FALL 2016 Road maps to health Making it count Giving voice We believed Aiming high Chancellor Cecil Staton has big plans for ECU How to receive East FROM THE EDITOR CONTENTS Aiming high 16FROM THE EDITOR CONTENTS Aiming high 16 Ahoy, East Carolina! It is difficult to believe I arrived on the campus of East Carolina University as your new chancellor just a few weeks ago. Things were quiet then. It’s amazing, however, the difference a new semester brings with a record 29,000 students. Now the campus is a beehive of activity and, of course, we all have our Saturdays planned with tailgating and exhilarating Pirate football! At orientation sessions, I told new Pirates this is my freshman year, too. We are in this together, and we’re going to have a great year. I am proud to be part of the amazing Pirate Nation that my wife, Catherine, and I have been so warmly welcomed into. The Pirate pride I see on and off the campus of East Carolina is wonderful. This is an extraordinary university with a wonderful future, poised for greatness. These are challenging yet dynamic times for public higher education. I believe ECU is in a unique position to lead and thrive. We have a superlative faculty, a broad and relevant range of colleges and schools, a student-centered staff, great athletic traditions, terrifically engaged and capable students, and wonderful community and alumni support. ECU must always put students first even as we seek next-generation solutions and innovation across our university. At ECU, we prepare the teachers for our schools and the nurses, dentists and physicians for our hospitals and communities. We educate the business leaders who advance our economy and the engineers who will solve complex problems. We nurture the artists and performers who inspire us. Each day, we prepare educated and engaged citizens who will change our community, North Carolina and the world. We embrace our mission to be a comprehensive public research university while aspiring to be an innovative world-class institution. 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 greatest asset we possess is the people who are East Carolina University—yesterday, today and tomorrow. Our aspirations are momentous as we seek to fulfill the mission of ECU—Servire, “to serve.” I am committed to raising the profile of this great university and telling the story of the wonderful way we foster student success, public service and regional transformation. We are America’s next great university! Go Pirates! Cecil P. Staton Chancellor FALL 2016 VOLUME 15, NUMBER 1 East is produced by East Carolina University in partnership with the East Carolina Alumni Association. INTERIM EDITOR Mary Schulken ’79 MANAGING EDITOR Doug Boyd ’99 ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Brent Burch PHOTOGRAPHER Cliff Hollis CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Crystal Baity, Doug Boyd, Harley Dartt, Jackie Drake, Amy Adams Ellis, Kathryn Kennedy, Rich Klindworth, Sophronia Knott, Jules Norwood, Kelly Setzer, Jamie Smith CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jay Clark, Forrest Croce, Jenny Crofton, Lois Greenfield, Doug Smith ’00 ’07, Heather Stumpf COPY EDITORS Jimmy Rostar ’94, Spaine Stephens ECU REPORT EDITOR Jeannine Manning Hutson ALUMNI NEWS EDITOR Jackie Drake CLASS NOTES EDITOR Joanne Kollar ecuclassnotes@ecu.edu EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND MARKETING Mary Schulken ’79 East Carolina University is a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina. It is a public doctoral/ research intensive university offering baccalaureate, master’s, specialist and doctoral degrees in the liberal arts, sciences and professional fields, including medicine. Dedicated to the achievement of excellence, responsible stewardship of the public trust and academic freedom, ECU values the contributions of a diverse community, supports shared governance and guarantees equality of opportunity. ©2016 by East Carolina University Printed by RR Donnelley C.S. 16-2007 30,500 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $14,820 or $.49 each. Chancellor Cecil Staton has big plans for ECU. Road maps to health 22 ECU helps rural residents learn to help others and themselves. Making it count 32 Bernita Demery doesn’t let a day pass without helping others. Giving voice 28 The North Carolina Literary Review commemorates 25 years of N.C. writing. We believed 38 After a tough loss, the 1991 Pirates reeled off 11 straight wins in ECU’s most memorable football season. Student Regional Public East Carolina Call to Success Transformation Service Alumni Action East uses a set of icons to identify stories, photos and features with specific content. They are student success, regional transformation, public service, alumni and call to action. The first three are the commitments in ECU’s strategic plan, the fourth indicates information with an alumni focus, and the final icon could have various meanings, from giving opportunities to a call to stay connected or take action on behalf of your university. We hope these images add to East’s coverage of ECU and the people and stories related to the university. East, the magazine of East Carolina University, is published three times a year. It is mailed to members of the East Carolina Alumni Association and the Pirate Club as well as to those who support ECU through donations to the university. If you would like to receive East by mail, please make your donation by calling 252-ECU-GIVE (328-4483) or visiting the ECU Giving website at ecu.edu/give. To join the East Carolina Alumni Association and receive East as well as other benefits and services, visit piratealumni.com or call 800-ECU GRAD (328-4723). To join the Pirate Club, visit ecupirateclub.com or call 252-737-4540. Contact Us n 252-737-1973 n easteditor@ecu.edu n www.ecu.edu/east Customer Service To start or stop a subscription, or to let us know about a change of address, please contact Advancement Services at advancementservices@ecu.edu or 252-328-GIVE (4483). Send letters to the editor to easteditor@ecu.edu or Howard House Mail Stop 107 East Carolina University Greenville, N.C. 27858-4353 Send class notes to ecuclassnotes@ecu.edu or use the form on page 55. ECU© REPORT PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLIFF HOLLIS Trustees welcome Staton, elect officers Chancellor Staton speaks with Board of Trustees Chairman Steve Jones. ECU© REPORT PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLIFF HOLLIS Trustees welcome Staton, elect officers Chancellor Staton speaks with Board of Trustees Chairman Steve Jones. ECU Air Force Cadet Josh Cole practices in the flight simulator in Wright Annex. ROTC offers cadets unique training ECU is finalist for national community engagement award ECU is representing the southeast and public school staff from 15 among the four universities in the communities at 35 public schools running for this year’s C. Peter across three states. Magrath Community Engagement Nearly 13,000 students have Scholarship Award, presented participated in the MATCH cur- by the Association of Public and riculum, preventing an estimated Land-grant Universities. 1,300 cases of adult obesity. The regional award recognizes In North Carolina, experts have the Brody School of Medicine’s said, a 3 percent shift in adults MATCH Wellness program, an from overweight to healthy interdisciplinary, community- weight would yield $3 billion in university partnership created to annual savings. combat childhood obesity. “The university and the The East Carolina University n Chris Dyba, vice chancellor for The other regional winners are community bring different types Board of Trustees gathered for advancement, announced a Pennsylvania State University, of expertise that are critical the first meeting of the fiscal record $56 million was donated Portland State University and to the success of projects year July 15 and welcomed Cecil to the university in 2015-2016. Purdue University. The winner like MATCH Wellness that are Staton, who became ECU’s 11th n The board voted to discontinue will be announced at the APLU implemented in non-campus chancellor July 1. the ECU Institute of Outdoor annual meeting Nov. 13-15 in settings,” said Dr. Suzanne In the coming months, Staton Theatre and transfer its assets Austin, Texas. Lazorick, an ECU pediatrician said he will be working to to the Southeastern Theatre It’s the second time ECU has and obesity researcher. “Our goal raise the profile of ECU. “The Conference in Greensboro. competed for the national is to reach as many regions and n The board approved Lord Aeck honor. East Carolina won the children as possible, and we hope A new training course and flight Not all Air Force cadets have the ECU Army ROTC. major from Apex. “The course contributions and wonderful Sargent of Chapel Hill as the Magrath Award in 2012 for its being named a finalist will help to simulator used by U.S. Army their private pilot’s license, so the provides cadets who have a fear work that takes place at ECU is “That kind of area for maneuver designer of the Life Sciences work with the Lucille W. Gorham promote the value and potential and Air Force cadets at ECU simulator offers valuable training of heights or are unsure if they not as widely known as it should training is accomplished in most be, and this university doesn’t and Biotechnology Building. Intergenerational Community benefit of MATCH.” are helping develop the nation’s for those who will eventually get ROTC programs by travelling to can accomplish a physically n The board approved T.A. future military leaders. certification. Students who may demanding challenge the ability get the recognition it deserves. It Center in Greenville. The national award is named for actual Army posts or other Army Loving Co. of Goldsboro and be interested in flying can try it to overcome those obstacles. will take time, but we can change Since 2007, the MATCH Wellness C. Peter Magrath, APLU president Unique among schools in the training sites. Moreover, that ECU Frank L. Blum Construction for free instead of paying up to When we revisit the course, those that,” said Staton. partnership has grown from one from 1992 to 2005. It includes a University of North Carolina has funded the construction of a Co. of Winston-Salem as the $120 an hour for simulator use developed skills become assets in middle school teacher and one sculpture and $20,000 prize. The system and across the country, rappel tower and leader reaction/ He also said the strength of ECU construction managers-at-risk offered by private companies, leading other cadets through the is in the people who make up the ECU faculty member to include three regional winners not chosen ECU offers a dedicated outdoor obstacle course only reinforces for the Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium said Capt. Korey Silknitter, same challenges.” university. “We have the human faculty and students from the for the Magrath Award will each training area at the West ECU’s commitment to being expansion project. assistant professor of aerospace resources to fulfill the aspirations ECU Pediatric Healthy Weight receive $5,000. Research Campus that features recognized as the most military-ECU is the only Army ROTC n The following were appointed studies at ECU. of becoming America’s next great Research and Treatment Center —Staff reports maneuver and marksmanship friendly institution of higher program in the UNC system that to the ECU Board of Visitors space, a rappel tower and a It also lets cadets gain much-learning in North Carolina.” has an engagement skills trainer university,” he said. for the Class of 2020: Angela problem-solving obstacle course. needed practice for the Air for marksmanship training. The The leader reaction course The board unanimously re-Allen of Vienna, Virginia; Ernest A state-of-the-art flight simulator Force Test of Basic Aviation next closest one is at James consists of seven obstacles. Three elected officers for another Logemann of Winston-Salem; called the Combat Pilot Pro 4 Skills, which is a required test for Madison University in Virginia, of the stations test strength, term. Steve Jones of Raleigh was John Cooper of Raleigh; Donna in Wright Annex can provide anyone interested in flying for the and most are at military colleges coordination and agility while re-elected chair of the board. Phillips of Winterville; Brownie a computer model of public service, Silknitter said. or academies, said Lt. Col. Joseph four require physical fitness along Kieran Shanahan of Raleigh Futrell of Washington; Curt airports or military landing fields Pierce, professor of military “I am not aware of any AFROTC with critical thinking, decision- was elected vice chair, and Bob Vanderhorst of Raleigh; Kathy anywhere in the world. science and the commander of detachment in the Southeast making and teamwork skills. For Plybon of Greensboro will serve Smith Adams of Raleigh; Patrick ECU’s Army ROTC program. Students began using the region that has a simulator, let instance, soldiers work as a team as secretary. Sebastian of Raleigh; Deidra obstacle course last fall, while the alone one that provides the to transport critical equipment This year marks the 100th Blanks of Wilmington; Henry Also, sworn in as a new member flight simulator arrived in April. realism ours does,” Silknitter said. from one side of a destroyed anniversary of the national Taylor of Raleigh; Preston of the board was Ryan Beeson, bridge to the other without falling ROTC, which has a total of Mitchell of Reidsville; Kevin Seventh-grader Chace Winslow stretches during aMATCH Wellness activity. The simulator offers a realistic The Army ROTC training course the ECU Student Government in a simulated river, using only 275 programs at colleges Taylor of Salisbury; Wanda representation of the cockpit of at the West Research Campus is Association president. A native two boards and three leftover and universities in the United Montano of Charlotte; Michael an aircraft, complete with pilot’s a former Voice of America site of Sophia, Beeson is a graduate support beams. States, the District of Columbia, Waldrum of Greenville; and seat, throttle and control panel. that covers almost 600 acres student at ECU, where he also Puerto Rico and Guam with an Justin Mullarkey of Greenville. It provides 180-degree views northwest of Greenville. “The leader obstacle course is received his undergraduate enrollment of more than 30,000. n The board approved the with computer screens in front important to the ROTC program degrees in political science and “I’m not aware of any other following officers for the Board and on either side of the pilot. It because it allows us to develop College ROTC programs produce economics. He was elected SGA school in the UNC system that of Visitors: Mark Garner as can be configured to show any critical thinking and teamwork more than 70 percent of the president in the spring and will has access to anything similar,” chairman, Sabrina Bengel as public airport or military airfield skills in accomplishing goals,” said second lieutenants who join the serve as ex-officio member of said Capt. Kevin D. Prevost, vice chair and Linda Thomas as in the world as well as hundreds Chris Rudkowski, an ECU Army active Army, the Army National the board. assistant professor of military secretary. of types of aircraft and any ROTC and N.C. National Guard Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve. science and executive officer with In other business: —Jamie Smith weather condition. cadet and business management —Crystal Baity and Jackie Drake 23 For years, beachgoers have The model Dusek is developing together an outreach campaign Wherever there are gaps in the learned to “break the grip of will be used to produce beach to expand the public knowledge bar, rip currents can form. the rip” by swimming parallel to forecasts, which are now in of rip currents, including a series Another thing to look for is shore to escape currents pulling an experimental stage, and to of educational videos with places where the waves aren’t them out to sea. issue warnings when there is footage produced by CSI. breaking—flat spots in the line a high likelihood of dangerous Now a partnership of researchers, “We’ve helped produce some of breaking waves. This is easier rip currents. scientists and lifeguards wants to imagery and content to rebrand to see from an elevated position, teach people to avoid rip currents Kill Devil Hills Ocean Rescue the message that’s being used so check from the dunes or the in the first place. Supervisor David Elder’s for rip current safety nationwide,” boardwalk before going down to department is responsible for said John McCord, CSI’s director the beach. Look for flags marking The partnership began when guarding five miles of beach of public engagement. “We’re danger areas. Greg Dusek, senior scientist along North Carolina’s Outer interested in having people be with the National Oceanic and Other suggestions include self- Banks, and he said rip currents able to identify currents before Atmospheric Administration, awareness—recognizing the level are the single major factor in they’re in the water to avoid was a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate of your own swimming ability— most rescues. getting into it. Many times the student doing his dissertation and tailoring water activities cues are very subtle.” research on rip currents at the In trying to educate the public to the weakest swimmer in the UNC Coastal Studies Institute. about rip currents, he said, “we CSI shot video footage of group. If someone is in trouble, started to realize that it isn’t as rip currents from a variety of get a flotation aid to them and ECU is the administrative campus easy to fix as ‘do this, and that perspectives—from the beach, alert a lifeguard, but avoid going for CSI, which was founded in will happen.’ If you were to take from the dunes and from a in after them. Would-be rescuers 2003 and also includes member any one action—float in place, drone—with and without a dye often get in trouble, as well. institutions Elizabeth City State or swim left or swim straight that helps show the current. University, North Carolina State “They are pulling people out in—no one of those is going to University, UNC-Chapel Hill and “You can see the track out and of the water day after day be effective every time. And you UNC-Wilmington. the plume at the end, especially from these rip current events,” can’t count on everyone in the in the footage from the drone,” McCord said. “Even while we The Army Corps of Engineers re- water being a strong swimmer.” McCord said. “We want to show were shooting, they had to pull search facility in Duck also helped The best way to protect people people what they look like during someone out, so the shot that’s with the research, as did lifeguard from rip currents, he said, is with conditions that can be the most in the PSA is a real rescue. They agencies on the Outer Banks. information. That can take many dangerous.” have a daily challenge in trying to “We wanted to better predict forms, from learning to recognize educate the public.” Since fewer people are in the rip currents, and to do that we rip currents to speaking with a water during rough, stormy The Rip Current Survival Guide needed some direct observation,” lifeguard about water conditions. weather, it’s actually calmer produced by NOAA’s Ocean said Dusek. “The lifeguards are The beach forecasts are intended conditions that can be more Today program is available out there every day, and they It was a shorter paddle than Joyner, an art education major measurements are specific. Clay the process of thinking through to add to that knowledge base. dangerous. Rip currents are most at oceantoday.noaa.gov/ have collected a lot of data for expected but still a success for with a concentration in ceramics, is totally different.” making something, where they’re In addition to the rip current common at low tide, with a well-ripcurrentfeature. us—records of their rescues over ECU boatbuilding student Grace had walked past ECU’s wood learning not just by listening or by On the first day, students traveled model, the partnership has put formed sandbar near the beach. —Jules Norwood eight or nine summers.” Joyner and her classmates. shop almost daily but never been watching but by doing,” Weckesser to Beaufort to pick out the inside. When she heard about the said. “We’re using traditions that After five weeks of painstaking juniper, a type of cedar that’s boatbuilding class, the first ever are 4,000 years old.” work, Joyner’s final exam was to lightweight and easier to bend offered at ECU, she decided to launch her skin-on-frame canoe than other woods. The boatbuilding process The UNC Coastal Studies Institute has helped sign up. June 20 on the Tar River. Although follows an ancient technique “I’ve learned about joints and produce imagery for a new public outreach program the hull took on water, School of “How many people can say they used by the Northern people of which wood is stronger, the by using fluorescein dye to highlight rip currents. Art and Design instructor Gerald made their own boat and have it the Aleutian Islands. different types of woods. In Weckesser said Joyner and her to use every day?” Joyner said. terms of our boat, it’s a mixture “Some of the skills I will take from eight classmates passed. Her home in Rocky Mount is of both but mostly soft wood,” here won’t just be for building “It’s a rousing success; this is a about a mile from the Tar River, said Joyner. boats; it will be applicable for victory,” Weckesser said. “We’ll and she has friends with houses other mediums,” said Lisa Beth She partnered with student Tessa take them back, dry them out, on the river and the Pamlico Robinson, assistant professor of Gibson because many tasks re-coat them and do it again. Sound. “I go fishing,” she said. art, one of two faculty members required more than one person to I’m pretty confident with a “I’m always borrowing someone who took the class along with accomplish. “We’ve learned from little tuneup, we’ll have some else’s boat.” Jim Tisnado, associate professor a couple of mistakes,” Joyner said. completely floating vessels.” of ceramics. “People forget Throughout the course, Joyner “Everyone is helping each other.” utilitarian can be very beautiful,” “I thought it was a lot of fun,” said became comfortable using tools Many of the students were new to she said. student Abby Barringer, a senior such as a table saw, band saw, woodworking, such as Barringer. ceramics and photography major jointer and different sanders Weckesser and fellow instructor “Photography is very 2-D, and from Harrisburg. “I had to make needed to make the 12-foot Judd Snapp were inspired to offer I’m trying to make 3-D (with the voyage. After five weeks of lightweight canoe. She learned to the woodworking elective after the canoe),” she said. “I like the work, you have to do it.” fabricate parts, steam and bend attending the DASH (Design, Art, hands-on, meticulous work. It’s wood, fasten stringers to ribs, and Science, Humanities) Conference Before the launch, students very relatable.” stretch, fit and shrink the boat’s at the UNC Coastal Studies added some final pieces—stress A goal for the class was to not fabric or skin. Institute in Manteo last year. bands, floor boards and rub rails only create a piece of art, but a Weckesser has built light portage —then carried their boats from Working with wood is very functional vessel, Weckesser said. canoes, and Snapp has experience the Jenkins Fine Arts Building to different than ceramics, she “Ultimately what I’d like my building paddleboards, surfboards the Town Common access. The said. “(Clay is) malleable. You students to come away with and boats. boats weigh about 15 pounds, can make it do what you want it from this course is a historical so they’re easily transportable, to do pretty quick, and wood’s —Crystal Baity understanding of the craft and Weckesser said. not that way,” she said. “In here, Students work on a canoe during class as instructor Gerald Weckesser, second from left, offers feedback. Students navigate boat-building class Courtesy UNC Coastal Studies Institute Students collaborate on falls clinic A team of ECU graduate students therapy, physician assistant from three College of Allied studies and occupational therapy Health Sciences disciplines spent converged on a church in the a Friday in June conducting a fall Black Jack community in rural prevention clinic for seniors—and Pitt County in June, conducting also learning how their careers assessments as a health care will intersect after graduation. team for about 20 local seniors. Eighty students from physical The outreach event began four P.T. student Mary O’Doherty guides Hazel Edwards through fall risk assessment. years ago because P.A. studies faculty member Kim Stokes “wanted students to work and talk with elderly people outside of a nursing home setting— ambulatory folks.” After an occupational therapy student working with Stokes mentioned what a good exercise it would be for her peers, Stokes contacted colleagues from that department and physical therapy. This was the first year all three groups were present in Black Jack. “They’re learning how to work on an interdisciplinary team,” said Jennifer Radloff, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy. “We selected tools…where they could have ‘ah-ha’ moments about skills that cross over and also things that are distinct to their fields.” With each senior patient, the P.A. students gathered basic vitals and history, asking about past falls or significant medical incidents. Physical therapy students then put them through a series of exercises testing balance and gait. Occupational therapists administered vision tests and other mental tasks. Beyond the important clinical interaction, the students said they benefited from spending time with one another. “We all had questions about each other’s professions,” said Bansari Patel, a P.A. student. “I don’t think I realized how much these two (physical and occupational therapy) worked together,” added P.A. student Danielle Koch. In small groups they discussed similarities and differences in their coursework, what health care settings might hire them in the future and how they would approach patient care as a team. “I measure success by whether the students learned something they didn’t know before,” Stokes reflected after the event. “Either about how to address the geriatric population or another professional. “From the patients, it’s hearing them say things like, ‘these students were professionals. I want them to take care of me as I continue to age.’” —Kathryn Kennedy ECU Police earn dual accreditation The ECU Police Department has been certified by the Commission for Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. ECU and North Carolina State University have the only law enforcement agencies in the UNC system accredited by both organizations. ECU received IACLEA accreditation for the first time this year. The department has been reaccredited by CALEA every three years since 2007. ECU was one of 14 agencies recognized with CALEA’s Accreditation with Excellence. During the process, two out-ofstate assessors visited Greenville for an on-site review and interviewed police personnel, students, faculty and staff. The IACLEA accreditation recognizes the challenges of law enforcement agencies on college and university campuses. Topics such as Clery Act compliance, emergency notifications and Title IX investigations are included in 18 additional standards required by college police departments. More than 1,000 colleges and universities in 10 countries hold membership with IACLEA. The ECU Police Department is a full-service agency that employs 58 full-time sworn police officers and 16 non-sworn staff members. —Jamie Smith Students begin project to address global challenges From fighting hunger to Office of Student Involvement insecurity and give back to the advocating for youth from rural and Leadership supported community, Amin said. areas, ECU students are working their trips. “Twenty-six percent, or 1 in 4, to improve the lives of others “There were people from children in North Carolina go through a project called That all over the world at the hungry,” she said. Big Idea Challenge. conference,” Hall said. They hope to partner with large Erik Kneubuehl, associate Hall, who is majoring in political companies that could donate vice chancellor for student science and philosophy, grew the “extra” money from unspent involvement and leadership, up in an unincorporated town gift cards to combat hunger brought the concept, modeled of about 500—Riegelwood—in nationally and internationally, after the Clinton Global Initiative, southeastern North Carolina. Amin said. to ECU last year. He wants to help other students The idea received a lot of Student leaders Zach Evans from rural, small towns who face interest at the conference. “Our and Mona Amin, who attended challenges in attending college. next step is look for connections the Clinton Global Initiative He initially applied to CGI to with individuals that oversee University conference in 2015, grow and provide resources for the finance departments of along with ECU staff member an organization he was involved large companies,” Amin said. Adeea Rogers, helped recruit in called Free Man Beyond Me “They would be able to help ECU students across disciplines Foundation. But once at the us envision the future of Regift to participate last fall and conference, Hall started to craft in partnership with other provided support for the his own idea. companies.” project. “I am currently in the process After graduation, Amin, a More than 30 students of trying to develop an app biology Honors College student, collaborated in 15 project that will target students in rural plans to attend medical school groups on ideas focused around areas, specifically those of color, to become a geriatrician. She education, the environment to help them prepare for college also will continue working on and climate change, alleviating and then offer guidance to them Regift as the idea progresses. poverty, peace and human throughout their collegiate This fall, Hall and Amin will rights, or public health. career,” Hall said. “First help mentor other students “Even if the ideas don’t take generation rural students don’t interested in applying for the off, these students are inspired have people to connect with. 2017 CGIU to continue That Big and learn to work beyond the Our families can’t prepare us.” Idea Challenge at ECU. They boundaries of their major and Hall has developed a logo and hope to grow interest through campus,” Kneubuehl said. “It’s will begin pitching the idea social media and expand by service in its utmost sense.” to potential supporters. After pairing students with faculty By the end of the semester, a graduation, he wants to attend members, Kneubuehl said. dozen ECU teams submitted law school with the goal of “Social entrepreneurship is a applications to attend the CGIU becoming a civil/human rights concept and movement that is conference, held April 1-3 at the lawyer and social entrepreneur. here to stay,” Rogers said. University of California, Berkeley. Bina Amin and a friend, Garima “And with one of ECU’s Rising senior Roderick Hall Tomar, a student at UNC-Chapel strategic directions being and sophomore Bina Amin, Hill, developed the concept for ‘economic prosperity in the Mona’s sister, were accepted Regift when they were seniors East,’ initiatives like CGIU allow and attended the conference at the N.C. School of Science students to begin to prepare for with more than 300 student and Math. The effort would life after graduation with a sense groups, 1,000 people and many recycle unspent or partially of direction.” networking opportunities. The used gift cards to reduce food —Crystal Baity Roderick Hall and Bina Amin Robert F. Orlikoff has been named dean of the College of Allied Health Sciences. He took over Aug. 1, succeeding Greg Hassler, who served in an interim role for two years. Orlikoff has a master’s degree in speech pathology and a doctorate in speech and voice physiology from Columbia University. He previously worked at West Virginia University as the associate dean of academic affairs in the College of Education and Human Services. Linda Richardson, a pediatric nurse specialist, was selected by her peers as this year’s top nurse at ECU Physicians, the group medical practice of the Brody School of Medicine at ECU. Richardson works in the Pediatric Cardiology Clinic at the East Carolina Heart Institute at ECU. She has eight years of nursing experience and a reputation as a patient advocate and skilled communicator. Joseph Paul, who graduated from ECU in May with a bachelor’s degree in biology, is attending the University of California, Berkeley, to study cell biology thanks to a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. Paul was an EC Scholar at ECU and published articles in Science magazine during his junior year and Nature Neuroscience as a senior. Mona Amin, an Honors College student from Charlotte, was one of 19 students from across the country selected for the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council Student Entrepreneurship Program held June 19-24 in Orlando. Amin is part of a team developing an app called FreshSpire, a mobile application and text system that notifies consumers, including low-income shoppers, about discounts on near-expiring foods at local grocery stores, allowing them to take advantage of healthy foods at lower prices. A biology major set to graduate in 2017, Amin plans to attend the Brody School of Medicine as an Early Assurance Scholar. East Carolina Alumni Association Board of Directors 2016-2017 Eighth dental service learning center opens •Spruce Pine •Lillington Ahoskie• Elizabeth City• Bolivia• •Sylva •Thomasville ECU ★ •Lumberton Eighth dental service learning center opens •Spruce Pine •Lillington Ahoskie• Elizabeth City• Bolivia• •Sylva •Thomasville ECU ★ •Lumberton Chair: Glenda Palmer-Moultrie ’79, Derwood, Md. ECU opened its eighth—and care and services,” he added. possibly final—dental center Vice Chair: John Isreal ’82, Norfolk, Va. Fourth-year dental student Sarah earlier this year in Bolivia in Kinsley of Greenville will be Secretary: Mark Garner ’77, Greenville southeastern North Carolina. among those caring for patients Treasurer: Tim Willis ’12, Durham The School of Dental Medicine’s at the center. She graduated in community service learning May—part of ECU’s second class Michael Aho ’02, McLean, Va. centers are facilities that combine of dentists—and began a one- clinical education and patient year dental residency program at Sheridan Barnes ’86, Micro, N.C. care. Led by faculty members, the Brunswick County clinic. Neal Crawford ’85, Norfolk, Va. fourth-year dental students “ECU’s mission and the commu spend clinical rotations, and Crystal Dailey ’97 ’03, Frederick, Md. nity service learning centers are general dentistry residents also what brought me (to the school),” Jim Dill ’79, Richmond, Va. hone their skills at the centers. Kinsley said. “It’s all regulated Neil Dorsey ’65 ’66, Winterville “A few years ago this seemed like (across the centers), so the care a dream and daunting task,” Dr. is consistent. And you get to live Ralph Finch ’67, Midlothian, Va. For Brian Edgerton and his each fall, this event raises funds for met some truly great people Cheer and as a volunteer coach Greg Chadwick, dean of the dental in all different areas of the state.” teammates, golf is not just a way the Alumni Scholarship program that have become close friends with the Barton College golf team. Jeff Foster ’83, Winterville school, said at the April ribbon- Kinsley completed rotations to relax, but a way to get involved at ECU and gives alumni an because of the game, so I play as “I feel like it is very important for cutting. “But here we are today.” Keith Frazier ’94, Raleigh through Thomasville, Lillington with ECU. opportunity to network and bond. much as I can.” alumni to support ECU in any Other centers are in Ahoskie, and Sylva during the past Robin Good ’80, Katy, Texas Edgerton and fellow Pirate “Last year was my fifth time Latham got involved with the kind of way possible. I’m all about Elizabeth City, Thomasville, year. That travel solidified her Stephen Latham ’13 are two playing in the alumni golf alumni golf tournament when he giving back and supporting my Duane Grooms ’80 ’82, Columbia, S.C. Lillington, Lumberton, Spruce commitment to practicing in members of the “Old Pros,” the tournament, and it has been met Edgerton at Ironwood in 2014. alma mater,” said Latham, who Pine and Sylva. The Bolivia the East, she said, and she looks Kathy Herring ’90 ’95, Greenville team that won the 2015 ECU a great time each year,” said Their team has included various earned his degree in public health center began accepting patients forward to meeting people and Alumni Scholarship Classic golf Edgerton, who recently returned members over the years, including studies in 2013. He is a senior Ron Hinton III ’14, Raleigh in February. getting to know the Brunswick tournament. Hosted by the East to school and is scheduled to two former Lady Pirate golfers, account manager for American County community over the Phil Houston ’77, Greenville “Our faculty, students and Carolina Alumni Association at complete his degree at ECU in since Edgerton started it in 2011. Red Cross Blood Services. coming year. residents have seen over 32,000 Ironwood Golf and Country Club 2019. “I love to play golf and have Wes Johnson ’85, Powder Springs, Ga. “I love to play golf, and it’s a As winners of the 2015 patients from 98 of North “We take our duty seriously to wonderful way to network with a tournament, Edgerton, Latham Angela Moss ’97 ’98, Raleigh Carolina’s 100 counties,” Chadwick be a huge driver of the (health variety of people,” Latham said. and their teammates Eric Miller said. “And we’re just beginning.” care) workforce in this state,” said Sarah Proctor ’04, Wilmington “It’s a great way to get away and David Watkins represented Phyllis Horns, vice chancellor for David Stanley, executive director from the hustle and bustle of life ECU in the Acura College Alumni Tyna Sloate ’90, New York health sciences at ECU. of Brunswick County Health and just enjoy the fellowship and Team Championship at Pinehurst Daniel Spuller ’06 ’07, Holly Springs and Human Services, is already ECU’s community service learning 2016 ECU Alumni Scholarship Classic environment of the golf course.” last fall. They placed sixth among anticipating the difference centers are open to all members teams from across the nation, but Lynnette Taylor ’97, Winterville In addition to connecting alumni, ECU dental medicine can of the community, and offer Presented by Hilton Greenville and PotashCorp Aurora they’re hoping to do better next the ECU Alumni Scholarship Linda Thomas ’81, Charlotte make in his community. During comprehensive general dental Affiliated with the Liberty Mutual Alumni Cup Classic also provides a direct link time. They’re looking forward to Jason Tomasula ’00 ’03 ’10, Wake Forest remarks at the ribbon-cutting, services for adults, children and playing again in the 2016 ECU for alumni to help students. The Sept. 9 at Ironwood Golf and Country Club he noted a recent community special needs patients in a safe, Alumni Scholarship Classic on 2015 event raised $25,000 for health assessment designated caring and professional setting. Register by Sept. 1 Sept. 9. The East Carolina Alumni Association board of the Alumni Scholarship program. Brunswick County as “having a Dental insurance, including Two tee times: 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Since its establishment in 2005, This event is also open to any directors helps the association advance its mission health provider shortage.” Medicaid, is accepted. to inform, involve and serve more than 165,000 $145 per player © the program has awarded 252 member of the community who “This is an awful big county, and The 7,700-square-foot clinics scholarships totaling nearly wants to support ECU. living Pirate alumni around the world. Applications $20 add-on package includes one transportation is difficult for a have 16 operatories, advanced $350,000. and nominations for the 2017-2018 board term mulligan and one tee buster “The golf course is a great lot of folks,” Stanley said. “That’s equipment, a wheelchair lift, “It is very important for those of equalizer as you can play with are being accepted through Dec. 15. New terms why this (dental center) is such 3D imaging and an endodontic us that can help to be as involved the president