HORIZON AWARDS

East Carolina University Chancellor Cecil P. Staton honored students and employees for their commitment to service during the Chancellor’s Horizon Awards for Service ceremony on March 28.

“The measure of our success is the dedication of our faculty and staff as well as the accomplishments of our students and their impact upon the world. The honorees tonight represent the very best of our university. They are talented and engaged and committed to transforming our community, North Carolina and the world,” Staton said.

The awards give the university community an opportunity to nominate peers who they see making a difference each day.

“Most of this work is behind closed doors and not seen by many,” said Provost Ron Mitchelson. “That’s why I think it’s so important we shine a light on the activities and the people who do it.”

Staton presented the James R. Talton Jr. Leadership Award, which recognizes a leader who serves others in their work through collaboration, empathy, trust and the ethical use of authority. This year, there were 17 nominees and the award was presented to Dr. Todd Fraley, associate dean of the Honors College and director of EC Scholars.

“Even with 80 diverse EC Scholars, Dr. Fraley knows each scholar individually – their career aspirations, university involvements and even their favorite sports teams,” Staton said.

The Office for Equity and Diversity recognized faculty, staff and students in the areas of diversity, inclusion and leadership at the event. LaKesha Alston-Forbes, associate provost for equity and diversity, said the awards complement the development of a university community that is culturally diverse and reflective of inclusive excellence.

Diversity and Inclusion awards were presented in four categories: faculty, staff, student and group.

Dr. Krista McCoy, assistant professor in the Department of Biology, was the faculty recipient nominated for her work with women and other minorities in science. She is the advisor for ECU’s chapter of Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and has secured funding to bring renowned minority and women scientists to the university.

The staff honoree was Aleshia Hunt, the financial advisor for the Student Government Association. Alston-Forbes said Hunt is a champion for diversity on and off campus and advocates for underrepresented and underserved communities through mentoring. She advises Sigma Omicron Epsilon, a national Native American sorority which she helped start at ECU. She is also the founding organizer of ECU’s annual Pow Wow.

Dr. Dorothea Mack, ECU student and associate director of Greek Life, also received the Diversity and Inclusion Award in the student category. She earned a doctorate in education leadership and her dissertation focused on multicultural competencies of student affairs professionals who advise students of color. She was instrumental in creating the National Pan-Hellenic Council Garden at ECU.

The undergraduate program in the Department of Chemistry was recognized for its commitment to recruit and retain undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds. The department created a Living Learning Community and provides funding for student scholarships to remove financial barriers for minority and first-generation students.

During the ceremony, members of the faculty and staff senates presented the Centennial Awards for Excellence in ambition, leadership, service and spirit. The following recipients were nominated by their peers and selected by a committee:

Centennial Awards for Excellence, Ambition

• Dr. Nicole Caswell, University Writing Center
• Gina Shoemaker, Facilities Engineering and Architectural Services
• Gretchen Brockmann, Housing Operations

Centennial Awards for Excellence, Leadership

• Dr. Michael Harris, Department of Management and Miller School of Entrepreneurship
• Dean Smith, Student Center Operations
• Dr. Beverly King, Institutional Planning, Assessment and Research

Centennial Awards for Excellence, Service

• Dr. Holly Mathews, Department of Anthropology
• Andrew Giordano, Grounds Main East
• Amanda Fleming, Office of the Registrar

Centennial Awards for Excellence, Spirit

• Dr. Lida Cope, Department of English
• Gene Stano, Grounds Main West
• Hurricane Florence Recovery Team

ECU’s Servire Society inducted 70 faculty and staff and 20 students who volunteered a minimum of 100 hours annually in public service.

“We saw amazing stories of commitment to the community – whether it was local activities through Girl Scouts or the Crossroads Community Shelter or the Humane Society – or international efforts working with children with special needs in Ecuador to providing medical assistance in Haiti. Our serving Pirates are truly everywhere,” said Dr. Dennis McCunney, director of the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement at ECU.

Students who completed the Public Service Fellows Internship Program, funded by the State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation, were honored for their service in rural communities across North Carolina. The internships are part of ECU’s Public Service Fellows program.

“Now you know what a great university looks like,” Mitchelson said. “I am so proud to be a part of this community.”

The following retired ECU employees received staff emeritus status during the awards ceremony:

• Ellen Deters, retired director of student services, College of Health and Human Performance
• Deborah Hall, retired Health Sciences Human Resources
• Janet Tysinger, retired faculty employment manager, Health Sciences Human Resources
• Sherrilyn Johnson, retired director of institutional trust funds and foundations, Financial Services
• Carolyn Erwin, retired physician medical administrator, Division of Health Sciences
• Anita Coburn, retired ECU BSOM comparative medicine, Division of Health Sciences
• Karl Faser, retired IT director, College of Nursing
• Wanda Wynne, retired assistant vice chancellor for administration and finance, Division of Research, Economic Development and Engagement