ECU names 2026 Robert H. Wright Alumni Leadership Award recipients

Lauded for their commitment to service, bold leadership and unwavering determination, five East Carolina University students have been honored as the 2026 recipients of the Robert H. Wright Leadership Award by the ECU Alumni Association.

Kooper Ashmore, Katie Council, Michael Fuqua, Whitley McCoy and Majoie Ngandi have each been recognized as models of Servire and honored for the impact they have made at ECU. The award is one of the most prestigious given to undergraduate seniors. It is named for Wright, the first president of East Carolina Teachers Training School and East Carolina Teachers College.

The 2026 recipients of the Robert H. Wright Leadership Award, front row from left, Katie Council and Whitley McCoy, and back row from left, Majoie Ngandi, Kooper Ashmore, and Michael Cole Fuqua, were honored by the ECU Alumni Association. (Photo by Dan Hunt)

The recipients honor his legacy of using leadership to influence positive change through their academic achievement, integrity and service. The students will be recognized at ECU’s spring commencement ceremony on Friday.

“These exceptional students are leaders who embody everything we hold dear at ECU and uphold the legacy of our university’s first president. ECU has been made better by their presence, leadership and service,” said Amanda Murer, associate vice chancellor for alumni relations. “We are honored to have them as representatives of the university and look forward to seeing how they will continue to lead and make an impact as alumni.”

Kooper Ashmore

Ashmore, an Honors College student from Suffield, Connecticut, will graduate from the College of Business with a Bachelor of Science in risk management and insurance.

Since 2022, Ashmore has served Gamma Iota Sigma, the risk management and insurance professional fraternity, as director of social media, vice president and president. During his time at ECU, Ashmore has served on the College of Business dean’s student leadership board, the Copeland Fellowship, Beta Gamma Sigma and Pi Kappa Alpha collegiate fraternity. Notably, he has assisted in expanding the risk management and insurance program at ECU by doubling its membership through recruitment and retention efforts.

Brenda Wells, department chair for the Department of Finance and Insurance and Ashmore’s nominator, said Ashmore exhibits the highest level of commitment to service, scholarship and leadership through his academic and extracurricular involvement.

“He has demonstrated thoughtful judgment, ethical awareness and a clear understanding that effective leadership must be inclusive, reflective and service-oriented,” Wells stated. “He represents ECU with professionalism and maturity well beyond his years.”

Ashmore credits his individual success to the networking and connection-building opportunities he has gained outside of the classroom through traveling, internships and speaking engagements. Ashmore said it is the people in Pirate Nation who show up every day who have shaped his experience.

“What makes me most proud to be a Pirate is the grit that comes with it, as well as the people behind the scenes. There’s a real sense here that everyone wants to see you succeed, and that shows up in a lot of ways,” he said.

After graduation, Ashmore is pursuing a career in the excess and surplus lines insurance industry as an associate broker.

Katie Council

Council’s commitment to serve others is driven by a determination to do what is right in any role she takes on. Through her leadership, the Brinkley-Lane Scholar is leaving ECU’s student body and the entire campus a better place.

Council, from Washington, will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in accounting. She has been named an Outstanding Senior for the accounting department and inducted into Beta Alpha Psi and Beta Gamma Sigma, honor societies for financial information students and business programs.

As student body vice president, she spearheaded efforts, including SGA Sips and Solutions, to encourage dialogue between key campus leaders and students, and initiatives such as RecRe Boxes for discreet distribution of health items, the Food for Fines program and Swipe Out Hunger.

In nominating her, Linda Quick, senior associate dean and associate professor of accounting in the College of Business, said Council’s journey and accomplishments at ECU illustrate her capacity to navigate and excel within a multifaceted organization, and that she embodies an insatiable desire for growth and self-improvement.

“I can unequivocally affirm that Katie stands out among her peers as one of the most exceptional leaders I have encountered,” Quick said. “It is this relentless pursuit of excellence and her commitment to serve others that distinguishes her from her contemporaries.”

Council said the unwavering support that the people at ECU show one another makes her most proud to be a Pirate.

“Being part of this community means knowing that no matter what I am pursuing, I have people in my corner who genuinely want to see me succeed,” Council said. “That sense of connection and encouragement is something that truly sets this university apart.”

Council said she has witnessed how empowering others creates success beyond what one person can achieve alone.

“One of the most important lessons I will carry with me from ECU is that leadership is never about the individual, but about the people around you. I have learned that you are only as strong as your team, and that investing in others, supporting them, and helping them grow is what truly defines a leader,” she said.

Council plans to earn her Master of Science in accounting and become a certified public accountant.

Michael Fuqua

Michael Fuqua, from Jacksonville, is recognized for his exceptional leadership, academic performance and sustained commitment to service as a member of ECU’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. He will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in physics and minors in mathematics and aerospace studies.