of a company start July 1 of each year and last for three years. For more information or to register, a powerful, powerful resource microscope. visit PirateAlumni.com/2016golf as possible with helping others and someone in an entry-level Board members serve on a volunteer basis and are we have available, and we’re so The center is at 100 Brunswick or contact Shawn Moore ’91 ’98, follow their academic dreams,” position all in the same group, expected to attend two meetings a year and one fortunate to have it in our region. Medical Center Parkway NE director of scholarships and said Edgerton, who works in and everyone is equal out there,” Web-based meeting each winter. More information “We’re all going to have close ties in Bolivia. Appointments are signature programs, at 252-328-5775 information services at Vidant Edgerton said. is at PirateAlumni.com/BoardApplicationProcess. and really be woven in with this available by calling 910-253-9000. Health. He also volunteers as a —Jackie Drake center as they provide excellent —Kathryn Kennedy or mooresh@ecu.edu. strength coach for ECU Coed 8 9 From right, Brian Edgerton, Eric Miller and Stephen Latham Teeing off for a cause ECU Military Alumni Reunion will be Nov. 11-12 Bryan Stevenson police misconduct and children in the prison system, said Mary Beth Corbin, executive director of the ECU Office of Student Transitions. “We hope that incoming students as well as faculty will read the book and be able to have campus conversations about these themes,” she said. The narrative focuses on the case of Walter McMillian, a black man who was convicted of murdering a young white woman in 1986. The murder took place in Monroeville, Alabama, which is the hometown of To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, McMillian was sentenced to death. Although McMillian was ultimately pardoned from death row in 1993, Stevenson’s book highlights the underlying issues of systemic racial injustice in the South and features several cases involving wrongful charges. The New York Times wrote that even though some of the cases in Just Mercy occurred more than 30 years ago, Stevenson engages the reader in a way that allows for insight, reflection and possibly a shape the way we treat the most vulnerable among us.” During Stevenson’s legal career, he worked for the exoneration of innocent people and argued cases on five different occasions in front of the Supreme Court. He grew up in Delaware, and his great-grandparents had been slaves in Virginia. When he was a teenager, his grandfather was murdered during a robbery. After attending college and Harvard Law School, Stevenson moved to the South to start a legal career, defending those who had been wronged by the justice system due to their racial background. He went on to found the Equal Justice Initiative, based in Alabama. Stevenson will visit ECU in November. Just Mercy was named by Time magazine as one of the “10 Best Books of Nonfiction” for 2014. The book also received the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, the NAACP Image Award for Nonfiction and the Books for a Better Life Award. The book is a finalist for the Los Angeles Book Prize and the Kirkus Reviews Alumni of East Carolina University who have served in the military are invited to attend the Military Alumni Reunion during the university’s military appreciation weekend Nov. 11-12. Hosted by the East Carolina Alumni Association’s Military Alumni Chapter, the reunion is open to any alumni with military service, including veterans who came to ECU after serving and graduates who entered the military after college, either through ROTC or independently. “Military appreciation weekend is always the weekend I look forward to the most because it combines two special communities—my East Carolina family and my military family,” said Kirk Little ’82. “Going through four years of AFROTC with the same classmates who had shared experiences and goals was a tremendous gift to my educational process and I look forward to reuniting with them every year.” Little, now the vice president and chief operations officer for Apogee Solutions after a career as an Air Force space operations officer, encourages alumni who tradition within the military services and allows us a chance to reconnect, share common experiences and enjoy being with fellow service members.” On Friday night, there will be a casual meet-and-greet at Trollingwood Taproom & Brewery. On Saturday, military alumni are invited to the alumni association’s Buccaneer Buffet at the soccer stadium three hours before kickoff. Then during the football game versus Southern Methodist University on Saturday, there will be a block of seats for veterans to enjoy the military appreciation observances. The reunion is just one of many programs being planned for the Military Alumni Chapter, which launched earlier this year. The chapter will offer veterans the chance to network with each other and mentor students, among other advocacy efforts. This chapter has been a long time coming, and it will provide a central structure for engagement efforts that have previously been separately organized, said Little. “When you join the military, you have little say in where you will be assigned,” Little said. “In fact, many of us were never stationed in North Carolina, so it is sometimes difficult to maintain contact with classmates and fellow military members. The Military Alumni Chapter will give us a central connection back to the university and encourage more of our classmates to reconnect with each other. Military members definitely understand the concept of Servire, and East Carolina has shown that same idea of service back to us.” For more information or to register, visit PirateAlumni. com/militaryalumni or contact Lindsay Raymond-Weston, assistant director of alumni programs, at 252-328-1958 or raymondwestonl15@ecu.edu. —Jackie Drake Forrest Croce Race topic of this summer’s ‘Pirate read’ call to action. Prize and is an American Library have served in the military to attend the reunion. The introduction says “this Association Notable Book. Freshmen at ECU explored reading before classes began book is about getting closer to This is the ninth year of the “East Carolina has a long and complex themes of racial Aug. 22. mass incarceration and extreme Pirate Read program. Books from steady tradition of supporting injustice before stepping foot in a The themes of the book relate punishment in America. It is previous years include The Other all branches of the military, and classroom with this year’s Pirate to societal issues such as about how easily we condemn Wes Moore, It Happened on the we all share the same bond of Read selection. criminal justice, the impact of people in this country and the Way to War and The Immortal patriotism and service,” Little Bryan Stevenson’s memoir Just famous literature such as To Kill injustice we create when we Life of Henrietta Lacks. said. “Attending military alumni Mercy was chosen as required a Mockingbird, social justice, allow fear, anger, and distance to —Sophronia Knott reunions is a time-honored Pirates celebrate only undefeated season Helen Keller visits East Carolina Saxophone virtuoso joins music faculty Cunningham heads hospital medical staff With World War I raging in Europe, one audience member asked about the preparedness movement, which aimed to strengthen the U.S. military and promote American involvement in the conflict. “Dead against it,” said Keller. “Because it ultimately means war. But I would be for it if only Kaisers, kings and Congressmen were to do the fighting.” Apprentices, Western Carolina Teachers College and Belmont Abbey. In four of the wins, the Pirates kept their opponents scoreless. Other Hall of Fame members on the team were Stuart Tripp, Billy Greene and Jack Young. at East Carolina, Houlik, a native New Yorker, began his performing career with a well-received Washington, D.C., debut at the Phillips Collection. The London Daily Mail described him as “the world’s great saxophone virtuoso.” medical school during 1991. Cunningham, a trauma surgeon, taught at ECU until 2001, when he left to chair the surgery department at State University of New York-Upstate in Syracuse. He returned to ECU in 2008 as dean of the Brody School of Medicine. Earlier this year, he announced his retirement, effective September. Library of Congress Courtesy University Archives ECU Hall of Famer John Christenbury coached ECTC’s 1941 football team to the only undefeated, untied season in school history. The Pirates went 7-0, beating teams such as the Portsmouth Naval Courtesy University Archives Tenor saxophonist James Houlik begins his career at the School of Music, teaching and performing until 1977. He built a saxophone studio at ECU and the N.C. School of the Arts, where he held an adjunct professorship. While Courtesy Uiversity Archives Dr. Paul R.G. Cunningham served as chief of the medical staff at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, the teaching hospital of ECU’s On May 1, 1916, Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan Macy, visited ECTTS, and Keller spoke to a large crowd in the auditorium of the Administration Building. Keller, who was 35 at the time, spoke on the subject of happiness, to which she said, “The secret of happiness is to do for others.” ©2015 Lois Greenfield program, sponsored in part by the N.C. Humanities Council and CWS. Akhtar is a Pakistani-American actor and writer born in New York City and reared in Wisconsin. His Pulitzer prize-winning play that make up the modern dance p.m. “The President’s Own” began vocabulary coupled with the touring in 1891 under the leadership discipline and precise execution one of John Philip Sousa. This is a free expects from a classical company. concert, but tickets are required. Visit marineband.ticketleap.com for The story of Nannerl Mozart—not information. only the sister of Amadeus but Disgraced (2012) dramatizes the also a prodigy, keyboard virtuoso tension in American multicultural and composer who performed MUSIC society caused by the many racial and ethnic prejudices that have grown at an alarming rate in post 9-11 America and offers the pathos throughout Europe with her brother Festivals to equal acclaim yet her work and ECU’s Four Seasons Chamber story were lost to history—is told in Music Festival presents two concert The Other Mozart. Based on facts, residencies at A.J. Fletcher Recital necessary for change. stories and lines pulled directly Hall in Greenville this fall, with the ON CAMPUS Journalism icon The belief that religion is a FALL ARTS AND EVENTS CALENDAR ©Popio Stumpf Photography BY JEANNINE MANNING HUTSON AND HARLEY DARTT Parsons Dance Company Julia Den Boer And poet Stephen Dunn will be on campus Oct. 21, sponsored by the Great Books Program at the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences and CWS. The Poetry Foundation website describes Dunn and his poetry as a reflection of “the social, cultural, psychological, and philosophical territory of the American middle class; his intelligent, lyrical poems narrate the regular episodes of an everyman speaker’s growth, both as an individual and as part of a married— and later divorced—couple.” The author of the fall 2016 Pirate Read selection will speak on campus Nov. 10. The themes in Bryan Stevenson’s memoir Just Mercy relate to societal issues such as criminal justice, the impact of famous literature (To Kill a Mockingbird), social justice, police misconduct in the U.S. and children in the prison system, said Mary Beth Corbin, executive director of the ECU Office of Student Transitions. look at the hysteria caused when clean-cut kids fall prey to marijuana, leading them to a hysterical downward spiral filled with evil jazz music, sex and violence. Based on the book by Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney, the show is a stylized and satirical political commentary and has a parental advisory. Reefer Madness will be presented Nov. 1722 in McGinnis Theatre. Tickets are $17.50 for general public and $10 for students. from the Mozart family’s humorous and heartbreaking letters, The Other Mozart will be performed at 8 p.m. Nov. 10. The Hot Sardines with their sound described as “straight-up, foot- stomping jazz” will bring their Holiday Stomp to campus at 4 p.m. Dec. 4. In their holiday concert, the Sardines infuse yuletide classics with lesser-known gems such as Ella Fitzgerald’s “Santa Claus Got Stuck in My Chimney.” Season Opening Extravaganza Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 16 at 8 p.m., featuring Thomas Sauer, piano, festival director Ara Gregorian, violin, Xiao-Dong Wang, viola and Raman Ramakrishnan, cello; and Chamber Music Monuments on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 18 at 8 p.m., featuring Adam Neiman, piano; Gregorian, violin and Marcy Rosen, cello. The festival presents the Season Opening Extravaganza concert residency on Sept. 18 and Chamber Four Seasons Next Generation concerts are scheduled for Greensboro Day School in Greensboro on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. and St. Ann Catholic Church in Charlotte on Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. Next Generation concerts feature ECU faculty artists in collaboration with former and current ECU students and area precollege students. The Greensboro concert is free, unticketed and open to the public. The Charlotte concert is part of the ticketed Gaudium harmonicas and the occasional piece of homemade gear. On Nov. 3, pianist Julia Den Boer joins the NewMusic Initiative to perform five contemporary compositions including a world premiere written by Mathew Rickets. Born in Lyon, France, and now based in New York City as music director at the Church of the Ascension in Brooklyn, Den Boer performs internationally and bridge of The location for Stevenson’s free Contact the box office at 252-328-Musicae concert series and includes The Hot Sardines has commissioned and premiered Bob Woodward cooperation and open-to-the-public presentation numerous works. 6829 or online at www.ECUARTS. a reception. Charlotte tickets can be will present rather than a will be announced later. com to purchase tickets for these purchased at www.stanncharlotte.org ECU School of Music performers “The Age of the barrier of productions. or at the door. focus their talents on the music American division is ON STAGE of ECU composers in first-ever The innovative Four Seasons Presidency” for fundamental to public presentations in NewMusic’s S. RUDOLPH ALEXANDER Chamber Music Dressed Down the Premier The Dance@Wright performance Eboo Patel, Premiere Performances on Nov. 11. This is the first of three concerts each year dedicated to the newest ideas of ECU’s developing young Lecture of the will start the season and bring PERFORMING ARTS SERIES concert series, featuring chamber founder and Voyages of together an exciting and eclectic music’s greatest repertoire The S. Rudolph Alexander president of Discovery lineup of ballet, jazz, tap, modern performed in intimate settings, will Performing Arts Series will open its Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago- Lecture Series. and contemporary dance. The be presented at the Contemporary season with the Branford Marsalis based international nonprofit that Woodward, who broke the news of composers. show will feature performances Art Museum in Raleigh on Nov. Quartet with special guest Kurt aims to promote interfaith the Watergate scandal during the from light-hearted, comedic styles 3 and at the Martinsborough in All the above North Carolina Elling at 8 p.m. Oct. 7. Marsalis on cooperation. Patel will present the Nixon administration with fellow to moods of pure passion and Uptown Greenville on Nov. 4. NewMusic Initiative events are in saxophones, Joey Calderazzo on Religion and Culture Lecture of the Washington Post reporter Carl intensity. Performances will be Sept. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m., with ECU’s A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall at piano, Eric Revis on bass and Justin Voyages series at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 in Bernstein, will speak at 7:30 p.m. 16-18 in McGinnis Theatre. See www. receptions at 7 p.m. For tickets, 7:30 p.m. and are free and open to Faulkner on drums rarely invite Wright Auditorium. A member of Sept. 28 in Wright Auditorium. The ecuarts.com for times and ticket www.ecu.edu/fourseasons, the public. For more information, other musicians into their nearly President Barack Obama’s inaugural Washington Post won the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for information. 1-800-ECU-ARTS or 252-328-4788. see ecu.edu/music/newmusic or call telepathic unit. But Elling’s deep Advisory Council on Faith-Based 252-328-4280. The School of Theatre and Dance jazz vocabulary, technical versatility For more information about the Neighborhood Partnerships, Patel is its investigation of the Watergate an American Ismaili of Gujarati will present the Greek tragedy and outstanding intonation will Four Seasons concerts, call 252-Opera case by Woodward and Bernstein. Indian heritage. He has written two Medea on the stage at McGinnis enable the band to perform a 328-6019 or visit www.ecu.edu/ The ECU Opera Theater and Their book All the President’s Men books about interfaith cooperation, Theatre Sept. 29-Oct. 4. Written variety of material in new ways. fourseasons. the North Carolina NewMusic was described as “perhaps the most influential piece of journalism Acts of Faith and Sacred Ground. by Euripedes and translated by The collaboration between jazz’s Initiative partner to present writer ECU’s North Carolina NewMusic Kenneth McLeish and Frederic most intense band and one of jazz’s Gertrude Stein and composer Virgil Initiative, Ed Jacobs, director, in history” by Time magazine. All lectures are ticketed. Raphael, Medea is based on the foremost singers will prove to be Thomson’s opera Four Saints in Music Monuments concert welcomes bass clarinetist Michael Tickets are available by visiting All SRAPAS performances will Currently associate editor for The myth of Jason and Medea and anything but standard. Three Acts on Oct. 23-25. With residency on Nov. 20 at Hayes Lowenstern on Sept. 29. A www.ecu.edu/voyages. be held in Wright Auditorium. Washington Post, Woodward pulls particularly her revenge against its nontraditional casting, unique cross of Eric Dolphy, Meat Beat Subscriptions and individual tickets Barton United Methodist Church the curtain back on Washington The athletic, exuberant personality Authors on campus Jason when he returns from his production team, non-narrative in Raleigh. Both Raleigh concerts Manifesto, NPR’s This American are available at 252-328-4788 or and its leaders, captivating and joyous movement of the The Contemporary Writers Series, quest for the Golden Fleece and libretto and quintessentially Life, The Gap Band and Igor www.ECUARTS.com. are at 3 p.m. The Greenville and audiences with fascinating stories Parsons Dance Company will come partnering with other groups, will his betrayal of her is discovered. American musical tone, the show’s Stravinsky, Lowenstern’s sound, Raleigh residency concerts feature featuring up-to-the-minute information expertly blended with to campus at 8 p.m. Oct. 27. The The United States Marine Band— bring two Pulitzer prize-winning Tickets are $15 for the public, $10 authors to campus this fall. for students. 