Peyton Thomas
Peyton Thomas is passionate about people. “I love getting to know people and finding ways to support them,” she said. “I’m from a small town; it’s important to me to invest in people and really get to know them.”
A sense of community drew Thomas to East Carolina University. “Getting to be part of the Honors College means I’ll have the benefits of a tightknit community with big-school atmosphere and resources.
“My goal is to become a psychiatric social worker and advocate for people with mental illnesses living in poverty. So many people need treatment for their health but can’t afford it.”
Another way Thomas has come to understand people? Theater. “I’ve been heavily involved in theater at my high school. In a play called ‘Edelweiss,’ set in a girls’ school in Nazi Germany, I played the headmistress. I had to find a way to bring humanity to a character who’s a terrible person. It was so hard, but it ended up being my favorite role,” said Thomas.
“I know I’m meant to do social work,” she said, “I also want to eventually run a community theater. I did a show with a local community theater and loved it. Theater can connect to social work, too — it’s a way to help kids express themselves and understand others. I’ll be a social worker by day and a theater-runner at night!”
Thomas is dedicated to serving her community, beyond her career goals. “I’m really involved with my church and doing outreach projects in our community. This summer, I’m working on our Back to School Bash, where we collect and give school supplies to kids from local elementary schools. I’m looking forward to getting involved with Christian ministry and Circle K at ECU.”
Thomas will get to serve far beyond ECU’s campus. “As an EC Scholar, I’ll have so many opportunities to become a global learner, to take my experiences and goals to places I never thought possible before.”
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 can’t wait to study abroad. Italy would be incredible. Or, we had exchange students from Germany and Turkey at my high school — it would be really cool to study in one of those countries and get to experience their cultures,” she said.
Eventually, Thomas will bring a world of experiences back to her hometown. “After I get my master’s and certification as a licensed social worker, I want to work in another part of the country for a few years and then come back to Marshville and serve the community here.”
Thomas is the daughter of Kimberly and Greg Thomas of Marshville.
“As an EC Scholar, I’ll have so many opportunities to become a global learner, to take my experiences and goals to places I never thought possible before.”
High school: Forest Hills High School
Intended major: Social work
Hometown: Marshville