Harriot College celebrates students, honors donors during virtual scholarship celebration
East Carolina University’s Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences recently recognized its generous donors for their help in supporting and celebrating student success.
Dr. Allison S. Danell, dean of Harriot College, officially thanked donors at the fifth annual student scholarship celebration held virtually Nov. 19. The event celebrated 152 student scholarship recipients who will benefit from more than $300,000 in scholarship assistance this academic year.
“I am so excited to celebrate the rich tradition of generosity in Harriot College to support our students with much needed and well-deserved scholarship assistance,” said Danell. “A Harriot College major can pave the way for students to make their mark. Scholarship support plays such an important role in that trajectory. I want to thank all who are able to support existing scholarships or create new ones.”
Danell also shared a few stories from Harriot College donors. Following her remarks, three college scholarship recipients expressed their sincere gratitude for the opportunities provided them.
Thekra Hindi, a second-year undergraduate who received the Ji and Li Family Foundation Scholarship, said the scholarship is helping her achieve her goals of completing a mathematics degree and one day attending medical school.
“Math is the basis of who I am. Ever since I started school, math has been my strong suit,” Hindi said. “I didn’t necessarily choose to be a math major because I thought it would be helpful for medical school. I really wanted to get a degree in the subject I am deeply passionate about. Physicians that I have shadowed in seven different fields mention and/or use mathematics on a daily basis. Thus, I see myself as having an advantage when applying to medical school with a mathematics degree.”
Scholarships provide valuable financial assistance to students, including Hindi, who is also a recipient of the University Book Exchange Scholarship in English.
“The scholarships that I have generously received have been a great help in allowing me to pursue my passion,” Hindi said. “I think it is important to note that I rely completely on scholarships and grants to pay for my education since interest on money is strictly unlawful in my religion. That is why I wanted to express my sincere gratitude to the donors. Without everyone’s continued support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Thekra Hindi
Curtis “Nolan” Beaty (Contributed photos)
Lasheena Soriano
Curtis “Nolan” Beaty, a senior who is studying political science and economics, received the Undergraduate Security Studies Scholarship.
“I am very humbled and thankful to have been selected for this scholarship,” Beaty said. “Security studies is a field that opens up many opportunities. I am most excited to apply the theory and differing schools of thought to that of real-world scenarios. I have seen firsthand the application of some of this theory in my time as an intern with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The SBI has confirmed my interest in intelligence, and I look forward to furthering myself in the field.”
Beaty added that he believes the professors in security studies and political science have provided the knowledge and skillset needed for success.
“I look forward to seeing where I end up in my professional career thanks to the faculty and staff,” he said.
Lasheena Soriano, a first-year graduate student majoring in sociology who also works for the department, received the Wilson-Reiser Graduate Fellowship.
“As a non-traditional student who is married with children and working part time, continuing my studies would have been nearly impossible without the Wilson-Reiser Scholarship,” Soriano said. “I am truly grateful for the generosity that was awarded to me. I would like to say thank you on behalf of my family and the community I will serve.”
Soriano’s focus is applied social research and her interests are race relations, equity and inequality. She plans to conduct research highlighting social and economic issues that disproportionately affect underserved communities and hopes to facilitate future policy change.
Charles Saunders, ECU alumnus, chair of the Harriot College Dean’s Advancement Council and scholarship donor, thanked Hindi, Beaty and Soriano for sharing their experiences.
“I’m always so encouraged when I hear from our students,” Saunders said. “I love the stories, and they give me so much hope for the future.”
Saunders concluded by telling Harriot college friends, alumni and donors to look past the negativity that has surrounded recent events in 2020. He encouraged others to take part in positive events they can control, like continuing to support student scholarships.
“It is something for us all to be so proud of — to know that we’re doing something positive in charting our students’ futures. I hope you all take great pride in that. This is one of the greatest things we do,” he said.
Individuals interested in supporting Harriot College scholarships or other funding possibilities in the college may find a full list of options on the University Advancement website.
View the recorded, virtual event.