1934 premier rocked the musical “ClassicoFunkTronica,” defies world-class artists performing company’s eight full-time dancers The President’s Own, described by world and landed the production on definition. His shows employ classic works of the chamber music historical reference for a truly maintain a repertory of more than The Washington Post as “the best Broadway. This production will pay Dramatist Ayad Akhtar will be at Inspired by the original 1936 film, repertoire. For tickets, www.ecu. computers, props and electronic unforgettable glimpse into 80 works choreographed by David band in the world,” will return to tribute to the original spirit of the ECU on Oct. 12-13 as part of the the raucous musical comedy Reefer edu/fourseasons, 800-ECU-ARTS gizmos, and he brings everything American politics, the media and Parsons. Their style is a fusion Wright Auditorium on Oct. 3 at 7 opera while molding it to feature “Pulitzer NC: The Power of Words” Madness takes a tongue-in-cheek or 252-328-4788. from consumer electronics to the biggest stories of the day. of the gesture and movement 12 13 Forrest Croce Forrest Croce the public is invited. EXHIBITS Faculty performances The Wellington B. Gray Gallery Hometown: Greenville 5 minutes with Stephen Igoe ’14 ECU soprano Rachel Copeland will present The North Carolina and guest pianist Jo Greenway Sculpture Consortium Exhibition Position: Founder/Publisher of Hoist The Colours and present a concert of selections on Sept. 2-30. This is an invitational publisher of Carolina Panthers on 247Sports from the French vocal repertoire exhibition organized by ECU Degree: Bachelor’s in communication Sept. 2. Christine Gustafson, flute, sculpture professor Hanna Jubran and Catherine Garner, piano, play a and will feature the work of faculty duo recital Oct. 7 featuring approximately 18 North Carolina If you’re an avid Pirate or Carolina Panthers fan, you the music of Howard Hanson and sculpture educators. It includes an might already know about Igoe. If not, get ready to Paul Schoenfield. opening reception Sept. 2 at 5 p.m. bookmark his websites, www.HoistTheColours.net and and a closing reception Sept. 30 at All faculty concerts are in A.J. www.car.247sports.com, and follow him on social media. 5 p.m. Fletcher Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m., are free and open to the public and The School of Art and Design I cover East Carolina sports and recruiting and the include a meet-the-artists reception Faculty Exhibition: A Tradition Carolina Panthers of the NFL. My primary job is covering afterward. of Excellence will be in Gray ECU football, basketball and baseball games first-hand, Gallery Oct. 7-Nov. 4, with an Guest artists along with recruiting, and providing content from a local artist reception Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. Romanian-born multi-award online perspective that no one else can match. The exhibition displays the work winning classical and flamenco of the school’s art and design Hoist The Colours has become the leading brand for guitarist Silviu Ciulei comes as a faculty covering a variety of online ECU sports news. In 2015, our site had 7.38 million media: graphic design, cinema, guest artist to A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27. Ciulei is page views and reached around 400,000 users. The HTC illustration, ceramics, textile design, former first-prize winner at the ECU Facebook page has more than 32,000 likes. The Panthers printmaking, painting, drawing, Guitar Festival and Competition. site has pulled in more than 17 million page views since sculpture, animation, metal design Free and open to the public. I took over in August of 2015. That Facebook page has and photography. more than 200,000 likes. The national tour of IMAGINE FAMILY FARE Growing up as a kid who followed ECU sports closely, I PEACE NOW Exhibition will be in Two Family Fare Series perfor-felt like there wasn’t enough of an online presence for Gray Gallery Nov. 21-Jan. 16. The mances will come to the Wright Pirate sports information. East Carolina fans are simply Innovative Merger of Art & Guns Auditorium stage this fall. Both will to Inspire New Expressions, or the best. They have a passion for the sports teams here be at 7 p.m. and are appropriate for IMAGINE PEACE NOW Exhibition, that is unmatched in North Carolina. As a freshman at elementary school-aged children. is a juried show of art made from ECU in 2010, I did my research and started Hoist The Season subscriptions and individual disabled guns collected from buy-Colours on my own. It took a few years, but I worked my tickets are available at 252-328 back programs and transformed way up, gained media credentials and eventually signed 4788 and www.ECUARTS.com. by approximately 80 international on with 247Sports in 2012. The Lion, the Witch and the artists. Included pieces respond to When I started my website, I knew I had a natural ability to Wardrobe will be presented Oct. and initiate conversations regarding write about sports, but I didn’t know anything close to what 21 by ECU Storybook Theatre and gun violence in American culture. I needed to. I was fortunate enough to have some incredible tells the tale based on C.S. Lewis’ The featured artists include ECU adventure story: four children in faculty members Ken Bova, Robert journalism and multimedia instructors who taught me war-torn England accidentally enter Ebendorf, Gerald Weckesser, Tim the ins and outs. I always knew how to write words and the land of Narnia by climbing Lazure and Dindy Reich, former state the facts, but they taught me how to tell stories. through a magical wardrobe. faculty member Joe Muench and I learned two important lessons at ECU. First, to make Narnia’s ruler, the cold-hearted former ECU students Sharon Massey it in the sports media field, you have to be willing to White Witch, makes winter last and Heath Wagoner. An artist work your tail off. There are rarely any true off days, and year-round. Although they seem reception will be at 5 p.m. on Dec. 2. you’re almost always on call. Second, it may sound cliché, unlikely saviors, the children fulfill The Wellington B. Gray Gallery is but don’t ever let somebody tell you that you can’t an ancient prophecy, defeat the in the Jenkins Fine Arts Center. do something. No one believed I could make a living witch, restore sunshine and peace Gallery hours are Monday-Friday working primarily through a website. But if you know to the spellbound land and return 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays what you’re doing, apply yourself and have the drive, the great lion Aslan to his throne. anything is possible. ECU students’ special talents and are free and open to the public. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and admission voices. James Franklin conducts Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is is free. The gallery is closed for Choirs with John Kramar, opera theater the bravest Chihuahua of them all? all university holidays. For more The ECU Men’s Choir and Women’s director, as stage director. All Skippyjon Jones, of course. From information, call 252-328-1312 or We want to hear stories from alumni about how their Choir present a fall concert at First performances are in A.J. Fletcher Theatreworks USA comes visit www.ecu.edu/graygallery. experiences at ECU shaped them today and how Presbyterian Church in Greenville on Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m., and tickets they pass those lessons to others. Send us an email at Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m., the Collegiate The Erwin Gallery presents four are $20 general admission, $15 for Choir performs at A.J. Fletcher exhibitions by School of Art and easteditor@ecu.edu. faculty, staff and seniors and $5 for Recital Hall on Nov. 21, at 7:30 Design faculty and staff. Included Photograph by Cliff Hollis, ECU News Services students. Tickets are available at the p.m. and the choirs join the ECU are Craig Malmrose, prints, Aug. door or by calling the Central Ticket Symphony Orchestra for Faure’s 15-Sept. 16, reception Sept. 8; Sue Office at 800-328-2787 or 328-4788, Requiem at St. Paul’s Episcopal Luddeke, painting and portraits, or online at www.ECUArts.com. Church on Dec. 5, also at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19-Oct. 7, reception Sept. 29; Orchestra Kristina Smith, photography, Oct. For more choir concerts visit the Maestro Jorge Richter presents 12-Nov. 14, reception Oct. 13; and School of Music calendar at the ECU Symphony Orchestra in Judd Snapp, wood design and www.ecu.edu/music or call concert three times in the fall: Sept. furniture, Nov. 7-Jan. 13, reception 252-328-6243. 24 and Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in ECU’s Skippyjon Jones: Snow What on Nov. 10. Wright Auditorium, and with the Bands Nov. 18, a new musical based on the The Erwin Gallery is in the historic The ECU Concert Band, Symphonic ECU choirs on Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. book by Judy Schachner. While his Erwin Building on the ECU campus. in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Band and Wind Ensemble take sisters listen to Snow White and the Public hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Greenville. center stage for Bandorama concerts Seven Dwarves, Skippy heads off Monday-Friday. Free admission. Sept. 20 and Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in for a real adventure awaiting him in All symphony orchestra concerts All receptions are at 4 p.m. ECU’s Wright Auditorium. Free and his closet. 14 15 Aiming high Chancellor Cecil Staton has big plans for ECU. BY DOUG BOYD PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAY CLARK AND CLIFF HOLLIS The thing about Cecil Staton is that no matter how you try, you just can’t pin him down into one column. Is he an academic or an entrepreneur? A politician or an administrator? A moderate scholar or a conservative legislator? “It’s hard to get me in a box, though people try to do that,” East Carolina University’s new chancellor says on one of his early visits to campus before he took office July 1. “My wife tells our sons, ‘Your father gets bored easily.’ I hope that’s not true. Nevertheless… ,” and he moves on to another topic. As ECU’s 11th chancellor, he’s taking the helm at a time of uncertainty in numerous areas from legislative funding to the future of ECU’s medical school. Thus, a conversation with him covers a lot of topics, but one thread runs through them all. “It’s important to dream it up and have a vision,” says Staton, 58. That vision includes raising several hundred million dollars in a capital campaign, getting the Brody School of Medicine on solid ground, boosting research dollars and more. “I see no virtue in mediocrity. I see ECU as being on a great trajectory. I think it’s on the cusp of being a nationally prominent university.” From a mill town to Oxford To see how Staton arrived in Greenville, North Carolina, you must look to Greenville, South Carolina. In the 1960s, the upstate city wasn’t all that different from ECU’s Greenville of the same era, except instead of tobacco farms and giant leaf warehouses, textile mills dominated the economy. Staton grew up within sight of one. His father was born in the town and operated Cecil’s Shoe Repair. His mother, now in her 80s, has worked in the mortgage business for more than 40 years. He graduated from Carolina High School and enrolled at nearby Furman University — the first in his immediate family to attend a university. Meeting with ECU students in April the day after he was named chancellor, he described himself as a conservative Baptist walking onto a college campus near the end of the Vietnam War and hearing things about his country that didn’t sit right with him. “It made me think about what I believe,” he said to the students. “It made me think about my opinions. It made me a stronger person.” Calling himself “a late bloomer,” Staton completed his religion degree at Furman, then earned master of theology and master of divinity degrees at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest and a doctorate in Old Testament, Hebrew and ancient Near Eastern studies from the University of Oxford in England. He then began his academic career at Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Georgia, where he was an assistant professor of religion from 1989-91. Staton also served as associate provost, associate professor and university publisher at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He also started and led three communications companies: Smyth & Helwys Publishing, a publisher of books and curriculum products; Stroud and Hall Publishers, a publisher of books on politics and current events; and Georgia Eagle Media, a holding company for broadcasting, newspaper and media properties. Mike Dyer is president and CEO of the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce and Macon Economic Development Commission. He worked with Staton on some large-scale projects. “Cecil is a good businessman, very bright and passionate about his beliefs and values,” Dyer said in an email. “Additionally, he is a hard worker and committed to his causes.” To politics and back In 2004, Staton was elected to the Georgia Senate representing Macon and its surrounding area. His legislative career is wide-ranging and generally falls on the conservative side of issues. But some of his work sheds light on how he might lead ECU and deal with issues facing the university. For example, he chaired a study committee that looked into the shortage of doctors and nurses in the state. Among its recommendations were increasing the number of medical and nursing students, urging the federal government to raise the number of medical residency slots, protecting the 1,000 residency slots at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and expanding doctoral programs in nursing. This year, 72 new residency positions opened in the state. He worked to establish the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission that would fund hospitals with trauma centers partly through different taxes and surcharges. Grady Hospital, one of the nation’s busiest trauma centers, nearly closed in 2007 due to financial straits, and the trauma network was seen as one way to help. “It wasn’t a popular thing to do from my political background,” he says. “Republicans weren’t ready to bail out a hospital that didn’t serve their constituents.” Dr. Leon Haley, Emory School of Medicine’s executive associate dean of clinical services for Grady Memorial Hospital, worked with Staton as the commission was being developed. In 2007, he was chief of emergency medicine and deputy chief medical officer at Grady and says supporting trauma at that time meant supporting Grady. “Even just trying to figure out how to get all the people together…shows his ability to be collaborative and work hard to find a funding source,” Haley says. “Sen. Staton was very instrumental in getting that group together.” In 2012, he sponsored legislation that increased the borrowing cap for construction on technical college and university campuses from $300 million to $500 million. The legislation passed. After he left the Senate in 2014 and was the Georgia university system’s vice chancellor for extended education, the system waived mandatory student fees for active duty service members using military tuition- assistance programs to attend institutions within the system. And earlier this year while interim president at Valdosta State University, he opposed a bill that would have allowed concealed carry of firearms by licensed owners on state college and university campuses. Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed the measure in May. At VSU, Staton was faced with a near-crisis when he was tapped last summer to take over and get things back in shape. Enrollment had dropped almost 12 percent from a high of 13,089 students in 2011. Credit hour production had fallen, which reduced the school’s funding. Staton set to work cutting the school’s budget—in the process eliminating about 30 faculty positions—and began a marketing campaign to recruit new students. He refocused VSU on student retention and success. Not all his moves were popular, but nearly a year later, admissions had grown 22 percent, or 1,700 students, according to his state of the university address in April. A capital campaign that began before Staton arrived on campus raised $16 million during the fiscal year. “I went there more or less to be a fixer,” Staton says. He’s aiming to do more at ECU. Cecil P. Staton Jr. EDUCA TION CAREER F AMIL Y Bachelor’s degree, Educator, Wife, Catherine Davidson Furman University entrepreneur, Staton, married 30 years Master’s degrees, Southeastern politician Sons, Cecil P. Staton III and Baptist Theological Seminary William Davidson Staton Doctorate, Oxford University A new Greenville On a July morning a week into his tenure at ECU, Staton addresses a group of students and parents during orientation. “A university’s a very interesting place,” he tells the crowd at Wright Auditorium. “Look around you. You’re going to meet a lot of different people while you’re here at ECU.” Different people, different backgrounds, different outlooks, different dreams. “That’s what college is all about, and that’s what the world is all about,” he says. He talks a bit more, then makes a promise to the students. “We’re going to have a great freshman year together,” he says. Students say they like his down-to-earth demeanor. He chats with them most mornings while in line at a campus coffee shop. “He’s definitely someone you could have a conversation with and not even realize he’s the chancellor,” says senior Emily Schultz of Delaware, a communication major who worked as an orientation assistant during the summer. Fellow senior Brittney DeWitte, a senior from Cary, says she hopes the new chancellor can make good on his goals of growing ECU and expanding its reputation. “Even in the past three years I’ve been here, we’ve seen tremendous growth in the reputation of our campus,” she says. “It adds value to our degrees.” “ECU doesn’t get enough credit,” adds Schultz. Staton has a solid starting point for what he wants to accomplish. “ECU is in a good place,” he says. Administrators and trustees have worked through budget cuts by streamlining operations and academic programs, but there’s still work to do in the areas of faculty salaries and stabilizing the finances of the medical school. That work in large part will depend on decisions made in the Legislature. Thus, he says, continuing to build relationships with lawmakers and educating them about the uniqueness of Brody are vital. “They don’t come to the position with an intimate knowledge of all the issues of the day you have to vote on,” he says, recalling his own legislative experiences. By design, Brody’s tuition is low, and it doesn’t own a hospital that could help bridge revenue gaps. In addition, legislators have cut its budget and reduced two of the ways the school collected revenue. Nevertheless, Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences Phyllis Horns likes what she heard in her first conversations with Staton and sees a promising future for campus. Staton, she says, is committed to the mission of the medical school and the other health sciences programs to provide health care professionals for the state and improve the health status of eastern North Carolinians. She also says the new chancellor has expressed support for growing the Department of Public Health into a School of Public Health. “He talks about promises made, promises kept, and our data are demonstrable in that regard,” she says. “I’m feeling a great deal of enthusiasm for him and how we can work at ECU and take steps to advance the health care workforce in eastern North Carolina. We’re going to grow.” ECU will also continue its relationship with Vidant Health, which owns ECU’s primary teaching hospital and is in the process of merging its medical group practice with ECU’s. “With his experience, dedication and understanding of the issues that we face in eastern North Carolina, I am confident that he will lead the university to great success,” says Michael Waldrum, CEO of Vidant Health. “He has experience in the health sciences and a passion to grow our programs to meet the needs of our great state.” Terrence Campbell, who’s in his final year of dental school, was one of the students who met with Staton in April. Afterward, he said Staton’s experience at Mercer makes him optimistic the new chancellor will be familiar with “the issues that we will have and more able to understand our needs on the Health Sciences Campus.” In addition to stable legislative funding for the medical school and the rest of campus, Staton also wants ECU to crack the $100 million mark in external funding for research. The school brought in $46 million to $48 million in external awards in the last fiscal year, and some relatively new programs are focusing on building research, including engineering, dental medicine and public health. In addition, Provost Ron Mitchelson last year set a goal of 20 percent of faculty members becoming federally funded. “Achieving that goal would move ECU close to the $100 million goal put forth by Dr. Staton,” says Michael Van Scott, interim vice chancellor