Breanna Sapp
Breanna Sapp applied for the EC Scholars program, thinking that being accepted would be a long shot.
The 17-year-old from Jacksonville saw she was eligible for the program and had heard great things about the Honors College from former classmates who currently attend East Carolina University. Once she received her acceptance, her college decision was made.
“They honestly gave me probably the greatest opportunity I’ve gotten ever in my entire life — not only money-wise, but the opportunities that they can provide for me academically,” she said.
Education is important to Sapp and is one of the things that drew her to the EC Scholars program at ECU.
“Being an EC Scholar means being a lifelong learner,” she said. “It definitely shows the importance of education, academics and having a connection to the world around you.”
EC 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. Recipients receive an Honors College scholarship and a stipend for study abroad for a total value of nearly $64,000.
Sapp intends to double major in international studies and English, which will help her pursue a career in photojournalism. While at ECU, she wants to immerse herself in activities that will provide skills she can use in her future career, such as student media and internships.
She has already started gaining some of those skills while in high school. Recently, Sapp completed an internship at a car dealership working with media specialists on graphic design and photography projects. She served as Jacksonville High School’s yearbook editor and created photography and environmental clubs at the school.
Part of the reason she wants to pursue photojournalism is to help advocate for people and places around the world. While she hasn’t traveled abroad yet, Sapp is eager to study abroad as an EC Scholar.
“I would love to go anywhere,” she said. “Somewhere that has always stuck out to me is Nepal, India and all of Southeast Asia. The culture is so rich and it’s different than anything I’ve ever seen personally.”
Although Sapp isn’t technically a first-generation college student, she is one of the first in her family to immediately attend a four-year university after high school. She splits her time between her mother and stepfather, Jessica and Brent Jones, and her father and stepmother, Roy and Cassie Sapp.
“I live half and half with both of my parents,” she said. “They’re all pretty involved in my life.”
This summer, Sapp plans to work and maybe visit her grandparents in Georgia. She said she’s registered for classes and ready to engage in her learning.
“It’s pretty exciting to be able to go to a place where everybody wants to learn,” she said.
“Being an EC Scholar means being a lifelong learner.”
High school: Jacksonville High School
Intended major: International studies and English
Hometown: Jacksonville