Scholarships awarded by staff senate support students
- ECU’s Staff Senate recently awarded scholarships totaling $7,000 to 10 students.
- The Gail Jordan Memorial Scholarship, valued at $500, was awarded to six students. Four students each received $1,000 through the Children of ECU Staff Scholarship.
- The ECU Staff Senate raises funds for the annual scholarships throughout the year by hosting an online auction, partnering with local restaurants and accepting gifts during Pirate Nation Gives and other opportunities.
Shaketa Whitaker supports the health, wellness and academic success of East Carolina University students as a family nurse practitioner in Student Health Services.
“Every day, I have the privilege of caring for students during some of the most important and challenging periods of their lives,” she said. “It is rewarding work that allows me to contribute directly to the mission of ECU.”
Now Whitaker, who is pursuing her Master of Business Administration at ECU, is receiving support in her own academic journey through the Gail Jordan Memorial Scholarship.
Students were presented the Gail Jordan Memorial Scholarship and the Children of ECU Staff Scholarship during a recent ECU Staff Senate meeting. (Contributed photo by Dana Lopez)
ECU’s Staff Senate recently awarded $7,000 in scholarships to 10 students through the Jordan scholarship and the Children of ECU Staff Scholarship.
Arnajhia Fant, Amanda Joyner, Gabriella Morin, Meg Shaver, Jon Tyler Turlington and Whitaker each received $500 as Gail Jordan Memorial Scholarship recipients. The scholarship is awarded to full-time ECU employees who are enrolled in undergraduate or graduate level courses at ECU and who demonstrate academic promise and commitment to making their communities better.
Whitaker wants to expand her leadership, financial and organizational management skills by earning her master’s in the College of Business.
“As healthcare continues to evolve, I recognize the importance of understanding both the clinical and business aspects of healthcare delivery,” she said. “My MBA education is providing me with valuable knowledge that will strengthen my ability to lead, make informed decisions and advocate for efficient, patient-centered healthcare services.”
Whitaker said she is honored and deeply appreciative of the ECU Staff Senate’s investment in her educational and professional journey.
“As a working professional, student and single-income provider, balancing the demands of work, family and graduate education requires significant financial commitment. The Gail Jordan Memorial Scholarship helps ease the financial burden associated with tuition, books and educational expenses, allowing me to focus more fully on my studies and professional development,” she said. “[The staff senate’s] generosity not only provides financial support but also serves as encouragement to continue striving toward my goals. Knowing that others have invested in my future inspires me to work even harder.”
Emma Bullock, Landon Lawson, Kayle Mickey and Emma Rose each received $1,000 scholarships, which provide tuition assistance for children of current ECU staff members.
Lawson of Ayden is a business major, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and graduate of North Lenoir High School. He plans to pursue law school after earning his bachelor’s degree at ECU and said the scholarship will help ease both current and future financial burdens.
“As the child of an ECU employee, I am especially grateful for this opportunity and the door it opens. I view this scholarship as a meaningful investment in my future. I am proud to be a Pirate and look forward to giving back to the ECU community in the years ahead,” Lawson said.
His mother, Jessica Hill, is a medical education course coordinator in the Office of Medical Education at the Brody School of Medicine, where she provides curriculum support to Brody faculty members and first- and second-year medical students.
“I am grateful for the Children of ECU Staff Scholarship and the opportunity it has provided for Landon,” Hill said. “I take great pride in working for East Carolina University and in seeing my son pursue his education here as well. ECU’s commitment to investing in its employees and their families is just one of the many reasons I value being part of this community.”
Recipients were recognized during the staff senate’s May meeting at the East Carolina Heart Institute. Todd Wheless, former scholarship committee member and current secretary of the senate, presented the awards.
Staff senate members raise funds for the annual scholarships throughout the year by hosting an online auction, partnering with local restaurants and accepting gifts during Pirate Nation Gives and other opportunities.
Anthony Bechtel, staff senate treasurer, said maintaining the scholarships as annual resources is a priority for the staff senate.
“From a financial and organizational standpoint, it’s a year-round effort, but the true value is in the support it provides to our colleagues,” he said. “These scholarships show that the staff senate doesn’t just advocate for ECU employees; we tangibly invest in their lives and success every single year.”
The ECU Staff Senate, chaired by LaToya Langford, is comprised of representatives from each division. The staff senate serves as a liaison between the chancellor, administrators, students and faculty; promotes participation in the university community; reviews policies and procedures and offers recommendations on behalf of staff; and encourages belonging and support through community/volunteer service and events.
More Blogs