State’s endowment match a catalyst for donor support

Chancellor’s Scholars initiative provides four annual $2,500 scholarships for 75 incoming students each year

A $5 million commitment by the state of North Carolina will bolster the Chancellor’s Scholars initiative at East Carolina University by matching gifts that create fully funded scholarship endowments.

The program is helping to shape the future of ECU by creating and providing four annual $2,500 scholarships for 75 incoming students each year.

Chancellor’s Scholars students Nick Tate, Alyssa Mayberry and Miquel Domínguez walk together on campus.

The allocation from the North Carolina General Assembly will be used to match each gift of $31,250, or multiples thereof, to create fully funded Chancellor’s Scholars endowments. Additionally, the ECU Foundation has partnered with the state to support the creation of 300 Chancellor’s Scholarships. The university’s goal is to have all 300 endowed by June 2028.

Chancellor Philip Rogers described the initiative as ECU’s moment to build a mission-aligned model that will strengthen the university and meaningfully support the students the university serves.

“The Chancellor’s Scholars Initiative reflects a commitment not only to access, but to excellence. It signals that we are willing to invest in students in ways that set them up for success — academically, professionally and personally,” Rogers said. “It positions ECU for long-term strength and relevance in an increasingly competitive landscape.”

Student Miquel Domínguez said earning a Chancellor’s Scholarship was a deciding factor in his decision to attend ECU. A sophomore from Whiteville, Dominquez applied and was accepted to five schools and “started eliminating one by one depending on price and location.” An email telling him he had been selected as a Chancellor’s Scholar was the final piece of the puzzle.

“I am here for a purpose,” Dominquez said. “Someone invested in me because they see potential in me. What the scholarship has done is really motivated me to [keep] going.”

Rogers said the state’s investment and the continued support of the ECU Foundation will enable the university to match Chancellor’s Scholars endowment gifts and pledges.

“We will meet the moment because of this strategic support,” Rogers said. “This initiative is about partnerships and bringing people together around a shared purpose.”

More than $1.9 million has been raised so far for the Chancellor’s Scholars Initiative from a combination of endowed and annually funded scholarships. The ECU Foundation provided initial matching funds for scholarship endowments, while the university worked to secure state support.

Early Funders

The match was a catalyst for donors who wanted to support the scholarship program.

Raj Kannan ’90, who serves on the ECU Foundation board of directors, said the match allowed his decision to contribute to have twice the impact and accelerated the creation of a permanent scholarship that will benefit students for generations.

“Talent is universally distributed; opportunity is not,” Kannan said. “Establishing a Chancellor’s Scholarship is my way of helping ensure that talented students, regardless of their circumstances, have the same opportunity to realize their potential.”

Kannan serves as CEO of Alveus Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on innovative therapies for obesity and metabolic diseases. He earned his Master of Business Administration at ECU after completing his Bachelor of Science in chemistry at the University of Madras, India.

“For me, an education does not just transform lives. It changes family trees. It certainly changed mine,” Kannan said. “Education changed the trajectory of my life. ECU gave me opportunities that would have been difficult to imagine growing up in India at that time.”

Chris ’87 ’14 and Marilyn ’87 Tomasic were inspired by the opportunity to have their gift matched and created the Chris and Marilyn Tomasic Chancellor’s Scholar Endowment in March.

“The matching gift opportunity made it possible for us to establish an endowed scholarship much earlier than we otherwise would have,” Chris Tomasic said. “We recognized this as a unique opportunity to maximize the impact of our contribution while supporting both ECU and the Chancellor’s vision for student success. It was an opportunity we simply could not pass up.”

He has served on the ECU Alumni Association board of directors for the past five years and is completing his final year of service. The couple thought the idea of establishing a Chancellor’s Scholarship was a meaningful way to give back to an institution that played a significant role in shaping their lives.

“We have designated our scholarship to support students pursuing degrees in the College of Education. As a retired principal and director in K–12 public education, I have witnessed firsthand the growing need for highly qualified teachers,” Chris Tomasic said. “Marilyn and I hope our scholarship will help strengthen the pipeline of future educators and encourage talented students to pursue careers in teaching, ultimately benefiting schools and communities across North Carolina.”

For Dominquez and other Chancellor’s Scholars, the initiative is creating opportunities for them to succeed at ECU.

“I am here because of [the donors’] generosity,” he said. “So, it means a lot. You’re changing lives without even realizing it.”

Dominquez is studying criminal justice and criminology with a double major in Hispanic studies. He hopes to attend law school after ECU. He is the vice president of the first-generation student organization on campus.

“I am passionate about being a voice for other students here,” he said. “I do want to come back to East Carolina [as an alumnus] and talk about my experience here for other first gens. I want to be a beacon of hope and a guide for incoming students here at East Carolina”

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