Name: Kevin Yeh
Hometown: Columbia
Year: Sophomore
Major: Chemical engineering
High School: Dreher High School

Kevin Yeh earned second place as a junior and senior in USC's statewide High School Math Contest.

"I couldn't quite make it to first place," he said.

But he did earn a Carolina scholarship, the university's most prestigious award for instate students.

Yeh turned down Georgia Tech, Duke University and North Carolina State University for Carolina because the chemical-engineering faculty at Carolina had made him feel welcome during his interview on campus.

"They went out of their way to get to know me," Yeh said. "They were helpful and friendly, and I didn't feel like I would be just a number on campus."

Since arriving at Carolina, Yeh has immersed himself in his studies. He conducted fuel-cell research with Dr. John Van Zee and recently earned a Magellan scholarship, given by the university to support undergraduate research.

Yeh is working in the research lab of Dr. Esmaiel Jabbari on a study that is using nanoparticles to target cancer cells. The goal is to improve cancer treatment.

"I have had a broad experience in research," Yeh said. "I think it's excellent to have this kind of experience as an undergraduate, and I don't know that I would have had this anywhere else."