The CM Merritt Foundation is named after NCA&TSU student Candice Merritt. On December 17, 2016, at 22 years of age, Candice was killed in an auto accident while en route to pickup her first puppy; Baylor, an 8 week old Poodle that she had always dreamed of owning. By the time of the accident, Candice had successfully completed all but three credits towards her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering with a  Minor   in Chemistry. Candice was scheduled to graduate with Magna Cum Laude Honors at the May 2017 commencement. She had already accepted an invitation from BASF Corporation to be a part of their highly competitive Professional and Leadership Development Program (PDP) following summer internships at BASF and Dow Chemical. Candice was also courted by a host of other Engineering companies who saw not just her aptitude, but her passion for life and her potential to become a dominant force in engineering, entrepreneurship and personal development.  

 

Candice was also a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society, the Council of Presidents, the NCA&T Honors Program, the National Society of Black Engineers and other organizations. Candice was not only an Engineer. Before college, Candice launched a separate career as a writer. She published her first 345-page novel, “Elemental,” in December, 2015 and had already begun working on the sequel. She was a natural comedian and gifted speaker, an Aggie Toastmaster, in fact. Candice could take any situation and speak laughter and love into the entire room, always seizing the opportunity to leave her audience with an uplifting message. She had even begun her next project logging video content for a YouTube channel -- “Normal Girl 2.0” -- to help others achieve the feeling of being “more physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally well and powerful.” ​The greatest of all of Candice’s accomplishments was accepting Christ into her life. While at NCT&T she grew her faith at New Jerusalem Cathedral and her connection to her purpose grew stronger with each and every gift revealed.   

 

At 22, Candice had already accomplished more than others twice her age. Her resume expanded career opportunities across the country. She took Chemical Engineering seriously, and also lived a life of service as mentor, tutor and volunteer in organizations such as the ELIMU Empowerment Center. To know Candice was to love Candice; she would give you no other option. Candice leaves behind, her parents Bill and Marcia; her siblings Alexandria, Jasmine and William III, and a wealth of friends and memories that  her Foundation will honor by awarding scholarships to other students like her.

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