Brinkley-Lane Scholar: Addison Woods
Addison Woods is ready to push herself out of her comfort zone.
The 18-year-old from Stokesdale has a personal goal for herself during her first year at East Carolina University as a Brinkley-Lane Scholar: “Whether that’s taking up a new hobby, joining a new organization or meeting new people, I want to challenge myself to say ‘yes’ more.”
Woods, the daughter of Kimberly and Chad Woods, was selected as one of 21 Brinkley-Lane Scholars, the most prestigious undergraduate award program offered at ECU. The four-year merit scholarship recognizes outstanding academic performance, commitment to community engagement and strong leadership skills. Both in-state and out-of-state recipients receive a fully funded education, covering the cost of tuition, fees, room and board, and high impact experiences. Included in the scholarship is the ability to explore the world and pursue additional educational opportunities with a $5,000 study abroad stipend and a $3,000 enrichment scholarship. Scholars benefit from access to an array of leadership opportunities, research with award-winning faculty and a robust alumni network.
“To me, being a Brinkley-Lane Scholar means committing myself to lead within the ECU community and beyond,” she said. “It represents a dedication to giving my all to academics while continually pushing myself to grow and deepen my learning each day. Above all, it’s an opportunity to serve those around me and leave a lasting impact on the world.”
While Woods was a little anxious about leaving her hometown of approximately 6,000 people for Greenville and its population of just under 100,000 residents, the strong sense of community at ECU made her feel right at home.
“Seeing the wide range of involvement among current scholars showed me how accessible and encouraged those opportunities are, and it made me excited for what I can be a part of in the future,” she said.
One of those opportunities she will participate in will be a study abroad to ECU’s Tuscany campus in Certaldo, Italy, a decision she made after hearing the wonderful experiences that older students had there.
In addition to her Honors College community, Woods plans to get involved in Greek life and ECU’s Special Olympics Club. This will continue work she began at Dalton L. McMichael High School as president and founder of Unified Champion Schools, an organization centered on advocacy, awareness and inclusion for students with disabilities.
“I believe there is so much to learn from others and the best way to do that is by putting myself out there, building connections and taking advantage of all opportunities,” she said.
Woods intends to major in speech and hearing sciences to help her achieve her future goal of becoming a pediatric speech-language pathologist in an elementary school.
“I am passionate about working with children and supporting their communication development,” she said.
Before she arrives on campus, Woods is focused on personal growth and preparing for college this summer, including spending plenty of quality time with friends and family.
“I plan to spend time traveling, staying active and being intentional with my time, truly being where my feet are, and appreciating each moment,” she said.
“I believe there is so much to learn from others and the best way to do that is by putting myself out there, building connections and taking advantage of all opportunities.”
High school: Dalton L. McMichael High School
Intended major: Speech and hearing sciences
Current City: Stokesdale