In nominating him, Alejandro Piñedo, an aerospace studies instructor, detailed an immense list of accomplishments Fuqua has completed since transferring to ECU three years ago.

Fuqua served as deputy wing commander during the spring semester after faculty selected him for the prestigious cadet leadership position. He also served as project lead for the spring 2025 ECU AFROTC commissioning ceremony, ensuring the successful commissioning of 13 second lieutenants into the U.S. Air Force.

Fuqua has been an active member of the Arnold Air Society, a national AFROTC-affiliated organization focused on service and professional development. He successfully secured a competitive bid — over 11 universities — to host the Arnold Air Society Regional Conclave at ECU, bringing regional recognition and engagement to campus.

“Through his sustained leadership, academic excellence and commitment to service, Michael has brought great credit upon himself, Air Force ROTC and East Carolina University, and he exemplifies the character, professionalism and leadership this award is intended to recognize,” Peñedo said.

Fuqua said he has benefited and thrived from the opportunities and challenging roles afforded him at ECU.

“ECU has turned me into a leader, scuba diver, pilot, parachutist and a student for life,” he said. “I often think about the idea that ‘luck is when opportunity meets preparation,’ and I have experienced that firsthand at ECU.”

Fuqua said he will carry the message of Servire with him as he leaves ECU and continues to serve in the military.

“During my time here, I have learned that leadership does not simply mean being in charge of people but rather being in a position to serve a team in accomplishing a mission,” Fuqua said.

After graduation, Fuqua will be commissioned in the Air Force as a pilot trainee and attend pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas.

Whitley McCoy

First-year students in the Honors College will benefit from Whitley McCoy’s service and leadership for years to come.

The College of Business marketing major from Princeton researched, designed and implemented a mentorship program within the Honors College that connects incoming students with upperclassmen mentors.

In support of McCoy’s nomination, Margaret Turner, director of recruiting and admissions for the Honors College, said, “Whitley exemplifies the spirit of a Wright Award winner through her leadership, innovation and unwavering commitment to helping others find their place at ECU.”

Dana Newell, a College of Business teaching instructor, said McCoy’s outstanding academic achievement, meaningful service and demonstrated leadership make her a standard bearer of Pirate excellence. What makes her truly exceptional, Newell said, is her genuine care for others.

“She represents the very best of what ECU develops in its students, and I cannot imagine a more deserving recipient of this recognition,” Newell said. “Whitley doesn’t just participate in opportunities — she architects them. She doesn’t just offer support to her community — she writes the playbook that allows others to contribute more effectively.”

She has maintained a seven-year commitment with Special Olympics, supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. Newell said McCoy’s efforts to coordinate military outreach and volunteer with the Toolbox Leadership Academy reflect her understanding that genuine influence means showing up for communities that need it most.

McCoy said she is proud of the strong sense of community she has found and fostered at ECU.

“ECU has always felt like a place where people want to see you grow,” she said. “There is a shared pride in perseverance and Pirate grit that defines Pirate Nation, and I am proud to be part of a university that values both achievement and character.”

One of the biggest lessons she will carry with her from ECU is the importance of stepping outside of her comfort zone.

“Many of my most rewarding experiences at ECU came from taking risks, whether that meant pursuing leadership roles, engaging in new opportunities or challenging myself academically,” she said. “That mindset has shaped me as a leader and will continue to motivate me.”

McCoy plans to continue her education at ECU, pursuing the Immersive Master of Business Administration (IMBA) program.

Majoie Mendouga Ngandi

Ngandi, an Honors College international student from Cameroon, will graduate from the College of Engineering and Technology with a Bachelor of Science in software engineering with a concentration in data science.

During his time at ECU, Ngandi led and pioneered a data science team on a National Science Foundation-funded project analyzing long-term air quality trends in North Carolina. He has contributed to the university through creating the Data Friday Initiative, a data science collaboration platform, serving with the ECU International Students Association and developing three individualized service applications with fellow students that promote branding, international studies and connectivity on a large scale.

David Hart, an assistant professor of computer science in the College of Engineering and Technology, nominated Ngandi and said he has an innate desire to help evoke positive change within his community through his own personal talents and experiences.

“What sets Majoie apart is the positive purpose and focus of his accomplishments,” Hart says.

“Many of them were self-driven projects to help international students, influence change in Africa and provide information to the local community.”

Ngandi’s experience as an international student has shaped his academic career, and he credits ECU with providing him with the environment to turn ambition into impact.

“I have been surrounded by people who genuinely invest in your growth and push you to go further.” Ngandi said. “Being a part of a community that not only welcomes you but equips you to lead is something I carry with pride.”

After graduation, Ngandi plans to develop technologies and data-driven solutions that positively impact communities worldwide.

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