for research, economic development and engagement at ECU. “Faculty and students drive research. ECU has great faculty and students. If we can find the right ways to support the faculty and students, we can reach $100 million in extramural support.” Looking ahead After Staton spoke to students in July, junior Andrea Tyler of Pembroke said he made a good impression and added, “I’m excited to be part of the ECU Nation when we get a new chancellor.” For his part, Staton seems excited, too, and is already working. “You get one life,” he says, “and from my point of view, pack everything you can into it every day.” And that goal of his to make ECU a “nationally prominent university”? He’s serious. “We have the resources to do that,” he says, “we have the people to do that, and I think it’s time.” East At the Conetoe Family Life Center, some students and graduates of the lay health advising curriculum, developed at ECU, pose with Ruth Little ’14 (back row, center), assistant professor of public health, and Edgecombe County Health Director Karen LaChapelle ’96 (on Little’s left). Also pictured on the back row is the Rev. Richard Joyner, pastor of the CFLC congregation. Road mapsto health ECU helps rural residents learn to help others and themselves BY AMY ADAMS ELLIS PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLIFF HOLLIS It’s fitting the Conetoe Family Life Center in rural Edgecombe County sits alongside the railroad tracks. This place is all about creating connections. On a hot and humid afternoon, a couple of dozen people have gathered on the church grounds to connect with each other and compare notes about the passion they share: to see their communities become healthier. Everyone here either has completed or is enrolled in a lay health-coaching course developed and refined by faculty members from East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine and College of Nursing. Graduates of the 96-hour curriculum serve as volunteer health advisors in homes and churches of their underserved neighbors— statistically, some of the poorest, sickest people in eastern North Carolina. “My health coach helped me a lot…with my weight, my blood pressure, my sugar…. I walk more than I used to walk….They tried to get you whatever help you might need, whether it was diabetes or blood pressure or whatever….The main thing, they care about you.” $1.5 million in grant funding—testing and tweaking the curriculum. She’s been helped along the way by churches, federally qualified health centers, health departments, community physicians and dentists, hospitals, community colleges and Access East, a not-for-profit corporation established by various community health partner organizations—including Brody and Vidant Medical Center—to improve health access and health outcomes for the East’s most vulnerable population. “You have to be willing to stick with someone even when they don’t show change quickly,” Little tells the group. One woman testifies that smoked turkey necks are just as flavorful as ham hocks when it comes to seasoning collard greens. Another says her 5-year-old grandson has learned to compare the sugar content on nutrition labels of various foods. As the women share secret ingredients and healthy alternatives to preparing food, Little says a not-so-secret ingredient—and this program’s key to success—is simple: love. “It’s about authentically loving people,” Little says. “It’s showing people your heart, not just your knowledge. It’s demonstrating compassion over a long period of time, being willing to go into peoples’ homes and churches. It’s taking the program to the patients and not the other way around.” partner more effectively with primary care providers. They’re trained to go beyond the “what” to the “why” in explaining the importance of taking medications correctly and keeping doctors’ appointments. They call their mentees weekly, visit them monthly and accompany them to medical appointments. They help them set personal health goals and overcome barriers to care. They connect spiritual wellness to physical wellness, patients to providers, gaping needs to available resources. Jasmine Dozier was trained as a health coach in 2013 for Community Care Plan of Eastern Carolina, a collaborative network of primary care physicians, care managers, hospitals, public health and social service agencies that aims to improve the health of eastern North Carolina’s Medicaid population. Dozier coached 30 individuals for a year and now provides the services at her church. She says consistency is what makes the model work. “Some of these people didn’t have anyone calling to check on them before. But they got used to my voice,” she says. “Knowing that people from their community are taking interest in them makes the difference. I gained their trust.” Data show the volunteer advisors are helping improve health outcomes for this marginalized segment of the population by targeting behaviors related to weight and nutrition, activity level, diabetes and blood pressure management, and access to care. “Remember this is about incremental change,” says Ruth Little ’14, an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health at Brody, who’s there with Edgecombe County Health Director Karen LaChapelle ’96. Getting to the ‘why’ Few of the lay health advisors had previous medical experience when they signed up for the training. But now they’re working in health care settings, churches and community organizations under the guidance of licensed health care professionals, helping to educate, support and encourage patients who’ve been identified by various health agencies as needing special assistance to manage their chronic diseases. They hold exercise and nutrition classes The project was born in 2007, when Little, an eastern North Carolina native and and health fairs. They’re helping neighbors pastor’s daughter, has spent years working better understand health issues and how to with an interdisciplinary team—and about the North Carolina Office of Minority Health sponsored a faith-based lay diabetes 24 25 education pilot in minority churches in Jones County, where Little had conducted pilot work as the county’s health director. The pilot’s success led the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and the N.C. Health and Wellness Trust Fund to invest $600,000 to expand the project into Edgecombe, Lenoir and Duplin counties, other eastern counties with severe chronic health issues. Another KBR grant of nearly $764,000 funded a community health-coaching partnership in 2013 in the same counties between Access East, CCPEC and Little. It supported translating the curriculum for use in North Carolina Community Colleges, which approved the course last fall and offered the inaugural class at Edgecombe Community College. To date, more than 75 health coaches have been trained, impacting nearly 1,000 people. And those coaches are making a difference. Health data for 300 predominantly African-American individuals across three counties—half of whom had received coaching for a year —showed the coached group lost an average of 5 pounds, while those receiving no intervention gained an average of 2.5 pounds. On average, coached participants lowered their systolic blood pressure by 4.5 points and their diastolic blood pressure by 2.25 points, while those in the control group experienced an increase of 12.5 points in systolic pressure and 4.06 in diastolic pressure. Rosa Joyner Steele They also reported fewer emergency department visits, fewer missed doctor’s appointments, greater adherence to treatment plans and vital assistance with issues like housing, medication, transportation and Medicaid eligibility. Rosa Joyner Steele, a toned, vivacious woman in boots and a straw hat, was the first lay health coach trained at Conetoe Family Life Center. She recalls one individual whose nutritional challenges hinged on their lack of a refrigerator. She connected them with a family who had one they didn’t need. “It’s about being tenacious and going the extra mile,” she says. “Asking them if they need a ride. Going with them to the doctor and asking embarrassing questions. Picking fresh vegetables and delivering them to their homes.” Steele helps maintain the enormous community garden on the church property —a rainbow of corn, zucchini, tomatoes, blueberries and other produce. One of her goals is to connect local youth with seniors who can teach them how to can vegetables and make preserves. Her cousin and pastor of the congregation, Richard Joyner, garnered national attention when he was named a CNN “Top Ten Hero of 2015” for his tireless efforts to address chronic disease in his community. Today he delivers a passionate pep talk, building his sermonette around words such as “mobility, accessibility, sustainability, credibility.” Partnerships with purpose Faith-based health initiatives are nothing new, harking back to the parish nurses who have played integral roles in traditional Episcopal and Catholic congregations. But they’ve become a national trend, in minority and underserved populations especially, as public health leaders have increasingly recognized and leveraged the church’s influence. “Nondenominational churches are the fastest growing in eastern North Carolina and across the United States,” Little says. “Our goal was to develop a curriculum that wasn’t exclusive to one denomination or even to faith communities. Studies reveal that health coaches can be effective paraprofessional members of health care teams in churches as well as medical practices.” Next is expanding partnerships so outcomes can be measured in a broader population; growing into more counties and community colleges and offering the curriculum online; and continuing work to establish a state- recognized certification for coaches. Meanwhile, in Conetoe, the little church by the railroad tracks will keep making connections that make its community healthier. “We need this from a grassroots community basis more than any other county,” says Joyner. “We need to teach people how to not just manage chronic diseases, but how to prevent them in the first place.” Thus, the county with one of the worst rates of chronic disease is leading the way to a healthier North Carolina. That may seem ironic to some, but not to Little. “I think that’s scriptural,” she says. East ALWAYS IN SEARCH OF THE BRIGHTEST STARS A career with ARAMARK provides an opportunity for alumni to be part of a Higher Education team that has the ability to positively impact the student experience. Visit www.aramark.com to explore career opportunities at your alma mater. Giving voice The North Carolina Literary Review commemorates 25 years of N.C. writing BY JULES NORWOOD PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLIFF HOLLIS From left, Dana Ezzell, NCLR art director, Margaret Bauer, editor and Rives Chair of Southern Literature, and Liza Wieland, fiction editor Southern says the publication serves as a Vision They do that in a very eloquent way, so that “I started thinking about ways to give students flagship for the state’s literary community. they’re able to bring all these different voices some choices and control over what they’re Alex Albright, founding editor, says NCLR together between the covers of this unique studying, while at the same time making sure “Each issue shows off the state at its was the brainchild of Keats Sparrow, former magazine,” she says. they’re being exposed to good writing and best, especially because Margaret and her dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. learning the things they should learn,” he says. staff don’t just keep going back to the In addition to the annual print issue, an “He wanted the North Carolina Literary NCLR is essential same well of favorites (no matter how online issue was added in 2012. Each year Glover divides the class into small groups, and Historical Association, of which he was deep and refreshing that well may be),” the two issues feature unique but often and each group is assigned a literary journal, president, to publish a companion journal he says. “They’ve made the re-discovery complementary content. one of which is NCLR. Everyone reads and to the North Carolina Historical Review, of forgotten or neglected North Carolina chooses the works they’d like to study, and which had been published since the 1920s,” writers an integral part of their mission and Scholarship each group has to come to a consensus and Albright says. “And he really wanted it to be made sure to show off many of our new explain its choice to the class. published at ECU.” ECU students are involved in nearly every and emerging writers, as well.” NCLR aspect of producing NCLR. They help edit, “The interesting part is where the students From the beginning, he says, the vision was North Carolina literary figures such fact-check and manage the publication. Several have to articulate what’s valuable about the to create a place for previously unknown as Clyde Edgerton, Jim Grimsley, Jill undergraduate interns and one or two story,” Glover says. “NCLR gives them writers to be published alongside North McCorkle, Fred Chappell and Lee Smith graduate students serve as editorial assistants. something that’s very close to them, stories Carolina’s best. “We wanted to make a —space is carved have appeared in NCLR’s pages. But Each receives invaluable real-world experience that are by North Carolina writers or about magazine that gave our state’s literature a Bauer says it’s not uncommon to hear in putting together a publication. North Carolina, and that’s an important part strong historical and cultural context, one RTH 25 C 25 IN THIS ISSUE number 25 NORTHCAROLINALITERARYREVIEW 2016IN THIS ISSUE ws with EditFiction or Mar t Bau mes Ap aki Shelt , Jill McCorkle, a im Gr x Albright Creaion Prize EThe J Applewhite Poem b DebrfmanThe Doris Betts Fiction Prize Sy BradField umb 25 NORTHCAROLINALITERARYREVIEW 2016 25YEARSCELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF THENORTH CAROLINA LITERARY REVIEWCELEBRATING 25YEARS OF THENORTH RTHNAARYIEW NCLR25YEARS CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF THENORTH CAROLINA LITERARY REVIEW from a writer that the piece was their first of the mix.” that recognized the diversity of both its “They learn everything from basic publication, or even the first story they’ve writers and readers,” says Albright. formatting to fact-checking,” says Bauer. Bauer, a self-described writer groupie, says written, as is the case for the winner of this “They help with literary events that we go she enjoys working with the state’s writers as year’s Doris Betts Fiction Prize, whose piece The journal was innovative in several ways, to, so they get to meet writers and make well as NCLR’s staff and students. As the will appear in the 2017 issue. providing an outlet for publishing not contacts, learn about the marketing. And journal moves into its next quarter-century, only fiction and poetry, but also creative “It’s a wonderful way for the literary they watch me go crazy sometimes.” she is working with the ECU Foundation to nonfiction such as essays and memoirs. Book community of North Carolina to be informed raise funds for a $2 million endowment to reviews and interviews with writers added a Tim Buchanan ’15 was a graduate assistant about writers that they may not know,” says ensure its continued publication. scholarly writing element. for NCLR in 2013 while working the L. Theresa Church. “It’s a large state, and on a master of arts in English with a “I have gotten to meet some of my favorite NCLR’s first art director, Eva Roberts, was state and its people are a large part of what there are new people coming into the literary marshlands and beaches of the coast, North concentration in creative writing. A story writers, and they have sat on my front has made NCLR successful, along with the community all the time. So this journal gives responsible for making the publication stand Carolina has inspired generations of writers he wrote for NCLR fiction editor Liza porch telling me stories and answering my out visually at a time when most literary support its writers show for each other. them a way to know about each other.” to put pen to paper. Weiland’s advanced fiction workshop earned questions about their work,” she says. “It’s journals were mostly text, Bauer says. And There is a wide variety of experience, Bauer Church’s essay on the Carolina African him the Association of Writers and Writing been amazing, and they’re such warm people. Since 1992, the North Carolina Literary Review, art director Dana Ezzell, who has been says. In addition to N.C. natives, the university American Writers’ Collective, which also Programs Intro Journals Prize in 2014. I wouldn’t give it up for anything.” produced at East Carolina University, has involved with NCLR since 1996 when she system brings people in who interact and recently celebrated a milestone, appears in given a voice to those writers, celebrating the was a graphic design student at ECU, has “The practice I got while reading other The publication is available in bookstores or influence each other. There is geographical the 2016 issue of NCLR. poetry and prose of the Old North State as ensured that it remains unique. people’s work helped me recognize what was by subscription. Back issues and additional diversity as well as cultural diversity. well as its artists. This summer, NCLR readers “We may write for ourselves,” she says, “but if good and not in my own writing and helped information can be found at nclr.ecu.edu. “Each issue was handcrafted by writers, received printed copies of the 25th issue of “North Carolina inspires writers because to live we have something to say, we’re trying to say it hone my critical eye,” Buchanan says. East designers, artists and photographers—a the journal, featuring award-winning writers, in this state is to live in cultural tension,” says to someone. You want to share, and it’s a way weaving of word, story and meaning—the After publication, issues of NCLR oftenbook reviews and an interview with editor Zackary Vernon, assistant professor of English to make yourself known in larger circles.” exact elements that I found passion in find their way into the classroom as Celebrating 25 Years of the Margaret Bauer celebrating the milestone. at Appalachian State University, who curated Dannye Romine Powell, book review exploring,” Ezzell says. teaching tools. Bauer says she uses them as North Carolina Literary Review Bauer’s interview for NCLR’s 25th issue. “I think it speaks volumes that East Carolina columnist for the Charlotte Observer and an example of a literary journal to teach Like the writers, the artists featured in Oct. 22, 2-4 p.m.* was the institution that took the initiative “In North Carolina, past and present, one author of three collections of poetry, says students about layout, captions, footnotes NCLR have North Carolina connections. Joyner Library Faulkner Gallery to create a North Carolina Literary Review,” can experience a staggering range of cultural, her copies of NCLR are keepsakes she and style. She also uses interviews or creative says Ed Southern, executive director of the ideological, political, economic, religious and cannot let go. “They are, individually, a clear Many journals have fallen to the rise of pieces when teaching about a writer who has Free and open to the public North Carolina Writers’ Network. “There educational platforms,” he says. “As a result, window onto the world of literary activity in online publication, says poet Jaki Shelton appeared in its pages. RSVP by Oct. 15 to has always been a strong literary tradition North Carolina is and has always been a North Carolina. Taken together, they are an Green, but the longevity of NCLR speaks to NCLRUser@ecu.edu Brian Glover uses NCLR in his introduction its quality and the dedication of its staff. there, going back decades. It serves a student battleground state, and out of conflict, out of encyclopedia of all you need to know about to short stories class. The class is primarily Contact: BauerM@ecu.edu body from throughout the state and beyond serious cultural contemplation, comes both the great wealth of our literary artists in “They have their ear to the ground in terms for non-English majors, and Glover wanted this state,” she says. “The NCLR is truly an *Alternate date, Oct. 15 the state, and by being the university of engrossing drama and engaging intellectual of appreciating and celebrating the diversity to find a way to encourage his students to eastern North Carolina, it plays a vital indispensable treasure.” debate, two key ingredients for great art.” of writers and writing styles across the state. read for themselves. 