May 2, 2024
Spring 2024 Graduate Spotlight: Thomas Halvas
Name: Thomas Halvas
Major: Secondary History Education
Hometown: West Islip, New York (Hometown). Wake Forest, North Carolina (current town)
Hobbies/interests: I have numerous hobbies and interests. One of my favorite hobbies is exercising, with running being one of them. In high school, I ran cross country and track, so running has been a part of my life for the past 8 years now. It’s something I do when I am stressed or to stay in shape. I also love to listen to music and watch movies. I am a huge music buff, where I listen to pretty much anything from back in the day (70s, 80s, 90s, etc) to today. I love going to concerts as I always make sure to get the best seats that are closest to my favorite artists. I am though a huge movie nerd. I’ve been a big movie fanatic since I was a little kid. I have seen numerous films from the silent era, to the classic era, the modern era, and much more. I have seen so many movies in my life it’s hard to name one I have not seen. Lastly, I love to travel, where I have a lot of plans over the summers to travel the world to places I have not been to but would love to visit.
Professor who influenced me the most: A professor who influenced me the most is none other than Dr. Thomas Eamon, who I took during the spring 2022 semester. Dr. Eamon is such a nice and caring man who wants all of his students to succeed, where he will move heaven and earth to meet with you to ensure that you will be successful in his class. He is also extremely knowledgeable in his field of study, where having a conversation with him is never a dull moment. Me and him clicked so well that we met for dinner a few times during my time here at ECU. He is a prime example of how to be a good instructor.
Favorite place on campus: My favorite place on campus is by far the mall. It’s such a beautiful part of campus, especially during the spring and fall months. Me and my friends love to set up hammocks in the mall and listen to music or throw a frisbee around. It’s such a relaxing part of campus and it is my favorite part.
ECU memory: An ECU memory that I would love to share is simply being around my friends and hanging out with them. Whether it’s going out on the weekends, staying in and watching a movie, studying together, or getting food somewhere, I never had a dull moment here in Greenville. I have made some of the best memories of my life here in Greenville with my friends, both old and new.
Post graduation plans: My plans upon graduating is to finish the Wake County Future Teachers Program that I am a part of, where I am guaranteed a job for Wake County Public Schools once the program is completed. I plan on staying in Wake County to teach social studies at the high school level, where I also plan on becoming a coach for high school athletics, specifically for cross country and track and field, and to work on my National Board Certification after my first three years of teaching.