Society inductees spark a bright future through planned gifts

Published Dec 18, 2025 by

Patricia Earnhardt Tyndall

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What is the outcome and impact of a charitable planned gift in an estate plan? For East Carolina University Bea Chauncey Scholarship recipient Caroline Kuskowski, a planned gift created the pathway to her dream course of study in music therapy and a future as a clinical music therapist.

“Bea Chauncey and the School of Music have gifted me an opportunity I would have never expected, and I’m truly honored to receive this gift,” Kuskowski said. “Because of this gift, I can focus more on classes and on-campus opportunities that will help me in my music therapy journey, and after being here for a semester, I’m confident that I made the right decision by attending ECU.”

Kuskowski, from Chesapeake, Virginia, shared how the gift influenced her college choice at the annual celebration of the Leo W. Jenkins Society on Dec. 10, where 25 donors were honored for their planned gifts and commitment to the institution’s future.

Chauncey retired in 1990 as the most senior faculty member at ECU. In 2010, she made a $500,000 planned gift through her estate to support the School of Music, designating ECU as her primary beneficiary.

By 2020, through the wisdom of Chauncey’s investing, the gift had grown from $500,000 to 10 times her original commitment. Dr. Chris Ulfers, director of the School of Music, said the gift now generates $400,000 annually in scholarships, like the one that influenced Kuskowski to choose ECU.

“That is transformative, and that is the power of planned giving,” Ulfers said. “That is the power of what you all are doing. It’s the power that your money will give to our students, not just in the School of Music, not just in the School of Medicine and not just at East Carolina, but for the entire eastern part of the state.”

Legacies empower growth

Jenkins, the university’s sixth president and first chancellor, is celebrated as a visionary who oversaw exceptional growth during his tenure. Society inductees continue to move Jenkins’ mission forward with their commitments to numerous ECU purposes.

Chancellor Philip Rogers echoed the connections between Jenkins and the inductees of the society that bears his name.

Attendees sit at round tables during the Leo Jenkins Society luncheon as a speaker stands at the podium on a stage in the Main Campus Student Center ballroom.

Members of the Leo Jenkins Society and the campus community attended a luncheon Dec. 10 honoring new inductees.

“He was a leader whose deep pride in our university helped shape the ECU that we love and know today,” Rogers said. “He truly modeled what it means to be a loyal Pirate. And he truly modeled what it means to be a committed Pirate that is all-in on all things East Carolina University that help us continue to advance and grow and transform that legacy now and into the future,” Rogers said. “It’s because of you in this room that ECU continues to transform lives, in the ways that Chancellor Jenkins would be so proud of. It’s because of you that we continue to grow.”

Rogers said the donors of the Leo W. Jenkins Society allow ECU to evolve, lead and modernize to be a contemporary university that is one of the highest-ranked in the country.

“At ECU, we are not shrinking back from the challenging moment that we have before us. We are responding, we are aggressively adapting as a university, and we are innovating as a campus proactively before those challenges reach this campus,” Rogers said. “We’re doing all of that while our mission remains at the core, at the very center of everything we do.”

Rogers said the legacies being created by the members of the society contribute to the life and the work of ECU.

“All investments help accelerate our work, help strengthen student success and fuel the innovation that drives our mission right here at ECU,” Rogers said. “Over the last five years, we’re very proud to have experienced record giving totals in our university history, and we’re already seeing the impact of that generosity.”

Spark of inspiration

Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Development Greg Abeyounis ’06 told society members that their gifts are an inspiration that breathes life into dreams, ideas and opportunities of the university.

“Inspiration alone is not enough. It needs ignition, the spark that turns belief into action. Your planned gifts are that spark, Abeyounis said. “They ignite possibility and set in motion the forces of academic and personal growth that transform the lives and communities. Your generosity makes it possible for students to pursue their education through scholarships that remove barriers and open doors.”

Abeyounis said the commitment made by donors – whose gifts are planned today for tomorrow’s impact – continues that legacy.

