ECU Chancellor's Scholars initiative supports 186 students
East Carolina University's Chancellor's Scholars program has provided 186 students with four-year scholarships.
The Chancellor's Scholars initiative at East Carolina University has so far helped 186 students attend the school through four-year scholarships worth $2,500 each. The program recruits 75 new students annually, and a $5 million state investment is now boosting its endowment matching efforts.
Students Ashley Austin and Nick Tait shared their experiences at a luncheon with donors and university leaders on September 11. Austin, a sophomore neuroscience and psychology major from Youngsville, said the scholarship made her college life possible and relieved financial stress for her single mother.
"Being able to be a part of this scholarship is what brought me here," Austin said. She explained it was a way to help her mother during the college selection process.
Chancellor Philip Rogers said stories like Austin's inspire the program and highlight the financial challenges families face. He stated the initiative aims to make an ECU education more affordable and provide support structures so students graduate on time and secure good jobs.
Initiative Growth
The university's first two cohorts of Chancellor's Scholars were recruited using a mix of annually funded and endowed scholarships. ECU has set a goal to establish 300 endowed scholarships by 2028.
A $5 million commitment from the state of North Carolina is strengthening the program by matching gifts that create fully funded scholarship endowments. The allocation from the North Carolina General Assembly matches each gift of $31,250, or multiples of that amount, to establish these permanent funds. The ECU Foundation has also committed to ensuring the initiative's success.
Rogers thanked the foundation and donors for creating the momentum that led to the public investment. He contrasted the immediate impact of annual scholarships with the lasting legacy of endowments.
"An annual invested scholarship changes the life of a student today. An endowed scholarship creates an opportunity year after year, generation after generation, in perpetuity," Rogers said. He noted that 87 endowments have been funded since 2024, with more than a dozen in the final paperwork stage and many other gift discussions ongoing.
Investing in Students
Nicholas Tait, a student from Winston-Salem, plans to be the first in his family to graduate from a four-year college because of the scholarship investment. He aims to attend dental school, become an orthodontist, and eventually open a practice offering free care to less fortunate children in his community.
Steve Cunanan, chair of the ECU Foundation's board of directors, reaffirmed the foundation's support. He noted that board members established their own endowment and encouraged others to make permanent commitments.
Richard Cobb Sr. was the first donor to create a named Chancellor's Scholars fund in 2024. He said he contacted the foundation himself, believing recruitment scholarships are the most direct way to attract high-achieving students and bolster ECU's academic image.
Brad and Dr. Kim Crickmore Osborne were the first to establish an endowment within the initiative. Brad Osborne said their goal is to highlight ECU's reputation to attract high-quality students who might otherwise receive offers from competing universities. Kim Osborne stated that a robust scholarship program signals the university's commitment to student success.
Cunanan challenged the audience to continue supporting the effort, urging annual donors to consider creating permanent endowments.