30 31 Makingit count Bernita Demery doesn’t let a day pass without helping others BY JAMIE SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLIFF HOLLIS Makingit count Bernita Demery doesn’t let a day pass without helping others BY JAMIE SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLIFF HOLLIS Children surround the kitchen table and their her family, Demery says giving back was Ricky, have been members to the beach for a Bible study as an example pretty deep—that it was going to be a hard laughter fills the home of Bernita Demery very important to her mother. “I watched since 1988. After serving of her willingness to keep them engaged. program. The second year I wanted to quit. ’02 as she shares hugs with the small crew her juggle so many tasks to make things on the church’s finance It was a lot, but my husband encouraged Demery tries to be the support, direction that has accompanied her home from church better for us, and she still contributed to committee for 17 years, me,” says Demery. Looking back on the and balance they may need in their lives. on this beautiful Sunday afternoon. the community,” she says. “Perseverance was she has found her way back experience, Demery believes her MBA makes something I learned from her, and it has to working with the youth “I want them to believe in themselves,” her a better manager for Greenville. “I love children. Even in the next season of certainly helped in my 28 years with the city.” of the congregation. She she says. life I want to do something that keeps me in “I think obtaining an MBA helped me be strives to be someone they touch with young people,” she says. Demery began working for the city of Perseverance more aware of business activities, how to run can look up to and aspire Greenville in 1988 as a senior accountant diverse types of businesses and the impact of For Demery, life is about giving back and to become. After studying accounting at North Carolina and was promoted to financial director and a diverse culture. The city is a very complex realizing everything we do impacts someone Agricultural & Technical State University in CFO in 1989. She oversees the planning Though Demery’s own business enterprise within itself and I doelse. She hopes the small seeds she plants by Greensboro on a full academic scholarship, and day-to-day operations of the city’s children are grown, it is believe (the MBA) has enhanced my skills,” spending time with children grow into the she ended up in Greenville, she says, because $78.1 million budget. The department she not unusual to see several says Demery. realization that success is within their grasp. the city was bigger than Halifax but not too manages comprises several offices including teenagers in her home or a big. She learned during an undergraduate ECU’s College of Business, like so many “I live by Dr. King’s motto, ‘If I can help purchasing, payroll, collections, investments few kids piled into her car internship in Chicago that her dream of people, has benefited from her desire to help. someone as I pass along…then my living and the Minority Women/Business Enterprise for a quick trip to the beach. living in a big city and being away from her Since finishing her MBA in 2002, Demery will not be in vain,’” says Demery, calling out Program, a joint venture between the city and “It’s important for kids in family wasn’t as glamourous as she imagined. continues to serve on the school’s Business a portion of a song performed by Mahalia Greenville Utilities Commission to provide eastern North Carolina to During her time in the Windy City, her Advisory Council. She touts the experience she Jackson, a favorite of Martin Luther King Jr. minority- and women-owned businesses equal be exposed to other types of grandfather died. When she couldn’t make had as a student and continues to have as an and used in his 1968 sermon, “The Drum opportunity to do business with government. cultural activities and to see alumna as a reason for others to attend ECU. it back for the funeral due to work, her Major Instinct.” the ocean. I think it opensThe success of Demery’s leadership with family understood. their minds to think about “ECU is more than a university; it’s a family Demery, who received her master’s degree in the city can be measured by the numerous the endless possibilities of “That wasn’t OK with me,” Demery says. with a connection you will have for the rest business administration from East Carolina recognitions the finance department has the world,” says Demery. So she vowed to never be that far from of your life,” she says. University, lives out this motto in her personal received over the years, including the award family again. and professional life. She has built a successful for Excellence in Financial Reporting, which Guiding and inspiring During visits to her home or to local parks, ECU honored her last year when she was career as the financial director and chief it has received for 26 consecutive years. she tries to keep things casual and fun. She The perseverance exemplified by her mother selected as one of the university’s Women of Sometimes referred to as the mother hen of financial officer for the city of Greenville She has held positions in professional and wants the children and teenagers she works came in handy when she decided to return Distinction. The award is given to women the office, Demery values relationships and and is known throughout the community for community organizations including the with to see her as an everyday person. “All to school in 2000 to pursue her MBA. She for their leadership and impact at ECU and encourages her young managers to develop helping and encouraging others. board of directors for the North Carolina they have to do is make a little progress took on the task while serving as Greenville’s in the community. long-standing relationships locally. Association of Certified Public Accountants toward what they want to do in the future. CFO, raising two young daughters and The Pirate pride was passed down to her Strong roots and is treasurer of the Pitt/Greenville “I try to lift up the next generation. I want They can choose to do wrong or right—if continuing her community obligations. daughter Requita, who attended ECU as She grew up in Halifax, a small town in Convention and Visitors Authority. them to rise to the challenge and never settle they do the right thing it will get them a lot Paul Russell, director of graduate studies an undergraduate and is now in her fourth northeastern North Carolina, and is the for mediocre,” she says. further,” says Demery. She credits the accomplishments to hard work for ECU’s College of Business, says the year at the Brody School of Medicine. youngest and only girl of five children. When and the team that works beside her, many of As a successful and respected leader in the In 2012, she co-founded the East Carolina MBA program is designed to be as flexible Her youngest daughter, Bridget, followed Demery was 8 months old, her father died, whom came from ECU’s College of Business. community, Demery uses her professional Ivy Foundation with other members of as possible because the majority of their in her mother’s footsteps and is studying leaving her mother to raise the children Her colleagues attribute her success not success and life experience to help motivate the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority alumni students juggle the demands of work and accounting at NC A&T. alone. Early on in life, the influence of her only to savvy accounting and business skills and encourage young people. She is known group. The foundation creates programs and family while pursuing their degree. Though she has a few years before family helped shape her. but also to the environment she creates that to teach classes to youth, especially girls, on supports partnerships that boost education, “Students can choose between online and retirement, Demery is always thinking about As a young girl Demery’s mother, Mildred encourages outstanding performance. basic finances, how to open a bank account culture and healthy living. This year, it is on-campus courses. On-campus courses that what’s next. She is clear with anyone who Whitaker, would share the bills and the and the importance of giving back. She awarding nine scholarships to high school Denisha Harris ’02 ’05 began working in the are taught in the afternoon during the fall asks that sitting around and doing nothing amount of her paycheck as she wrote out has passed on these skills to her two adult graduates to attend the college of their choice. finance department as an intern 10 years ago. semester are taught at night in the spring to isn’t her style. checks each month, giving Demery her first daughters, Requita and Bridget. She is now the purchasing manager for the According to her friend and fellow church give local students the ability to take courses “Too many people have made sacrifices for lessons in budgeting and finance. When she city and says Demery’s management style has “They are both very conscious of being member Julius Parham, Demery is a doer— around their schedule,” says Russell. me to have the opportunities I’ve had over was a teenager, she traveled to Newport News, filtered through to other supervisors within the independent and making sure they are the grace and love that is the center of her my life. I have to continue to give back in Virginia, in the summer to work in a daycare Demery says the biggest challenge for department, making it a great place to work. contributing to the community,” says Demery. faith are shown in her actions and attitude. some way,” she says. owned by her aunt. She says the experience her was attending the night meetings, but Her excitement is contagious, he said. “She cares about the whole person—our Her drive to help others often finds her professors worked with her and understood taught her about business management and Demery believes God has brought her through families and our dreams. She supports your with the youth who attend Cornerstone “She grabs the kids’ attention and motivates what it takes to be in charge. her individual situation. seasons in life and, with a smile, says that goals and provides the resources we need to Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville, them by trying different things,” he said, citing Though times were tough financially for “The first year I was there I realized I was in working for the city is not her final season. become better,” says Harris. where she and her husband of 32 years, her recent plan to take the youth on a trip East 34 35 Changing Lives, Changing Communities Discovery Changing Lives, Changing Communities Discovery Donor Spotlight The Wooten family, with the support of Dr. Harriet Wooten and her son, Dr. Lamont Wooten, has donated more than $350,000 to the Wooten Laboratory at ECU since 2008 and more than $400,000 since 2004. For information on giving to the Wooten Lab or other medical research at ECU, call 252-744-6265, email brownka@ecu.edu or visit www.ecu.edu/give. ecu.edu/give Qun Lu talks about his lab’s Alzheimer’s research at go.ecu.edu/ab50d6cf. disease or frontotemporal require increasing individual care, and state budgets have become Qun Lu dementia. We are looking at the cost of care is tremendous really tight, private funding and Position: Professor of anatomy how novel and innovative small-compared with cancer or heart philanthropy increasingly play and cell biology and director of molecule drugs can modify the disease. The pharmaceutical important roles in AD research the Harriet and John Wooten way nerve cells communicate pipelines rely on us scientists to nationwide. We accomplished a Laboratory for Alzheimer’s and to each other so that we may produce enough viable leads to lot with the much smaller budget. Neurodegenerative Diseases one day protect people from be developed into the drugs that But as we move forward, it would Research, Brody School of developing AD or suppress AD can treat AD patients successfully.” significantly speed up our drug Medicine at ECU progression.” discovery and development if Private funding supports research Searching for a cure we have a much larger funding A costly disease “Our research has been supported “It is now estimated that half of base. We cannot do it without “Because the diseases can run a by both public and private the people living to age 80 to 85 funding. We will need everyone’s long time—eight to 10 years—and funding. However, as federal will develop either Alzheimer’s involvement and support.” Kelsey Coffield Gail Herring All photos, Cliff HollisCoffield talks about her Access Scholarship at go.ecu.edu/79e6ffa1. Women’s Roundtable supports vital scholarships Kelsey Coffield ’15, a graduate would not have that opportunity,” Charlene Bregier ’82 is an artist business partners. She also student at East Carolina said Gail Herring ’80, a senior vice whose work has been shown started the Business Woman’s University, wants to be a licensed president with First Citizens Bank all over the state. She says she Network for Duke Energy mental health and substance in southeastern North Carolina hopes to inspire students to Employees with eight chapters abuse counselor. However, she and chair of the Women’s realize their greatest potential. across the U.S. and Canada. says she never would have made Roundtable. Angela Allen ’81 graduated from Jamie Sigler ’01 and Sarah Evans it to this point had it not been The WRT helps its scholarship ECU with a computer science ’01 formed a successful public for the Access Scholarship she recipients network and be degree and went on to work for relations company that has three received as an undergraduate. mentored by its members. and become an executive at IBM. U.S. offices and one in London “I received the letter (Access She has a master’s degree from to serve clients from around the “Any young female graduating Scholarship Award), literally had a Harvard Business School. world. Their company, J Public from East Carolina, really any freak-out in my car and called my Relations, was named 2015 Small student, could look to any of Alta Andrews ’74 was a mother mom,” she recalled recently. “We PR Firm of the Year by PR News. these women in what they have while going to school to get her were both really emotional. It was accomplished and see them as a master’s as well as her doctorate. The Women’s Roundtable 2016 a huge weight lifted off of our role model,” Herring said. She’s helped educate thousands Incredible Women Series event shoulders…. It made my dream of of young nurses. will be Oct. 13 at the Greenville Here are this year’s honorees: going to college a reality.” Convention Center. The impact Paulina Hill ’04 was the captain Karen Evans ’80 came to ECU To help students such as Coffield, of scholarships as told through of the tennis team while at to be a nurse. Now she is an the Women’s Roundtable at ECU student stories will highlight the ECU and a quadruple major attorney and partner in a law is hosting the fifth edition of its luncheon, which begins at 11 a.m. in biochemistry, neuroscience, firm. She still helps patients but in Incredible ECU Women series. biology and chemistry. She “We’re looking for investors; a different way: by representing The event honors 11 women who graduated magna cum laude. and people who want to invest in victims of medical malpractice. went to ECU and serves as a did her postdoctoral fellowship other people’s lives to give them fundraiser for the WRT’s Access Cathy Thomas ’79 ’86 has spent in the chemical engineering an opportunity for an education and Honors College endowments. her career getting people to eat department at the Massachusetts and an opportunity to be The Honors Scholarship is right and exercise. One of her Institute of Technology. successful in life,” Herring said. awarded to academically talented projects, “Color Me Healthy,” has “Even if you can just give a little Annette Peery ’96 logs hundreds students with strong character, become an international model bit, when we all put it together, of hours a year as a volunteer. and the Access Scholarship for teaching young children it’s going to grow our fund.” She is the associate dean of the is awarded to North Carolina how to eat properly and be undergraduate programs in the Tickets are on sale now for residents who are in financial physically active. College of Nursing. the event. Individual tickets need, have excellent academics Mary Chatman ’90 ’96 ’12 started cost $100, and sponsorship and show community leadership. Linda Thomas ’81 spent more working as a nursing assistant opportunities are still available. than 33 years with Duke Energy. “The end cause is that we’re while she went to ECU to Ticket information and By volunteering to move into raising money for scholarships become a nurse. She now has more are at www.ecu.edu/ a new position, she landed on and creating a better life and an her doctorate and is an executive incrediblewomen. a management path, retiring opportunity for someone to get a with Memorial Health System in —Rich Klindworth as director of human resources college education that otherwise Savannah, Georgia. We believedAfter a tough loss, the 1991 Pirates reeled off 11 straight wins in ECU’s most memorable football season After a tough loss, the 1991 Pirates reeled off 11 straight wins in ECU’s most memorable football season BY SPAINE STEPHENS From the start, ECU tight end Luke Fisher had an inkling. “I always knew we were going to win the game; I was positive the entire game, especially in the fourth quarter,” he says. The Pirates trailed, the final minutes ticking away. Then with a catch, a run and a dive, Fisher sealed his and his team’s place in Pirate lore. Pirate fans erupted. They hugged and highfived. They rocked the weathered Atlanta- Fulton County Stadium. It was Jan. 1, 1992, at the 24th annual Peach Bowl. Fisher had caught a 22-yard pass from quarterback Jeff Blake to put East Carolina ahead of North Carolina State for good. In a comeback that perfectly punctuated that 1991 “Cinderella season,” ECU made up a 34-17 deficit in the fourth quarter to win 37-34. The Pirates went 11-1 that season, and 25 years later, those days live on. “The team epitomized what East Carolina University has always been about,” says Mark Hessert, associate executive director of the ECU Educational Foundation (Pirate Club) and associate athletic director, whose career at ECU began in the fall of ’91. “That season encapsulated the spirit and passion ECU has for overachieving and gaining respect. It showed that, given the opportunity, we do rise to the occasion.” ‘We believe’ Having the chance to square off against an in-state rival in a bowl game wasn’t something that occurred to anyone who wore purple and gold at the start of the 1991 football season. After a controversial loss at Illinois—ECU was penalized for excessive celebration after recovering an onside kick in the final minutes of a close game —no one could have guessed ECU would win out. “To win 11 games in a row is so hard to do,” says Robert Jones, an All-America linebacker for the ’91 team whose son, Isaiah, plays for the current Pirate squad. “That’s also why that season was so magical.” Time and again, the team snatched victory from teams including Syracuse, South Carolina, Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh. The Pitt game ended in a 24-23 home win that to many was a defining moment of the regular season. “I’m getting chills just thinking about it,” says Dean Browder ’77. “Nobody sat down for the second half, and the concrete stands were bouncing.” The team, led by Bill Lewis, the 1991 American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year, offensive coordinator (and future head coach) Steve Logan, and quarterback Jeff Blake, made the magic happen game after game. “I knew if I played at a high level, everyone else would,” Blake says. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my teammates and coaches and the support we had. They allowed me to be a leader.” Fisher also recalls the support that kept the team motivated and confident. “The fans were just unbelievable,” he says. Brian Bailey saw that devotion firsthand. As a young sportscaster for WNCT-TV in Greenville, he was only a few years older than the players and bonded with them that season. He knew the team had a chip on its shoulder, that Pirate football had not been to a bowl since 1978 (a 35-13 win over Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl) and hadn’t come close to a bowl invitation since the ’83 season. The team’s independent status didn’t help when it came to bowl bids, either. “After the wins started coming in, some of the players joked with me about going to a bowl,” Bailey says. “I told them that if they went to a bowl, they could shave my mustache. That ’stache was 11 years in the making, but some of the guys seemed to like the idea.” As the wins piled up, “I Believe” and “We Believe” began popping up on T-shirts and signs that waved during games. The “We Believe” chant gave rise not only to a stadium cheer, but a team motto, a verbalization of how the Pirate Nation caught fire that season. “We looked for the ‘We Believe’ every game,” Jones says. Fans, in turn, looked for the pivotal play that would change the tide in each game. They were never disappointed. “It was a fun year,” says Rod Gray ’94, who performed as the PeeDee mascot that season. “I’ve never been a part of something so exciting. It took our football program from infancy to more maturity. It was a once-in-alifetime experience.” The game-changers Some say it was fitting that the heady game days of that season yielded an even more energizing reward—a spot in a bowl opposite an in-state foe. “It was almost fate for us to play N.C. State,” Fisher says. “It was the icing on the cake.” The Pirates were 10-1 and ranked 12th in the Associated Press poll. The Wolfpack was 9-2 and ranked 21st. WRAL-TV’s Jeff Gravley was on the sidelines during the Peach Bowl. He recalls the history that created tension between ECU and N.C. State. “For years the N.C. State-ECU game was one of the most anticipated on the schedule,” Gravley says. “Both schools understood the high stakes of the rivalry, but the game was always played in Raleigh. After the Pirates’ 32-14 win in 1987, fans stormed the field, creating chaos. I didn’t cover that game, but vividly remember the field-level video.” A fence and both goal posts were torn down, and a security officer suffered cheekbone and eye injuries from someone who was not connected to either school. Afterward, N.C. State canceled the series. The Peach Bowl would be the teams’ first meeting since. ECU’s success and the opponent created a double-edged sword for Pirate athletics staff. ECU fans ordered around 35,000 tickets, but the university’s allotment was closer to 20,000. Hessert remembers late nights spent agonizing over how to dole out the tickets. “That was not fun,” he says. “It was a pretty stressful time.” So many were headed to the Peach Bowl that a joke rippled among fans of both teams: “Last one out of North Carolina, turn out the lights!” With a bowl-record crowd of 59,322, those who were there felt like all of North Carolina really had joined them in the stands. “It was a hot ticket,” says Browder, who was the president of the Winston-Salem chapter of the Pirate Club and brought a bus full of fans to the game. “Emotions were high on both sides. Everyone was keyed up to play. It was like lightning in a bottle.” Dennis Young, who was beginning his stint as executive director of the Pirate Club, remembers a cold, gray day in Atlanta- Fulton County Stadium, with a clammy haze rolling over the field. As the game ground on, the Pirates found themselves down by three scores in the fourth quarter. “I remember thinking, ‘I can’t believe it’s going to come to this,’” says Jerry Leach ’83, who was perched in the top corner of the stands. But the Pirates weren’t dead. A touchdown near the six-minute mark pulled them within 10 points. Another made it 34-30 with just over three minutes left, but Blake fumbled on a two-point conversion attempt. Many who were there remember the eerie sound of fans taking a collective breath and then shouting “We Believe!” in unison, over and over. “All you could hear was ‘We Believe!’” Leach says. “I think the State fans were in shock.” N.C. State punted on its next possession, and the Pirates stormed back down the field, even surviving a dropped catch thanks to a recovery by running back Cedric Van Buren. Fisher recalls the go-ahead touchdown. “This was a two-minute spread offense; I was split out on the right side,” he says. “When the ball was snapped, they didn’t blitz but dropped back into more of a zone coverage. In the final play of the game, Pirate defensive lineman Greg Gardill, bottom left, tries to push the Wolfpack offensive line back as far as possible so that defensive players, including Robert Jones, center, can attempt to block the field goal attempt. The kick went wide. “Because we had so many receivers out in the play it really spread the underneath coverage thin and, because of my option route (the opportunity to move to an opening), I found an open pocket. “I ran 12 yards deep, made an inside turn and then slid out to the sideline. Jeff placed the ball perfectly on my outside shoulder, which allowed me to catch while turning on the run. This gave me the momentum to get up the field and over the end zone before a defender could reach me.” Christin Simpson ’93 ’95 ’01 was an ECU cheerleader that season. “I distinctly remember the crowd going crazy and the team barely able to contain themselves,” she says. But there was time left, and the Wolfpack drove into ECU territory to set up a 49-yard field goal attempt to tie. Pirate defensive lineman Greg Gardill describes what happened next. “What we do is three defensive linemen get on the center and try to push the line back as far as possible so that the two linebackers can jump up and knock the ball down on the kick,” Gardill says. “So we pushed the line back, and I just thought, ‘Get as low as you can and drive as hard as you can and push the center back and let the two linebackers jump up and hopefully we block this thing.’ “Well, instead of blocking it, it went wide right, and (the) stadium, at least three- quarters of it, went crazy,” he says. “The other people were not so happy.” Gravley says the momentum swings created an electric atmosphere. “It’s still one of the greatest games I have ever covered between two bitter rivals who had to go out of their home state to play,” he says. At one point, birds—pigeons or doves, depending on whom you ask—flew over the stadium and settled onto the field, close to the action. They reminded some of the fighting spirit of the late Chancellor Leo Jenkins and the late head coach Clarence Stasavich, Young says. “When you’re down by 17, some teams get down on themselves and don’t play to their potential,” Jones says. “For us, we were so accustomed to being down that we adapted and just kept playing. We learned how to overcome adversity.” A lasting impression Blake, Fisher, Jones, defensive back Chris Hall and wide receiver Dion Johnson would be drafted into the NFL. ECU would earn the respect it had sought statewide and beyond. The team finished the season ranked ninth nationally. “It was the season that put ECU on the map,” Blake says. “That season was the catalyst for what Pirate football is today.” The 1983 squad, with only three close losses to powerful teams, had been heralded as one of the greatest in school history (and don’t forget the undefeated 1941 team), but the 1991 team surpassed it. The win even helped breathe new life into the Peach Bowl itself with a sold-out crowd and a renewed excitement for the annual contest. “The Pirates have had great seasons since, but none have been close to what that 1991 team did,” says Bailey, who lost his mustache that week, is still with WNCT-TV and calls the Peach Bowl the highlight of his career. “I hope to see the day that East Carolina has an even better football season, but we should never forget what this team accomplished.” Among Pirate faithful, few games have approached the level of determination, triumph and pride of the ’92 Peach Bowl. “The win over Miami in 1999 was the closest emotionally to that ’91 season because of everything eastern North Carolina had been through,” Hessert says, referring to the Pirates’ game played on N.C. State’s field in the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd. The season not only defined a fan base but also attested to ECU’s ability to fight and prevail. “It really paralleled life,” says Richard Allsbrook ’91 ’02, who attended the game with his future father-in-law. “When you’re down and out, there’s always a chance to make a comeback. Part of being a Pirate is having that underdog role, having a chip on your shoulder. We don’t want people to give us anything; we want to work for it. That makes us appreciate it even more.” East —Rich Klindworth contributed to this story. At Illinois Memphis State W At Central Florida W South Carolina W Akron W At Syracuse W Pittsburgh W Tulane W At Southern Miss W At Virginia Tech W At Cincinnati W N.C. State W 37-34 43 Greg Gardill and his family talk about the Peach Bowl at go.ecu.edu/112762b0. Richard Allsbrook ’91 ’02 stands in the room in his home that is dedicated to Pirate and Peach Bowl memorabilia. AL UMNI A S SOCIATION REUNIONS AL UMNI A S SOCIATION REUNIONS Black Alumni Reunion Socialize, network and reconnect Award and the Ledonia S. Wright The Black Alumni Chapter of the with fellow Pirates. Cash bar and Outstanding Faculty/Staff Award. East Carolina Alumni Association food will be available. The evening will begin with presents the 2016 Black Alumni OCT OBER 29 a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. Reunion. The BAC is composed and the awards dinner at 7 p.m. BAC Business Meeting of alumni and friends who followed by a festive gala with Ledonia Wright Cultural Center, advocate for the mission of the music that spans the decades. 7:30 a.m. university and alumni association. Attire is business professional. A Before the parade, join in the In addition to a reunion every portion of the proceeds will be discussion about how to further year, the BAC enhances access donated to the Laura Leary Elliott the BAC and its initiatives, to and attainment of education Endowed Scholarship. including scholarships, growing for African-American students OCTOBER 30 membership and upcoming events. by raising funds for scholarships Ecumenical Service Homecoming Parade and providing networking Mendenhall Student Center Great Taylor-Slaughter Alumni Center, opportunities with alumni. Rooms, 9-11 a.m. 9 a.m. The host hotel is the Holiday Inn Join fellow Pirates to hear an Express at 909 Moye Blvd. Cheer on members of the BAC as uplifting message from alumnus For hotel block details and they ride by in a convertible. the Rev. William Davis. more information, visit ECU vs. Connecticut Brunch PirateAlumni.com/2016BAR. Football Game Golden Corral, 504 SW Greenville OCT OBER 28 Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium Blvd., 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. The BAC will have a block of BAC Golf Outing Cost: on your own seats to cheer coach Mo and the Ironwood Golf and Country Club, Add the finishing touch to the Pirates on to victory. Block ticket 8 a.m., $50 Black Alumni Reunion. purchase details will be available Join us for serious but friendly at PirateAlumni.com/2016BAR. golf competition. Spots are Marching Pirates limited. Pre-registration only; no BAC Awards Banquet and Gala behind the marching band. Alumni Reunion registration on site. Proceeds will Pirates Partying with a Purpose! Football block purchase details Join fellow former band members be donated to the Laura Leary Hilton Greenville, 6 p.m.–1 a.m. will be available at PirateAlumni. for a weekend of fun, music and Elliott Endowed Scholarship. Dinner and gala: $40 for com/2016MPReunion. football. Reminisce with old members, $50 for non-members Reunion Information Desk Marching Pirate polo shirts friends and make new ones as Gala only: $20 for members, $25 Holiday Inn Express, 4-6 p.m. (required for the performance) you join the band on the field and for non-members One-stop shop for information are $18. The polo shirts are the in the stands. Join us as we honor the about all Black Alumni Reunion same as last year. Depending The reunion fee is $15 for recipients of the second events. on the game time, lunch will be members and $25 for non- Laura Leary Elliott Endowed served before the game or during Homecoming 2016 Mixer: The “Arrrgh” members. Football tickets are Scholarship and recognize the halftime. Meet and Greet $25 each and are NOT included in recipients of the Dr. Andrew The host hotel is the Holiday Hilton Greenville, 207 Greenville the reunion fee. A block of seats Best Trailblazer Award, the Laura Inn Express at 909 Moye Blvd. Blvd. SE, 8 p.m.–1 a.m. will be reserved in the Boneyard Marie Elliott Courageous Leader For hotel block details and more information, check PirateAlumni. com/2016MPReunion. The full OCTOBER 28 OCTOBER 29 OTHER ATIVITIES Alumni Awards Ceremony Homecoming Parade Homecoming Dowdy Student Stores schedule will be available once and Dinner 9 a.m., Fifth Street Canned Food Drive The “Go for the Gold” kickoff time is announced. 5:30 p.m., Join us at the Taylor-Slaughter Oct. 27, noon-3 p.m. homecoming celebration will Greenville Convention Center Alumni Center and get a great Food Bank of Central & Eastern be Oct. 26-29 at ECU Dowdy OCT OBER 28 Join us as we present the 2016 seat to watch the Homecoming North Carolina Student Stores on campus with Open rehearsal Virgil Clark ’50 Distinguished Parade. See PeeDee, the Contact: homecoming@ecu.edu savings throughout the store. College Hill Field, 4-6 p.m. Service Award, Honorary Marching Pirates and other local or 252-737 1808 Alumni, show us your class ring OCTOBER 29 Alumni Award and Outstanding bands, ECU cheerleaders, student and save a percentage for each Homecoming Concert Alumni breakfast Alumni Awards at the East organization floats, the 2016 year since graduation, up to Performer TBA at Five hours before kickoff Carolina Alumni Association’s Homecoming Court and Alumni 30 percent off for class of ’86 ecu.edu/homecoming Alumni band rehearsal signature event. See pages Award recipients. and beyond. Come in before Oct. 27, 7 p.m. College Hill Field, 46-47 for recipients. All alumni or after the parade for special Buccaneer Buffet Minges Coliseum four hours before kickoff and friends and their guests are activities, giveaways for kids and Three hours before kickoff, Contact: Darrius Barrow at Marching band rehearsal welcome; advance registration door prize drawing on Saturday. ECU soccer stadium barrowd14@ecu.edu or College Hill Field, is required. Sponsorships are More information is at www. Gather with fellow Pirates for a three hours before kickoff 252-328-4738 sought. To become a sponsor or studentstores.ecu.edu or email buffet meal by Aramark, Abrams Combined band rehearsal for general information, contact Homecoming Pep Rally studentstores@ecu.edu or call and GK Cafe. Enjoy beverages, 252-328-6731 or 877-499-8398. College Hill Field, Shawn Moore ’91 ’98, director at Freeboot Friday live music and entertainment, two hours before kickoff of scholarships and signature Oct. 28, 5-8 p.m. door prizes and more. Buccaneer March to stadium programs, at 252-328-5775 Five Points Plaza, or mooresh@ecu.edu. More Uptown Greenville Buffet is open to all friends and 1 hour, 45 minutes before kickoff fans of East Carolina. New this information is available at Free Pregame performance year, members of the alumni www.PirateAlumni.com/ Contact: homecoming@ecu.edu 20 minutes before kickoff association can enter a half-hour 2016AwardsCeremony. or 252-737 1808 Connecticut vs. ECU early (3.5 hours before kickoff). Football Game See page 50 for pricing. Time TBD 44 45 C OLLEGE, SCHOOL AND DEPARTMENT EVENT S AL UMNI AWARD RECIPIENT S C OLLEGE, SCHOOL AND DEPARTMENT EVENT S AL UMNI AWARD RECIPIENT S Department of Biology College of Health and Human Performance VIRGIL CLARK ’50 HONORAR Y AL UMNUS radio and television in the his wife, Cindy, live in Quantico, coordinator, assistant principal Homecoming Nerd Nite Oct. 29, 8 a.m. Greenville, Raleigh and Chapel Virginia, and have six children. and public health administrator. DISTINGUISHED Oct. 28, 5:30 p.m. Tent in front of Rivers Building John Bray Hill markets. He has also worked The branch she leads, Community SERVICE ALUMNUS Location TBA Free; no RSVP required founded A in sports broadcasting including and Clinical Connections for Steve Free; no RSVP required Contact: Jerrika Alston, alstonje14@ecu.edu Time for the Tar Heel Sports Network at Prevention and Health, works to George Contact: Jennifer Jacobs at Jacobsje15@ecu.edu Science UNC-Chapel Hill and the Pirate reduce obesity, diabetes, heart Career Services and Parents Services Smith ’73 is learning Sports Network at ECU. Hinton disease and stroke, making College of Business Homecoming Parade Yard Party a former center in has long been the host of a healthy living easier for all North Homecoming social Oct. 29, 9 a.m. executive of Grifton with popular morning radio and cable Carolinians. Thomas has Oct. 29, 8:45 a.m. Career Services House, 701 E. Fifth St. Eveready his wife, TV program, Talk of the Town, developed national award- On the lawn between Chancellor’s Way Cost and RSVP deadline TBA Battery Co. Nancy, after which airs on 103.7 WTIB and winning health education and Fifth Street Contact: Karen Franklin, 252-328-6050 He worked a long career Cable 7. Hinton is a former programs including “Color Me Free, no RSVP required more than ALS/Joyner Library as a scientist, chairman of the Greenville-Pitt Healthy” and “Eat Smart, Move Contact: Vickie Glover-Gurganus, 37 years with Music Library open house professor Chamber of Commerce and a More, Weigh Less.” She was gloverg@ecu.edu or 252-328-6628 EBC inOct. 