Scholarship support enables greater success in college by allowing students to have more time to focus on their studies. NC State Entrepreneurship introduced its first entrepreneurship scholarship, the e5x Scholarship, in the fall of 2019 and since then our program has added The Alagu Periyannan and Theivanai Palaniappan Entrepreneurship Scholarship, the Sameer Murarka Entrepreneurship Scholarship, the NC State Entrepreneurship Scholarship and the John and Linda Leazar Award in Entrepreneurship. The latest addition to the robust group of offerings by the university? The Frank J. Newlands, M.D. Entrepreneurship Scholarship.
The Frank J. Newlands, M.D. Entrepreneurship Scholarship was established through a generous donation from Dr. Newlands to support outstanding entrepreneurial efforts among NC State’s undergraduate student population. With a strong history of entrepreneurship throughout his own career, Dr. Newlands is excited to support the next generation of NC State entrepreneurs.
“Both giving back and paying it forward are cornerstones of the NC State Entrepreneurship philosophy. It is through the generous donations of alumni entrepreneurs like Dr. Newlands that we are able to support our amazing entrepreneurial students while also continuing this cycle of philanthropy,” said Jennifer Capps, Interim Vice Provost for NC State Entrepreneurship.
Meet the 2021 Scholars
Josiah Hall is a junior studying business supply chain in the Poole College of Management. His goal is to leverage business profits, expertise, and connections to serve those affected by systemic injustices in the United States and abroad. Just over three years ago he founded and continues to operate “Clean-Cut Junk”, which hauls junk away from people’s homes.
He currently serves as a YoungLife leader at the Neighbor to Neighbor community center in downtown Raleigh. Neighbor to Neighbor serves at-risk youth through education and is involved with several entrepreneurial enterprises including moving, landscaping, and catering. He has been able to be involved in this organization on a variety of levels, always focused on building relationships with the kids in the community.
In addition, he is the vice president of the Club Basketball team at NC State and was recently elected to be the president of the club for the upcoming school year. In that role, he will be recruiting new team members, defining the two competitive teams, arranging tournaments, planning travel, and managing the club team funds – and playing point guard on the team!
He hopes to study abroad to better understand business from an international perspective.
Drew Lewis is a sophomore studying sustainable materials and technology at the College of Natural Resources. His goal in life is to do everything to his best ability, while always maintaining his core values of honesty, integrity and perseverance.
In the Fall of 2020, he participated in the diversity and inclusion adventure experience through the Outdoor Adventure Center. They focused on considering the different points of view found in a diverse group of students, as well as how race and privilege can affect everyone differently.
He looks forward to being a part of the Entrepreneurship Scholars and being able to represent the program to the highest standard. He also hopes to find more leadership roles on campus while building my network of like-minded peers – eventually bringing new ideas to life.
About the Donor
Frank J. Newlands (Biology, Pre-Med ’92) is an experienced physician, healthcare executive and entrepreneur. After graduation, Frank attended medical school in the Caribbean and in London. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine before he started practicing as a Hospitalist in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Frank worked for Novant Health in Charlotte, becoming the Executive Director of Hospitalist and Chief Operating Officer of Novant shared services division. During that time, he helped launch the start-up Vendormate into the healthcare space. Within five years, Vendormate became the largest hospital vendor credentialing company in the United States. Vendormate exited in 2014. Following the sale, Frank worked as a limited partner for several venture capital firms and served on several boards for start-ups. Frank recently launched a new venture, Physicians Services Group, which provides medical care for skilled nursing facilities and post-acute rehabilitation throughout the southeast.
Frank lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife, Anoma (also a medical doctor), and his three children. Frank is pleased to give back to his alma mater by supporting NC State Entrepreneurship.
