Emily Kustka
Emily Kustka has big plans for her time at East Carolina University. “I want to get my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in four years. And then I want to work with a nonprofit to help kids build confidence,” she said.
Kustka is a big believer in empowering children. “When I was younger, I volunteered with my grandma at a homeless shelter every month, helping to feed people,” she said. “But I wasn’t allowed to do the ‘big’ jobs because I was just a kid. I wanted to show that I could do more—that kids can do more—to make a difference, so I started a neighborhood food drive when I was 12.” She collected over 800 pounds of food with her first drive.
That drive became an annual event that, so far, has collected more than 6,000 pounds of food. It also planted the seed for Front Porch Leaders, the nonprofit organization Kustka founded in 2016.
“There’s still so much I don’t know yet about running a nonprofit and growing it into something more. Through EC Scholars, I’ll learn. I want to turn my study abroad and internship opportunities into opportunities to instill confidence in kids, to build their knowledge and skills along with my own.”
EC Scholars is the most prestigious undergraduate award program offered at ECU. The four-year merit scholarship recognizes outstanding academic performance, commitment to community engagement and strong leadership skills. Recipients receive an Honors College scholarship for four years, along with a stipend for study abroad, for a total value of nearly $63,000.
“I’m looking forward to being part of a community with the other scholars,” Kustka said. “The first time I stepped onto campus, I knew this would be my home. And I’m really excited about studying abroad. I want to see how kids learn in other countries and cultures. I’m thinking about Haiti or somewhere in Africa. Or maybe I’ll go to a Spanish-speaking country, to improve my language skills.”
Before Kustka arrives on campus, she’ll spend the summer empowering kids as the head coach for her neighborhood swim team. “It’s my first year as coach, but I swam for eight years. I want to take the team to a new level and build unity among parents, the board and the community. I want to leave it better,” she said.
She’ll also help run a literacy camp for children in Kentucky, a church initiative she’s volunteered with since middle school.
As for Front Porch Leaders, Kustka’s been nurturing the next generation. “I’m not a young kid anymore,” she said, “I’m passing leadership of the food drive down to a 10-year-old in my neighborhood. She helped last year and she’s very confident and independent. We’ve been spending time together planning. I’ll give her the tools I can, but it’ll be hers.”
Kustka is the daughter of Denise and Matt Kustka of Cary.
“The first time I stepped onto campus, I knew this would be my home. I’m looking forward to being part of a community with the EC Scholars.”
High school: Panther Creek High School
Intended major: Social work
Hometown: Cary