ECU College of Business celebrates record-breaking financial support
Almost 160 College of Business (COB) students, faculty and donors celebrated a record-breaking $435,000 in scholarships at the college’s annual scholarship ceremony Sept. 27.
To kickstart the event, Interim COB Dean Mike Harris recognized another record-breaking number for the 2023-2024 — $675,000 in total financial support for COB students who received scholarships and other funding, which includes Thomas D. Arthur Graduate School of Business support.
“I look at those numbers as investments,” said Harris. “I wanted to celebrate that amount with all who attended and invested in the future of the COB and the students it serves.”
ECU College of Business alumnus Sanford Bailey ’64 gives remarks to attendees during the college’s annual scholarship ceremony on Sept. 27. (Photos by Michael Rudd)
Sanford Bailey received his Bachelor of Science in business administration in accounting in 1964. Since graduating, he’s been a certified public accountant and entrepreneur whose past companies ranged from accounting firms to investment banking to commercial and residential real estate development. He has a long history of investing in the COB. Over the years, he’s given back in various ways, including scholarship support and providing travel opportunities.
“I think travel opens doors to many things,” said Bailey, who provided remarks during the ceremony. “It broadens your horizons.”
The scholarship ceremony allowed Bailey to meet with students, speak with them and see firsthand how successful his gifts have been over the years. The ceremony also gave him another opportunity to share some advice resulting from his more than 60 years of entrepreneurship.
“Be a leader in all you do,” said Bailey. “Be out front and meet people. Be visible and be around successful people.”
Being Successful
Lauren Humann is a junior entrepreneurship major and scholarship recipient from Rockingham and spoke of her experience. Humann is a Brinkley-Lane scholar and Copeland Fellow, and a recipient of the Bob and Jenny Rippy Miller School of Entrepreneurship Fellowship.
Humann’s activities while at ECU check all the boxes that Bailey referenced during his remarks. As a Brinkley-Lane scholar, her study abroad included a trip to Germany. She participated in a summer internship program with Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. With the help of current and what she hopes are future scholarships, she plans to continue her study abroad travels to Australia.
Junior entrepreneurship student Lauren Humann listens to Sanford Bailey.
From everything she’s accomplished while at ECU, Humann appreciates all she’s received. Being from a small town, she admits to having limited resources while growing up and understands how the scholarships have benefited her.
“Being able to come here and not have to worry about how I’m going to pay for things has allowed me to spend so much time shadowing different job possibilities and doing internships without worrying about how I’m going to be able to fund my housing or my books or my tuition,” said Humann.
As part of her remarks, Humann emphasized how much scholarship support means for students.
“It’s the opportunities,” said Humann. “I wouldn’t be able to look at them without their (donors) support.”
Last year, Humann sat in the scholarship ceremony audience and saw her best friend, Jordan Anderson, provide remarks and Humann thought to herself, “I wanted to do that.”
This year, she accomplished her wish thanks to Bailey and 130 other COB donors who saw opportunities to invest in someone’s future.
“When you invest in students, you get the greatest return on investment,” says Harris.