Crew of alumni and friends lead day of giving promotion

Sarah Kautz stands next to the Sir Vire statue at ECU. Kautz is a social media crewmate for this year’s Pirate Nation Gives.

When Sarah Kautz ’20 ’24 was faced with the question of where to attend college, East Carolina University was there with the answer. It was the start of a transformative learning experience for the two-time alumna.

“Ten years later, I remain a loyal and bold Pirate and wouldn’t have it any other way,” Kautz said.

Kautz is sharing her purple and gold spirit this year as a Pirate Nation Gives (PNG) crewmate. She and more than 100 ECU alumni and friends are leading the way as social media ambassadors for the 10th annual day of giving.

Crewmates is a new initiative celebrating PNG’s decade of impact at ECU. Each crewmate will use their social circles to encourage support of ECU.

“I am honored to serve as a crewmate because it is one way to give back to a university and its programs that gave so much to me,” Kautz said. “The foundation of much of my personal and professional experiences are rooted in ECU, and I’m excited to support the university’s continued efforts at expanding opportunities for all Pirates.”

Kautz earned a Bachelor of Science in public health and a master’s degree in physician assistant studies. She is supporting ECU’s Honors College program, in recognition of the benefits and initiatives that “truly made the greatest impact on my time at ECU.”

“I hope I will continue to inspire my fellow Pirates to give back to programs and funds that were given to them,” Kautz said. “Recognizing that Pirates are stronger together, and we have the opportunity to pay back and pay it forward to the next generation of Pirates.”

Dr. Bhibha Das plans to support the Honors College and kinesiology during Pirate Nation Gives.

The effort also has sparked participation from boards and councils like the ECU Foundation, where Paul Adkison ’92 is leading the PNG charge as chair of the development and donor relations committee.

Crewmates represent programs across all areas of the university. Being part of the crew isn’t only for alumni; faculty and staff are getting in on the fun, too.

Dr. Bhibha M. Das, a kinesiology professor, hopes that her participation as a crewmate will bring more support for scholarships, research and programs. As an honors faculty fellow, Das hopes specifically to gain support for the Honors College Priority Fund and the Kinesiology Fund for Excellence.

“Donations, no matter how big or small, can help another student and their family,” she said. “I know firsthand that an educational opportunity doesn’t just impact that student but generations to come.”

She’s excited to share the opportunities that PNG creates for students in all fields of study.

“One of the best things about ECU as a faculty member is the deep investment we have in student success here,” Das said. “Students, if they choose to, can engage in a variety of activities to develop their professional toolbox from student organizations to research opportunities. It’s incredibly rewarding to see students gain not just skills but confidence in themselves.”

The excitement generated on campus during PNG influenced Danielle Dietz to serve as a crewmate.

Danielle Dietz sits at her computer in the College of Education, ready to serve as a Pirate Nation Gives crewmate.

“Having been at ECU for a few years now, I have seen the buzz around PNG. Being a crewmate sounded like a great way to personally get involved in the university-wide initiative and to raise awareness for the programs on campus I personally am involved with,” Dietz said. “This year marks a decade of support through PNG. It’s great to be part of something that has made such a significant impact on programs that directly affect our students.”

As a faculty member in the College of Education, Dietz would love to impact the special education programs ECU offers to students, both traditionally and alternatively.

“We have a strong sense of community for our traditional undergraduate students as well as exceptional support for our Partnership Teach and residency pathway students,”she said. “I am most excited for the recently added undergraduate and graduate certificates our alternative licensure students can pursue.”

Her passion project for PNG is ECU’s neurodiversity alliance club. Dietz is the club advisor. It is a relatively new club on campus that not only supports neurodiverse ECU students but also partners with Eppes Middle School. ECU students mentor neurodiverse middle school students around topics such as advocacy, self-determination and leadership.

“I would love to raise awareness for the neurodiverse community at ECU as well as highlight the wonderful programs and pathways we have for folks that want to become teachers,” she said.

More Blogs