“It builds a foundation for student success, for public service and for regional transformation, that comes when knowledge and opportunity meet at the intersection of generosity and vision,” Abeyounis said. “Special things happen here that change the trajectory of our students and their families’ lives every single day.”

New Society Members

Vice Chancellor for Advancement Chris Dyba said gifts from new inductees are focused on advancing the university.

“The gifts you have made to ECU are exemplars of what it takes for our students, our faculty researchers and health care providers to live out the mission of this great institution,” Dyba said. “As members of the Leo W. Jenkins Society, your legacy and your generosity will sustain the value of East Carolina University for generations of Pirates to come. And for that, we are forever grateful.”

Rogers and Abeyounis presented Leo W. Jenkins Society medallions to the 2025 class members in attendance.

Nine inductees were recognized, including:

Melissa Adamson ’02, whose gift supports the students in the School of Communication through the Melissa J. Adamson Endowment.
Kristopher ’09 ’16 and Alyssa ’10 ’21 Arnold, whose gift supports the ECU Foundation University Priority Fund, College of Education Priority Fund, the psychology department and the ECU Educational Foundation (Pirate Club).
Greg ’05 and Katie ’11 Fader, whose gift supports students in the College of Education through the Greg and Katie Fader College of Education Scholarship Endowment.
Thomas Franklin Jr., whose gift supports students in the College of Nursing through the Annie F. Franklin Memorial Scholarship Endowment.
Jon “Brett” Kassir ’86, whose gift supports students earning a hospitality management degree through the Brett Kassir Hospitality Management Scholarship Endowment and student-athletes through the ECU Educational Foundation (Pirate Club).
Amanda Miller ’06 ’07, whose gift supports students in the School of Communication through the Communication Scholarship Pool.
Jessica Nottingham ’06 ’08, whose gift supports students in the School of Communication through the Communication Scholarship Pool.
Edward ’78 and Janie Smith, whose gift supports students in the College of Engineering and Technology through the Edward and Janie Smith Scholarship Endowment and the Ovid Pierce Brinkley-Lane Scholars Award.
John Tayloe, whose gift supports the College of Business through the Fred C. and Marjorie E. Tayloe Entrepreneurship Fund.

Inductees not in attendance:

Gerald ’07 and Barbara Brown, whose gift supports the ECU Educational Foundation (Pirate Club).
Ashley Harzog, whose gift supports the College of Arts & Sciences and the Dr. Jesse R. Peel LGBTQ Center.
Marion “Ditty” Leiner, whose gift supports students in the College of Nursing through the Marion Leiner Military Nurse Scholarship Endowment.
Bryson McAdams, whose gift supports students earning an accounting degree through the Charles McAdams Memorial Accounting Scholarship and students from Lee County through the Lee County Access Scholarship.
William ’76 and Glenda McLean, whose gift supports Access Scholars through the W. Phillip McLean Access Scholarship Endowment.
Felix “Val” Price Jr. ’73 and Phyllis Price, whose gift supports the ECU Educational Foundation (Pirate Club).
David Rose, whose gift supports the ECU Educational Foundation (Pirate Club).
Dr. Adolphus Spain’59, whose gift supports students through the Dr. Adolphus Lee Spain Scholarship Endowment.
Sandra Thurman, whose gift will support students through the Rural Education Institute in the College of Education.
Michael Warren’03, whose gift supports students at Brody School of Medicine through the Dale and Janet Warren Scholarship Endowment.

Previous Jenkins Society inductees made additional gifts during 2025, including: Frances and Lawrence Boyce Jr., Dr. Emily and Paul Bray, Fran ’90 and DR ’75 Bryan Jr., Lee Ann Culmer Carter, Phillip Dixon Sr. ’71, Larry Garland, Parker and William “Kel” Normann ’85, Britt ’86 and Diane Pons, Guy Rogers ’95 ’07, Alice ’73 ’78 and Dr. Michael ’76 ’78 Taylor, Jennifer ’80 and Marshall “Woody” ’79 ’81 Tyner Jr. and Dr. Louis Warren.