Recognizing Excellence

Ceremony honors scholarship recipients, donors

After working an overnight shift at Bristol Myers Squibb, Essence Anderson doesn’t see the work end. The Clayton resident cares for her parents and siblings, and then hops online to take classes as part of East Carolina University’s Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology program.

“I want to be in upper management,” said Anderson, whose BSIT concentration is bioprocess manufacturing with a minor in industrial management.

Anderson, a senior who graduates this fall, received the Dr. Barry DuVall, Timothy M. Gomez and U.S. Coast Guard Master Chief Roger M. Gomez Teachers Choice Scholarship. She met Gomez for the first time during the ceremony.

“Mr. Gomez is really amazing,” Anderson said. “He’s very hospitable, very personable. He understands what I as a recipient need and go through on a day-to-day basis.”

Dr. Harry Ploehn, dean of the College of Engineering and Technology, said $116,000 in scholarships were awarded during the ceremony, and he thanked donors for understanding the needs of so many students.

“To engage in student organizations, to engage with on-campus activities, team competitions, prepare to get internships, figure out their path in life, they have to be able to have the time to do that,” Ploehn said. “Scholarships are vitally important to take the stress off and give them the freedom to explore and develop themselves. It’s so important.”

Scholarship recipient Molly Lasure talks to a donor during the ceremony.

In his remarks to those attending, Ploehn also thanked the families and friends of the scholarship recipients.

“Your support, more than any other, enables these students to persevere, to thrive and to go on to achieve remarkable things,” he said.

Nick and Megan Lasure attended the ceremony with their daughter, engineering major Molly Lasure.

“Her mother and I are both very proud. She’s a very hard worker.” Nick Lasure said.

Molly Lasure, a junior from Greenville whose concentration is biomedical engineering, received the Engineering Alumni Scholarship.

“I’m thankful for the scholarship,” she said. “It definitely eases some stress, and it’s definitely an honor to be selected.”

Megan Lasure said she appreciated the faculty and staff in the Department of Engineering for providing so many opportunities to students. And as for the scholarship, “We have two here at ECU and they’re both in the Honors College, so this is a huge help,” she said.

Dontrez Hobbs, a senior computer science major from La Grange, already has a full-time job offer to be a data analyst. He’s also part of the accelerated master’s program, so receiving the Shiv and Rajni Ajmera Computer Science Scholarship will go a long way.

“It’s pure gratefulness,” he said of receiving the scholarship. “I’m happy they chose me.”

Michael Brown, a senior construction management major from Wilmington, received the Robert E. Barnhill Sr. Scholarship.

“It allows me to finish out strong,” he said.

He said he’s leaning toward commercial construction management when he graduates, especially after his internship at Thomas Construction included work at the site of ECU Health’s future behavioral health hospital in Greenville.

“It’s been cool to see,” he said. “I got there; it was dirt. I’ve seen it from the ground up.”

Michael Brown, center, receives his scholarship certificate from representatives of Barnhill Contracting Company and Dr. Jerry Gao, left, chair of the Department of Construction Management.

He said he couldn’t thank Barnhill Contracting Company and other scholarship donors enough.

“They allow students to continue their education and give them a chance to take off some financial burden,” Brown said. “You’re not worrying about work and paying everything off, so they give us a lot more flexibility by being so generous.”

Tom Shannon, vice president of human resources at Barnhill Contracting Company, said the company recognizes the importance of East Carolina and its students to the region, which is the reason for the company’s support.

“Eastern North Carolina is our home and the focus of our work,” he said. “Our employees make our business, and the students of East Carolina University are our future employees. They’re all mature, thoughtful and obviously highly motivated to be successful.”

In her remarks, Betty Hill thanked donors for supporting students and encouraged the recipients today to become the donors of tomorrow.

“We’re so thankful for the education he (Robert) got at East Carolina,” she said. “It enabled us to lead — not a wealthy life — but a comfortable life, and that’s why we want to give back. I challenge all the recipients to give back because East Carolina is giving you a really good start.”

Scholarships are available through ECU’s Office of University Scholarships. Applications for 2024-25 are completed through the ECUAWard portal and close on Jan. 15. 

Anyone interested in supporting College of Engineering and Technology student scholarships can go online and select a designated fund. Those interested in starting a scholarship can go online to the University Advancement website.

For more photographs from the ceremony, go to the photo gallery on the College of Engineering and Technology Facebook page.

Scholarship recipient Dontrez Hobbs speaks to Dr. Qin Ding, chair of the Department of Computer Science, during the Robert and Betty Hill Recognition of Excellence Awards Ceremony.