Brinkley-Lane Scholar: Whitney Roberts
It was a memorable lunch during Whitney Roberts’ guided tour at East Carolina University that helped clinch her decision to become a Pirate.
One of the tour guides asked Roberts to eat lunch together, and then they were joined by other ECU students. There was a theater major, which grabbed Roberts’ attention thanks to her theater background, and a biology major and a psychology major.
“We really felt welcomed,” said Roberts, a Brinkley-Lane Scholar in the 2030 cohort who plans to study public health. “We ate and we talked for like an hour and 30 minutes. I think that’s when I knew this feels like a community, which is something I was really looking for in a college.”
Housed in the Honors College, the Brinkley-Lane Scholars is 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.
“I am going to give my all in everything that I do because I think this is such a big opportunity,” said Roberts, 17, a Benson native who excelled at Longleaf School of the Arts as a mentor, actor, choreographer and dancer. “I want to take what I have been provided and grow, continuing to give back in the same way that Brinkley-Lane has given me this opportunity.”
Volunteerism has long been a focal point for Roberts. This has included at Marbles Kids Museum, Women’s Center in Raleigh and in roles with the Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal Pines since 2013.
Roberts would like to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. She also hopes her public health studies lead her to medical school and eventually into the dermatology profession.
“When I met with public health people at ECU, it showed they are a lot like me,” she said. “I like to talk to people and socialize and be in the community. That is something I liked about the public health field, and specifically about public health at ECU. Giving back to the community is really important to me, so I think public health gives me that range and broader aspect.”
She also plans to seek options in Hispanic studies and in the School of Theatre and Dance.
“What I love about theater is every time you are in a new production, you get to step into a new role and a new person’s life,” Roberts said. “You are a completely different person when you are on stage. You go through that whole character’s journey and that whole character’s emotions. I’m thinking at ECU, a theater club or group or maybe I could do a little bit of the technical theater side, so I can also focus on my studies.”
“I like to talk to people and socialize and be in the community. That is something I liked about the public health field, and specifically about public health at ECU.”
High school: Longleaf School of the Arts
Intended major: Public health
Current City: Benson