned his or her shirt by showing growth in literacy since the beginning of the school year.
Principal Alexis Cowan commended the seventh- and eighth-graders on their contributions to the school’s end of grade scores from the previous school year, which exceeded growth, as well as the outstanding staff for their generosity and commitment to the scholarship of all Mavericks. The fall sports athletes and more than 150 A and A/B honor roll students were also recognized.
At the conclusion of the event, in support of the Parent-Teacher Association’s Invest in a Child Campaign, which runs through November, Cowan participated in an ice bucket challenge. All students are encouraged to collect donations to the campaign with a goal of $3,000.There will be weekly prizes for students bringing donations.