Just one look at her schedule and it’s clear “rest” and “relaxation” are not two words in Erica White’s vocabulary.
“I volunteer at Upstate Hospital and I’ve worked at Wegmans for six years,” White said. “On top of school, I don’t have much time for anything else.”
White is a junior biology major with a concentration in health professions and minors in chemistry and visual arts. Her goal is to attend med school after graduation. In the meantime, White finds time to serve as president of Pre-Health Society, co-president of Colleges Against Cancer and secretary of the Student Government Association. Pre-Health Society, according to White, gives overviews of programs for different health professions at schools in the area and hosts a number of activities.
“We hosted the recent Body Exhibit trip to NYC,” White said, “and we’ll be hosting a social with alumni sometime this spring. We’re hoping to get alumni that can give info and advice on professional health fields.”
But what is perhaps White’s biggest undertaking is the creation of a Colleges Against Cancer group at Le Moyne. She and fellow co-president junior Bethany Zembiec have been working on said project since April 2010.
“The constitution was finally placed this past September,” White said. “What we’re hoping to do with Colleges Against Cancer is promote the awareness and education of different types of cancers and prevention strategies; for example, instructions on self-exams during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”
The group was responsible for the recent Relay for Life fundraiser held in the recreation center. The event raised over $17,000.
“It was amazing,” White said. “Close to 300 people came out to be together and help others in support of their battle. The entertainment was wonderful, everyone was wonderful. It’s a dream come true.”
The fundraiser’s success will almost certainly lead to future Relay for Life events. In the meantime, Colleges Against Cancer is prepping for a Melanoma Awareness Month event in April.
“Melanoma Awareness Month is actually May,” White said, “but we’re holding the event in April because of finals.”
In addition, White can also add the titles of RA and OC chairperson to her name, as well as assistant program director of Lion’s Camp Hickory, a camp for children with type 1 diabetes.
“I started out as a counselor in high school and I didn’t know much about diabetes at that point,” White said. “It’s fascinating to see how these kids act and how they get on while facing the disease. It’s really fun to plan programming to help educate them about it. This camp also gives them the opportunity to be with other kids just like them and not to be ‘the odd one out.’ If I end up being a physician, I’d like to be a certified diabetes educator so I can do more with that.”
As for Le Moyne itself, White has nothing but praise.
“I didn’t want to come here at first, because it was too close to home,” White said. “But everything just felt right. It has this unique ability to foster creative outlets and this … Jesuit ‘it’ thing. I don’t know what it is, but it’s here and I love it! I never want to leave.”
