College of Education celebrates $1.2M in awarded scholarships
The East Carolina University College of Education celebrated a historic milestone of offering more than $1.2 million in scholarships to 129 students for the 2025-26 academic year.
Students and donors were recognized during the College of Education (COE) Scholarship Recipient and Donor Recognition Ceremony on Sept. 4. Scholarships were presented to undergraduate and graduate students in all fields of study in the college, including 30 four-year programmatic scholarships valued between $26,000 and $40,000 for first-year undergraduate students majoring in teacher education.
Olivia Umphlett, center, receives a certificate from Dr. Chris Buddo, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs (left), and Dr. André Green, College of Education dean.
“Attracting the best students and ensuring access to an East Carolina University education rank among our highest priorities at ECU — and scholarships help us accomplish both objectives,” said Christopher Dyba, vice chancellor for university advancement. “For many of our students, the importance of scholarships and financial aid cannot be overstated.”
In addition to the awards offered by the college, 43 students were recognized for receiving the North Carolina Teaching Fellows award, a state service award for students committed to teaching elementary education, special education or STEM fields in a North Carolina public school upon graduation.
“For many years now, the College of Education has produced more educators than any other university in North Carolina,” said Dr. André Green, COE dean. “Nonetheless, we want it noted that ECU is not only concerned with producing the most educators; we are also deeply committed to producing the highest-quality educators. In addition, the college is committed to preparing talented education professionals in many fields, including counseling, adult education, educational leadership and library science, to name a few.”
Senior elementary education major Olivia Umphlett shared her experience as the student keynote speaker. Umphlett is a member of the Education Living-Learning Community, Pat and Lynn Lane Scholar, a North Carolina Teaching Fellow and a Centennial Fellow in the ECU Honors College.
“One thing I always tell people is that if you attend ECU, especially in the College of Education, you will never feel alone,” she said. “The support system here is truly unmatched.”
Umphlett said that the out-of-the-classroom experiences provided to her by the college have had a formative role in shaping the teacher she plans to become. One of these experiences was visiting the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia where future and current educators can immerse themselves in two days at the school.
“I left with practical tools I could use right away, along with a renewed sense of passion and confidence,” Umphlett said. “Being surrounded by passionate educators reminded me why I chose this profession: teaching isn’t just about delivering content — it’s about building connections and creating a classroom where kids thrive.”
After the ceremony, students and their families had a chance to meet the college’s donors and thank them personally for their commitment to the college.
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