So NC State’s first Native American Park Scholar and double major in biomedical and biological engineering will attend medical school at East Carolina University in the fall.

But becoming a doctor won’t begin Strickland’s odyssey to help people. That quest started years ago.

Strickland is a tireless champion of the Lumbee tribe. She is vice president of NC State’s Native American Student Association, and developed and implemented a program – Striving for Excellent Leaders for the Future – to help Native American youth in the Triangle develop cultural awareness and leadership skills.

Strickland also fulfills many community service duties as the reigning Miss Indian North Carolina. She volunteers at urgent care facilities and health clinics, and has worked to serve the homeless. Her resume of service helped her to win the 2004 College of Engineering Senior Award for Citizenship and Service.

While attending NC State, Strickland won Udall and E.J. Tyson Memorial scholarships, was a National Collegiate Scholar, and was inducted into Gamma Beta Phi, Golden Key and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies.

Strickland is the daughter of Sandra and Ronald Strickland of Maxton, N.C