Summer Prentice is a fifth-year civil and environmental engineering major with a minor in mathematics. Learn about her reasons for choosing UNC Charlotte, club involvement and where she got her first tattoo.
Why did you choose UNC Charlotte?
I chose UNC Charlotte because it was the perfect distance away from home, so I could have that sense of independence while still being close enough to visit my family. I heard about the amazing engineering program and scholarship opportunities, so I knew I would be challenged academically and earn a degree with weight to it. I was also attracted to Charlotte since I come from Jacksonville, N.C., with a population of 73,000. The city was a big factor in my job security after earning my degree and fun activities and things to do outside of the classroom. I was on the fence for a moment until I visited the campus and saw the students. I could see myself developing relationships and friendships here, and I was comfortable on the campus, which confirmed my decision immediately.
Have you obtained any awards or accolades here during your time?
- Albert Engineering Leadership Scholarship
- DAAD-RISE Augsburg, Germany Scholarship
- Damaso Lopez Scholarship
- Chancellor's Scholarship
- Marching Band Scholarship
- Dual University Honors and Engineering Honors
What are three words to describe UNC Charlotte to someone who has never heard of us?
Growth, community and charming.
What clubs or activities are you involved in at UNC Charlotte, and why should students consider joining?
I am the public relations chair for the American Society of Civil Engineers student chapter. It is a great organization for all civils to join! We have tons of general body meetings with companies and possible employers come in to speak. There are lots of socials and activities throughout the semester as well. Then there’s the huge conference every year where the teams compete against other universities. We have a concrete canoe, steel bridge, innovation, quiz bowl, geotechnical and other competitions!
I also participated in the marching band playing alto saxophone. I did marching band for four years, and it was great! You get to meet many students outside of your major and make many lasting friendships around the University. The band is built into your schedule as a class, so it’s a great brain break from classes where you have a designated time slot to relax and focus on something outside of your major. The band gets to travel with no expenses to away games and possibly bowl games. My sophomore year the band traveled to the Bahamas for the bowl game!
Where is your favorite place to eat on campus, and what do you get?
My favorite place to eat on campus is Burger 704 and the classic single burger with curly fries! A special shout-out to Denny’s “The Den,” which used to be on top of SoVi.
What do you like to do when you aren't studying?
I love exploring the city and trying tons of different restaurants and breweries. There are also always tons of events going on, like weekend markets, which are great for shopping around with friends. Lately, my friends and I have been super into escape rooms to the point where we’ve done all the rooms in University City and have started driving to a new location for different rooms to try! If you don’t mind a bit of a drive, going to Crowder's Mountain and Grandfather Mountain are great, especially when the seasons are changing.
What's a fun fact about you that people may not know?
I got my very first tattoo while studying abroad in Augsburg, Germany, and it’s of my childhood cat!