Recognition of Excellence

Scholarship recipients, donors honored during awards ceremony

Brianna Blackshear beamed a broad smile as she accepted a certificate that represented so much more than just some words on a piece of paper. It represented a future.

Blackshear received one of 79 scholarships from the East Carolina University College of Engineering and Technology during the annual Robert E. and Betty S. Hill Recognition of Excellence Awards Ceremony on Friday at the East Carolina Heart Institute.

Blackshear and Bryan Lopez each received the Dr. Barry Duvall, Timothy M. Gomez and U.S. Coast Guard Master Chief Roger M. Gomez Teacher’s Choice Scholarship. Blackshear met Timothy Gomez during the ceremony, thanking him and all the donors who supported $147,000 in student scholarships in the college for the 2025-26 academic year.

“You’ve helped me get to a point that I never thought I would get to,” Blackshear said.

For Gomez, Friday’s ceremony marked the 10th anniversary of the scholarship that has been awarded to two students every year.

Scholarship recipient Brianna Blackshear, right, talks to scholarship donor Tim Gomez, second from left, after the ceremony.

“All of these students who have graduated under this program have demonstrated a commitment, a passion to the program, a passion to their career,” he said. “They just need that little extra help from us to help get them across the finish line.”

The unwritten theme of appreciation for those who donated to support scholarships flowed from recipients, their family members and College of Engineering and Technology staff and faculty.

“We’re building something special, and I’m grateful that you’re a part of it,” Dr. Stephanie George, interim dean of the college, said in her opening remarks. “… Today is about honoring excellence, celebrating connections and looking ahead to the future that we’re creating. Let’s celebrate the impact that we’re making and the possibilities that lie ahead.”

Robert Hill thanked all the scholarship donors and appreciated the hard work of the students. In his remarks, he spoke about the reasons he and his wife have been longtime supporters of the college and sponsor the ceremony each year.

“We’re both grateful for the start that ECU gave us and want to give back as much as we can,” he said.

Perhaps no group appreciates the financial support more than parents. Martin Kean watched as son Noah Kean, a construction management student, received the Robert E. Barnhill Sr. Scholarship.

“There is a financial burden on any child going to college, so every bit counts,” he said. “And especially having this scholarship, it really helped us with other things we had to do for college for our son.”

Computer science major Sidney Land received the Robert and Betty Hill Scholarship for Student Success, producing a sense of pride in his mother, Jennifer Miller.

Scholarship recipient Sidney Land, second from right, poses for a picture with his family and scholarship donor Robert E. Hill, second from left.

“He’s worked so hard for everything to make it this far, to come here, to be here,” she said. “It’s amazing to see your child grow and learn as much as he has.”

Land, a senior from New Bern, is part of the accelerated master’s program, taking courses toward both bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the same time.

“The scholarship has helped pay for the tuition for those courses and also helped me get all the books that I need to study for all my courses and stay on top of my work,” he said. “It’s really lifted a burden off my shoulders and has really helped me maintain my good academic standing.”

Molly Lasure, a senior engineering major from Greenville, received the Cummins/Kauffmann Scholarship, the second straight year she has earned a scholarship. With a brother also at ECU, the scholarship is doubly important.

“A financial burden has been lifted from my family, which is amazing,” she said.

Garret Freeman said scholarship funds simply make him better.

“It allows me to really focus on bettering my education, and it allows me to push forward and try to become the best student I can,” he said.

The engineering senior from Rocky Mount received the Joseph Michael Albany Jr. Memorial Scholarship and the Sgt. David J. Smith United States Marine Memorial Leadership Award. Smith was a Marine taking classes in the distribution and logistics program when he was killed in combat in 2010 in Afghanistan. It is awarded to a student who exemplifies leadership and service.

“It’s just amazing because you get to honor those people through the work that you’re doing and continue to push and become better versions, and live for people and continue to carry their legacy on,” he said.

Those wishing to help fund scholarships in the College of Engineering and Technology or offer other support can visit the college’s giving website.

Scholarship Recipients

College of Engineering and Technology

Lawson Barbee — College of Engineering and Technology CITE Scholarship

Riley Mullins — College of Engineering and Technology CITE Scholarship

Garret Freeman — Sgt. David J. Smith United States Marine Memorial Leadership Award

Jimmy Urieta-Mandujano — Astemo Ltd. CET Development Fund Scholarship

Angel Parker — Astemo Ltd. Scholarship

Ashley Davis — Astemo Ltd. Scholarship

Jacob Creech — Astemo Ltd. Scholarship

Logan Miller — Astemo Ltd. Scholarship

Kristen Lovett — Michael Bunting Scholarship

Grace Kinneberg — Noah Dombkowski Memorial Scholarship

Richard Scarborough — Ricky and Theresa Hardy Scholarship

Sidney Land — Robert and Betty Hill Scholarship for Student Success

Alec Lozano — Universal Leaf North America U.S. Inc. Scholarship

Brian Migliolo-Hernandez — Universal Leaf North America U.S. Inc. Scholarship

Department of Computer Science

Cynthia Kaye — Angela Williams Allen Scholarship

Thomas Drake — Barry and Karen Carter Scholarship

Ariadna Soria-Huerta — Computer Science General Scholarship

Emely Cruz Ramirez — Shiv and Rajni Ajmera Computer Science Scholarship

Department of Construction Management

Avi Rhodes — C.W. Brinkley Construction Scholarship

Ryen Henderson — C.W. Brinkley Construction Scholarship

Anna Crowther — Carl J. Hirrlinger/James G. Davis Construction Corporation Scholarship

