Access Scholarships help students thrive

Celebrating scholarships, like the Access Scholars program, is a fall tradition at East Carolina University. Each event provides an opportunity for students and donors to connect and build relationships, as well as a chance for recipients and the university community to express gratitude to those who support access to an ECU education by funding scholarships.

Recipients of the East Carolina University’s Access Scholarship stand inside the Main Campus Student Center. (Photo by George Crocker)

Chancellor Philip Rogers said the annual Access Scholars luncheon, held Sept. 26, is a reminder of what is special about ECU — relentless commitment to opportunity, transformation and student success.

“Nothing compares to celebrating student affordability and student success,” he said. “More than dollars, these scholarships communicate a message: you belong here, we believe in you, and Pirate Nation will walk alongside you to help achieve your dreams.”

Rogers recognized the collective influence of donors, mentors and community support represented at the luncheon.

“You, as donors and mentors, invest in the next generation of leaders — nurses in our hospitals, engineers designing solutions for our future, educators in our schools and experts in our communities,” Rogers said. “You help us fulfill our mission of student success and regional impact.”

ECU has 120 Access Scholars this academic year, including 38 new recipients. Through the scholarship program, students are provided a $5,000 renewable annual scholarship to assist with tuition, fees and books.

Access Scholars are a prime example of student success at ECU. They maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and complete at least 20 hours of community service annually. Since the program began in 2006, it has provided scholarships to 416 students and awarded $8.3 million to ECU students.

Scholarship Success

Jackson Bostic ’24 ’25 was destined to be a Pirate. His parents are ECU graduates and he grew up visiting campus. He said choosing to attend ECU was one of the easiest decisions he has made. The Access program and other scholarships cemented his decision and helped make his student experience a success.

Bostick earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. He completed his undergraduate degree in three years and was selected for the second cohort of the Immersive Master’s of Business Administration program (IMBA).

The ECU network played a pivotal role in Bostick’s career when he was introduced to the finance team at Thermo Fisher Scientific during a tour as part of the IMBA program. The introduction led to a job offer. Bostick now serves as a financial analyst at that company.

Bostick shared his unique understanding of scholarships and the difference they make in a student’s life. Scholarships gave him the ability to manage the cost of attending college without the overwhelming stress that often comes from paying for it.

“My mom is a first-generation college graduate, and she had just finished paying off her own student loans in March before I started at ECU that fall, so I understood firsthand the burden that paying for college can create,” he said. “I was fortunate enough to graduate and start my career without any student debt, a gift I will always be grateful for.”

Bostick said the value of the Access Scholarship is greater than what is on paper. Scholarships provide students “the gift of time: less time spent worrying about making ends meet and more time focusing on their education and their future.”

“Personally, without this scholarship, I would have had to work more hours, which would have meant less time for studying, engaging in extracurriculars or pursuing the kinds of opportunities that helped shape my career,” he said.

Bostick had a message for the 120 current scholars. He told students it is their responsibility to make the most of their scholarship. He encouraged them to rely on the community of professors, program directors, alumni and donors to find support.

“A scholarship is an investment in you, and it’s up to you to determine the return on that investment and how it will shape your future,” he said. “Take advantage of the networking and leadership opportunities provided through this scholarship program. Fully immerse yourself in your education at ECU.”

Helping Students Thrive

During the luncheon, donors and ECU’s volunteer leaders had an opportunity to meet and interact with students.

Corin Lindsay ’08 ’10, a new member of the ECU Foundation board, said a highlight of the luncheon for him was hearing about the array of passions and career paths students are pursuing.

“I was impressed by how vital the scholarship is for students who are academically at the top of their game and by how invested the community is in their success,” Lindsay said. “It’s a reminder that it’s not just enough to help students get to ECU, it’s about helping them thrive once they’re here.”

Engaging with students who are learning to become accountants, marketing professionals and entrepreneurs was a powerful reminder of the many futures the Access program helps make possible.

“Access opens doors that might otherwise remain closed and reveals opportunities students may never have imagined, transforming the course of their lives,” he said. “It shows them they are surrounded by a community that believes so deeply in their potential that it invests in their future.”

Current Access students and alumni thanked donors to the Access program for their commitment to creating affordable pathways to learning and supporting the success of Access Scholars.

Through a video message, ECU senior Makayla Cash said that receiving an Access Scholarship was life-changing.

“Knowing that I will graduate with less debt due to receiving my Access Scholarship is incredible. It means a lot to me knowing that I have a lot of people behind me,” Cash said. “It’s not just about the money, but also having that family that I can always go to when I need someone. That kind of support made all the difference.”

Bostick told donors their generosity does far more than provide financial assistance — it creates opportunities, eases burdens and changes lives.

“I can’t speak for everyone, but I know without a doubt that I would not be where I am today without the Access Scholarship,” Bostick said. “The ripple effect of your generosity is greater than you may ever realize, and I hope you know how deeply it is appreciated.”

More Blogs