Sholer Greenlee — CMAA-NC Construction Management Scholarship

Daunte Gray — Construction Financial Management Association Scholarship; Triangle Chapter of the PCEA of America Chapter 3 Scholarship

Eric Polinsky — Construction Financial Management Association Scholarship; Owen F. Carr IV Memorial Scholarship

Irvin Aguilar — Construction Financial Management Association Scholarship

Ricardo Flores vega — Construction Financial Management Association Scholarship; Triangle Chapter of the PCEA of America Chapter 3 Scholarship

Michael Jones — Construction Specification Institute Scholarship, Raleigh-Durham Chapter

Bella Wood — David Price Construction Scholarship

Aldo Gomez-Sixto — Dr. George Wang and Mrs. Jane Wang Construction Management Scholarship

Angel Rivas — Farrior & Sons Inc. Scholarship; Owen F. Carr IV Memorial Scholarship

Robert Ellis — Farrior & Sons Inc. Scholarship

John Diaddorio — George C. Turner Scholarship; Rick Judson/NCHBA/NHE Residential Construction Scholarship

Joseph Strusienski — Home Builders Supply Co./W.G. Blount Scholarship; Solomon Plumbing Scholarship

George Klenke — N.C. Masonry Contractors Association Sigmon Memorial Scholarship

Caden Mitchell — The Retail Contractors Association Scholarship

Caleb Porter — Robert E. Barnhill Sr. Scholarship

Noah Kean — Robert E. Barnhill Sr. Scholarship

William Horn — S.T. Wooten Scholarship

Claire Hardy — Service Roofing & Sheet Metal Company Scholarship

Parker Henderson — T.A. Loving Company Scholarship

Trenton Walker — Tom and Ann Gibbs Scholarship

Daniel Jameson — Coastal Plains Chapter PCEA of America Chapter 8 Scholarship; Whiting-Turner Contracting Company Scholarship

Department of Engineering

Ellisa Fisher — Biochemical Engineering Scholarship

Sophia Dye — Biochemial Engineering Scholarship

Molly Lasure — Cummins/Kauffmann Scholarship

Daniel Akhnoukh — Engineering Alumni Scholarship

Heath Faircloth — Engineering Alumni Scholarship

Trevon Price — The Engineering Sophomore Scholarship

Tyler Seaman — Ferrell Family Scholarship Endowment I

Babacar Niass — Ferrell Family Scholarship Endowment II

Ellis Cullipher — James and Connie Hackney Scholarship

Jonathan Avila-Calderon — James and Connie Hackney Scholarship

Garret Freeman — Joseph Michael Albany Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Joshua Williams — Joseph Michael Albany Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Patrick Jones — N.C. Electric Co-Op Electrical Engineering Scholarship

Kyle Kirwin — Ronald Lewis Kidd Scholarship in Biomedical Engineering

Zachary Willer — Ronald Lewis Kidd Scholarship in Biomedical Engineering

Department of Technology Systems

Elizabeth Craven — Douglas Warren Jones Memorial Scholarship

Brianna Blackshear — Dr. Barry Duvall, Timothy M. Gomez & U.S. Coast Guard Master Chief Roger M. Gomez Teacher’s Choice Scholarship; Pamela A. Garriques Excellence in Logistics Scholarship

Bryan Lopez — Dr. Barry Duvall, Timothy M. Gomez & U.S. Coast Guard Master Chief Roger M. Gomez Teacher’s Choice Scholarship

Gerard Gatling — Edward Jones Scholarship (In Memory of Landon Blackley)

Carla Rojas — Elizabeth Brown Sledge Scholarship

Ana Harmon — Lemuel and Gail Clayton Scholarship; Society of Manufacturing Engineers Coastal Plains Chapter 302 Scholarship

Kameron Taylor — Lemuel and Gail Clayton Scholarship

Allyson Martino — James P. Kohn Memorial Scholarship

Talek Watson — Roberts Family D3 Scholarship

Spence-Rai McDonad — Society of Manufacturing Engineers Coastal Plains Chapter 302 Scholarship

Jonathan “Dyland” Pittard — Thomas Haigwood Memorial Scholarship

Bryan Regalado-Rojo — W. Ashley Smith Jr. Transfer Scholarship

Nicole Mynster — Winsupply Inc. Spirit of Opportunity Scholarship