28, all day floating and pharmaceutical executive. former president of the North instrumental in the formation of various College of Allied Health Sciences Music Library Started in 2009, the center Carolina Association of “Eat Smart, Move More NC,” a positions in the U.S., Indonesia Oct. 28, 6-9 p.m. Free, no RSVP required provides outdoor recreation as Broadcasters. He received the statewide movement that works and Kenya. He retired in 2011 as Health Sciences Building lobby; 2150 E. Fifth St. Contact: Heather White, whiteh@ecu.edu, well as science and environmental alumni association’s Distinguished to create a North Carolina where the CEO and managing director Free; RSVP by Sept. 15 252-328-2870 education to children and families Service Award in 2000 and was people can eat smart and move of Eveready East Africa Limited. Contact: Diane Apetsi, 252-744-6010 College of Nursing of Pitt and surrounding counties. named Greenville’s Small more wherever they live, learn, As CEO, he oversaw manufac- Department of Chemistry Homecoming reception The center is just one of the many Business Leader of the Year for earn, play or pray. She is widely turing, finance, sales and Homecoming festivities Oct. 28, 5:30-8 p.m. ways the Brays support the 2002. He is a member of the UNC published in professional marketing operations for EEAL, a Oct. 28, 5-8 p.m. College of Nursing building front lobby environment and the community Board of Governors. He and his literature. She received the $20 million company publicly Science and Technology Building third-floor atrium Free; RSVP by Oct. 14 along with their support of a wife, Debbie, live in Greenville College of Health and Human traded on the Nairobi Stock Cost TBA, RSVP by Oct. 14 Contact: Jane Boardman, boardmanj@ecu.edu variety of programs and and have two children and two Performance’s Outstanding Exchange. While based in Kenya Contact: Roshona Blackmon, 252-328-9704 or or 252-744-6504 scholarships at ECU and PCC and grandchildren. Alumni Award in 2015. She has a Dr. Douglas Privette ’72 is a for 12 years, Smith was a leader in blackmonr@ecu.edu the conservation of hundreds of bachelor of science in school and Department of Nutrition Science member of the ECU Medical & the business community, serving acres of woodlands and community health education, a Department of Criminal Justice Homecoming parade reception with GO-Science Health Sciences Foundation Maj. Gen. on the Kenya National Social Alumni tailgate Oct. 29, noon board of directors. Since joining Frederick Economic Council, Kenya croplands. Bray is a co-founder of master of arts in health education Oct. 29, 10 a.m. GO-Science, 729 Dickinson Ave., Greenville the board in 2011, he has served Padilla National AIDS Control Council Metrics, holding several positions and an educational supervision from 1994 to 2012. From 1978 to certification, all from ECU. She Rivers Building lawn (Fifth Street side; Enjoy center exhibits, demonstrations by the on several committees including ’82 is the and National Olympic Committee parking in adjacent west lot) Student Dietetic Association and free food investment, engagement, and 15th president of Kenya. He also held leadership 1994, Bray conducted trace lives in Raleigh. Free; no RSVP required Free; RSVP by Oct. 26 (space is limited) development and donor relations. of National positions in organizations such as element chemistry research at Contact: Sandra Barfield, barfieldsa15@ecu.edu Contact: Susan Howard, howards@ecu.edu He travels throughout the state to Defense Kenya Private Sector Alliance, ECU’s medical school. Before or 252-328-4192 meet with alumni and gain University, Eastern Africa Association, that, he worked at an Religious Studies Program environmental consulting firm in support for professorships, the nation’s American Chamber of Commerce School of Dental Medicine Alumni and friends pre-game get-together Maryland. He earned his bachelor 2017 Alumni Award endowments and scholarships. premier joint of Kenya and Kenya Association Continuing education event Oct. 29, starting two hours before the game of science degree in chemistry He and his wife, Terry, set up a military of Manufacturers. In 1998, Smith nominations due Nov. 1 Oct. 29, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Derek Maher’s house, 1021 E. Wright Road, in 1967 from the Rose-Hulman scholarship in the Brody School higher worked with the U.S. ambassador Ross Hall, 1851 MacGregor Downs Road Greenville The East Carolina Alumni Institute of Technology in Terre of Medicine and have included education institution. With more and former United Nations Cost and RSVP deadline TBA Free, RSVP by Oct. 21 Haute, Ind. He also earned a Association is accepting the school in their estate plan. He than 30 years in the Marine Secretary-General Kofi Annan to Contact: Dr. JoAnne Murray, 252-737-7074 Contact: Lee Johnson, johnsonle@ecu.edu or master of arts in chemical served as the director of regional Corps, Padilla has served help resolve the 1998 Kenya nominations for the 2017 252-737-4305 College of Education oceanography and a doctorate development for the East throughout the Middle East, Election Crisis. Smith started with Alumni Awards through Nov. Breakfast on the porch Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences in geochemistry from Johns Carolina Heart Institute from Mediterranean and Pacific, Eveready in 1974 after earning a Oct. 29, 8:30 a.m. Homecoming breakfast Hopkins University. He and 1. Nominations consist of 2009 to 2015. He spent more including combat deployments in bachelor’s degree in industrial Speight Building Celebrating classes of ’66, ’76, ’86, ’96 and ’06 Nancy live in Grifton. They a one-page form and two than 25 years as a cardiologist in Somalia and Iraq. His prior technology from ECU. He serves Free; RSVP by Oct. 21 Oct. 29, 8 a.m. have two sons. eastern North Carolina. As one of positions include director of as a commissioner for the town letters of recommendation, Contact: COEoutreach@ecu.edu On the lawn outside Whichard the first students in the ECU operations for plans, policies and of Topsail Beach and as an along with the nominee’s Free; no RSVP required College of Engineering and Technology School of Medicine, later to operations, Headquarters Marine advisory board member for Contact: Lauren Morrison, 252-328-6249 or OUTSTANDING ALUMNI current resume. Anyone can Alumni breakfast become the Brody School of Corps, and commanding general Coastal Bank & Trust. He and his morrisonl14@ecu.edu nominate an ECU alumnus Oct. 29, 8 a.m. Medicine, he attended for one of the Third Marine Division. After wife, Edna Cascioli Smith, live in Henry Science and Technology Building first-floor atrium Greek Events year before transferring to the earning his bachelor’s degree in Topsail Beach. or supporter for an award. Hinton ’76 is Free; no RSVP required NPHC Step Show University of North Carolina at geography from ECU, he went on the founding While surprise nominations Contact: Margaret Turner, turnerm@ecu.edu Oct. 28, time TBD Chapel Hill to get his medical to earn his master of arts in Cathy president of are permitted, nominators are Location TBD degree there, as was the standard national security and strategic College of Fine Arts and Communication Inner Banks Thomas ’79 strongly encouraged to work Cost TBD at the time. He completed his studies at the Naval War College. Homecoming tailgate in conjunction Media, which ’86 ’88 is a Contact ECU Greek Life at 252-328-4235 bachelor’s degree at ECU in He also attended the Marine directly with their nominees with Pirate Radio 1250 and 930 branch owns and biology. He received the 2013 Corps Amphibious Warfare Oct. 29, time TBA Sigma Sigma Sigma operates five manager for to ensure that all information Distinguished Alumni Award from School, Air Command and Staff Elmhurst School across from Brunch and parade viewing the N.C. FM radio submitted is complete and the Brody School of Medicine College and Armed Forces Staff Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium Oct. 29, 8 a.m. stations in Division of accurate. Recipients must Alumni Society. Previously, he College. He is the recipient of Alumni, family and friends of the School of Art See invitation for more information eastern Public served as president of the ECU numerous personal and unit be present at Homecoming and Design, School of Communication, School North Health. In her Medical Alumni Society from awards and honors, including the of Music and School of Theatre and Dance are Carolina. He started the company extensive 2017 to receive an award. 1984 to 1986. The Privettes live in Legion of Merit (with Combat V invited to visit with the dean of the college and in 2007 with his son and a career in Visit PirateAlumni.com/ Greenville and have three children and two gold stars), a Defense directors of the schools. colleague after owning another health AwardsProcess for more and seven grandchildren. Meritorious Service Medal (with Free; RSVP requested media company in eastern North education, she has served as a oak leaf) and the Combat Action information. Contact: Mary Jane Gaddis, 252-328-1268 or Carolina. His career includes public health educator, classroom Ribbon (with gold star). He and gaddism@ecu.edu ownership and management in teacher, school health 46 47 “I wish I knew about all of the opportunities that are available to students my freshman year. Take advantage of every resource! Check out Mendenhall Student Center for events, activities and volunteer opportunities. One of my favorite memories from my time on campus was the annual Barefoot on the Mall. This was a great way to end the school year with fun and music surrounded by the beauty of campus and best friends. Andrea Dowell ’12, school and community health Family and consumer science teacher, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools “You need to always attend class. That’s imperative. The one thing I didn’t do and wish I had done was see my teachers more during their office hours. The reason for that is twofold. First and most obvious is that your professor can help you understand things much better in a one-on-one session. And second, a professor appreciates a student for taking an interest in their class. And frankly, that can make a big difference maybe not necessarily in the grade you receive, but down the road for a reference, as a mentor. Scott Cooper ’86, communication Regional Channel Manager, Time Warner Business Class/Charter Communications, Greensboro “One of the things I wish I (had) known as a freshman is the importance of networking and being involved in organizations on campus. In my upperclassman years at ECU, I was heavily involved in organizations and community involvement, which enabled me to gain valuable skills that can be translated in the professional world. My experience at ECU prepared me for my career because it helped me to become a leader and stand out amongst my colleagues. Aysia Robinson ’13, criminal justice Probation officer, N.C. Department of Public Safety “Be engaged with the community at ECU. The college experience isn’t just about going to class that s just the foundation. My relationships that continued after college weren’t born in a classroom. They came from my time as a student worker and a member of student organizations. That s where meaningful connections are made!” Casey Ferguson ’10, communication Communications manager, VCU School of the Arts, Richmond, Va. “I’ve been living abroad for seven years now (South Korea, Poland, China and Germany), and a lot of it is because I’m making up for never having studied abroad. The biggest advice I would give to students is get out there and explore the world. Traveling has made such a difference in my life, and I hope to inspire others. Samantha Strube ’07, history Learning and development specialist at Trivago “If I was to give the freshman me any advice, it would be don’t get behind the 8-ball! There is a freedom and sense of entitlement that culture-slaps you in the face when you no longer have to answer to anyone, when you can make your own schedule and when you realize man, I have a lot of free time. I spent summers and my junior/senior year trying to make up for the hole I dug myself in as a freshman so I could graduate on time. Go to class, put forth the necessary effort to be successful even the electives that have nothing to do with your major. Create study groups; you will form friends and bonds that will last a lifetime. Pirate to Pirate! ARRRGH!” Lawrence Jackson ’12, economics Client relationship manager, KForce Professional Staffing, Charlotte AL UMNI V OICES CLASS NOTES CLASS NOTES 2015 is office manager at Central Health, Greenville. He was Creekside Elementary School, Carolina Concrete and was a president and CEO of the is the Winterville Chamber of Justin Davis is business member of Chi Omega Sorority Greenville-Pitt County Chamber Commerce Outstanding Teacher development coordinator for at ECU. He is a project engineer of Commerce. of the Year. She is also the Pitt Nease Personnel, Greenville. at Tru-Cast, Greensboro. He was County 2016 Teacher of the Year. He was director of business 2009 a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Nicole Reid, nurse specialist in development for Rep Express Fraternity at ECU. Juan Castillo Vera Caralyne Attaway joined pediatrics at ECU Physicians, Catering, Greenville. Sally is principal at Pactolus School, Lassiter & Sperati PLLC, was a finalist for ECU Physicians Thornton is a design specialist at Greenville. He was assistant Attorneys at Law, Rocky Mount. 2016 Nurse of the Year. VF Corp.-Wrangler Division. principal at Greene Central High Matt Johnston is director of the 2005 2014 School. Ashley Lauren Stocks Farmville recreation department. wed Barrie Alpheus Smith ’11 Timothy Justin Smith joined Wells Fargo 2008 on Oct. 3 at 400 Saint Andrews, JamesHome Mortgage in Greenville. He Ashley Beddard Cauley ’08 ’14 Greenville. The wedding party Morgan was a personal banker at Wells received licensure as a CPA in included Laurie Smith ’14, was an Fargo Bank, Snow Hill. North Carolina. Caroline Brown honoree for sister of the groom, and Lauren 2012 Gay was promoted to associate Starling ’11. She is a compliance the 2016 vice president of analytics Lauren Nancy Buchanan wed and privacy professional at PORT ECU 40 at Lakeland Regional Health Under 40 Human Services. He is a revenue System, Lakeland, Fla. Robert Leadership Joseph Blake Crowder ’14 on officer at the N.C. Department of Johnson ’08 ’14 is principal at Award. He April 23 at Phillips Chapel, Revenue. Eastern Elementary School, is a riskGreensboro. The wedding party included Brittney Leigh 2011 Greenville. He was assistant advisor Bass, Jason Christopher Dolan, Scott Senatore is vice president principal at Eastern. Erin Kessel, with Towne Insurance, Raleigh. Jordan Spencer Smith ’11 and of development for Vidant a fourth-grade teacher at Shade Allen Wooten III ’11. She continued on page 53 BUCCANEER BUFFET 2016 Join fellow alumni and fans for available on a first-come, first-Oct. 29 vs. UConn tailgating fun before each home served basis. Some tailgates sell Abrams, Aramark, GK Café, football game at ECU. Enjoy out quickly, so plan to register in Troegs Perpetual IPA a variety of food from local restaurants, beverages, live music and entertainment, door prizes and more. Tailgates often get visits from the ECU cheerleaders and PeeDee. This year, each tailgate advance. Tickets are sold at the door only if space is available. For more information, visit PirateAlumni.com/tailgate or call 800-ECU-GRAD (252-328-4723). Nov. 12 vs. SMU East Coast Wings & Grill, Aramark, Brown’s Sweet Treats, White Street Kolsch Many thanks to our Buccaneer will feature a craft brewery. Sept. 3 vs. Western Carolina Buffet season sponsors: A Held at Johnson Soccer Stadium, Buccaneer Buffet begins three hours before kickoff and lasts two hours. Tailgates are open to any friends and fans of East Carolina. This year, members of the alumni association can enter a half-hour Crave, Aramark, Sweet Couple, Abita Purple Haze Sept. 10 vs. N.C. State GK Café, Aramark, Sandi’s Creative Cakes, Campus Cookies, Sweetwater 420 Wireless, Alpha Medias: BOB 93.3 & 95.1 WRNS, Aramark, Coca- Cola, Dowdy Student Stores, RA Jeffreys, Inner Banks Icehouse, Liberty Mutual, Shenandoah Graphics & Framing, WITN. early (3.5 hours before kickoff). Oct. 1 vs. UCF Away-game events For members of the alumni Moore’s Old Tyme Barbeque, The alumni association is association, tickets are $15 for Aramark, Campus Cookies, partnering with the Pirate Club to ages 11 and up and $5 for ages Carolina Brewery Sky Blue host various away-game activities 3-10. For non-members, tickets are $25 for ages 11 and up and $10 for ages 3-10. Children 2 and under are free. Oct. 13 vs. Navy Zoe’s Kitchen, Aramark, Sweet Traditions, Catawba Brewing White Zombie this season. Details will be posted at PirateAlumni.com. Sept. 17 Away-game Tailgate at USC Price includes food, beverages Oct. 7 Friday night social before and entertainment. Tickets are the USF game Oct. 8. Music by an East Carolina alumnus will be the soundtrack for a second Dolly Parton biopic later this year. Emmy-winning composer Velton Ray Bunch ’71 is the composer for Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love. He did the same job for last year’s hit, Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors. With more than 15 million viewers, it was the most- watched movie on broadcast or cable Making music for Dolly write the music based on their previous work together. “This came directly from Dolly,” Bunch said. “I’ve known her many years, and I’ve handled music for her before. Still it was a nice surprise to hear from her since it had been a few years. I think she likes the fact that I’m from North Carolina and we had a similar upbringing.” Bunch always knew he wanted to write music for movies and TV. After graduating from ECU with a degree in music composition and theory, he headed to Los Angeles. He “did the requisite starving for a time,” but eventually made his way into the business. He has composed music for several well-known TV shows including Quantum Leap, Walker, Texas Ranger and JAG. He won an Emmy in 2004 for his work on Star Trek: Enterprise. He also has three Emmy nominations. While writing scores for TV shows and movies is different from composing classical symphonies, Bunch says his education at ECU prepared him well for his career. “I learned a great deal at ECU and had fantastic teachers,” he said. “It taught me a lot of being disciplined. I’m very proud I went to ECU.” —Jackie Drake in nearly seven years, according to Variety magazine. “I thought it would be successful, but I didn’t know it would be that successful,” Bunch said. “It’s a warm, wholesome film, and you don’t see much of that on TV anymore. But there’s clearly a desire for it. I was very pleasantly surprised.” According to Bunch, the network’s original plan was to make four different movies, each based on one of Parton’s iconic songs, but the success of the first inspired a sequel. Parton wrote a new song called “Circle of Love” just for the movie, Bunch said, and he will incorporate this song along with popular Christmas carols to create the musical backdrop for the movie. Christmas of Many Colors will return to Parton’s upbringing in the Great Smoky Mountains of east Tennessee. Coat of Many Colors depicted a true story from Parton’s childhood, when her mother gave her a coat she had lovingly sewn from colorful rags, which inspired her 1971 hit of the same title. In addition to composing background music to score the movie, Bunch created a new arrangement of Parton’s song by taking her vocals from the original recording and backing them with a symphony orchestra instead of a guitar. “It’s a very interesting use of the song,” Bunch said. “I think it turned out very well.” Bunch was offered the job with a call from Parton herself, who told him she was working with NBC to develop a series of movies based on her songs, and she wanted him to Join thousands of satisfied customers with Liberty Mutual Insurance.2 As alumni of East Carolina University,® you could receive exclusive savings on auto and home insurance from Liberty Mutual.1 Join thousands of satisfied customers with Liberty Mutual Insurance.2 As alumni of East Carolina University,® you could receive exclusive savings on auto and home insurance from Liberty Mutual.1 Discounted Rates—You could save up to $519.52 a year3 on auto insurance and receive additional discounts on home insurance. 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Coverage provided and underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance and its affiliates, 175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116. ©2016 Liberty Mutual Insurance Valid through December 14, 2016. Kathryn Elizabeth Odom wed Homes in Mount Pleasant. Kelly 2001 the Association of Legal John Jordan Betz on Feb. 27 at Blackmon Moran is Robeson Administrators, Raleigh-Durham Marcellus “B2” Harris was elected Immaculate Conception Church, Community College Instructor Chapter. Steffani Letchworth, vice mayor of Newport News, Va. Durham. The wedding party of the Year, where she teaches a certified nurse practitioner, He is an academic counselor and included Kristen Ward Warren. nursing. Dr. Michael Warren joined the staff of Vidant head football coach at Denbigh She is a physician assistant at is deputy commissioner for Cardiology, Greenville. High. Tim Locklair is chief officer Wake Spine and Pain, Cary. population health for the for academics and student 1991 Tennessee Department of Health, 2004 support services for Moore Nashville. He was assistant Mark Moore County Schools. He was area Jaimisson McPhail, nurse commissioner for Family Health published The superintendent of Western Wake manager in internal medicine at and Wellness in the department. Jan & Dean County for Wake County Schools. ECU Physicians, was a finalist for Chad Webb was inducted into Record: A ECU Physicians 2016 Nurse of the SouthWest Edgecombe High 1997 Chronology the Year. Stanley Melvin, retired School Athletic Hall of Fame. He of Studio Scott A. Coffey retired from Pitt County Juvenile Detention was the first NCHSAA boys golf Sessions, Live the U.S. Army as an aviator and director, received the Order of champion for the school. Performances operations research/systems the Long Leaf Pine for 37 years and Chart2002 analyst. He is now regional of state service. Zulena Staton, Positions. He logistics lead for Facebook at a school counselor at North Denise Garison is principal also published The Old North the Forest City Data Center. Pitt High School, Greenville, at Bluffton High School in State at War: The North Carolina is vice president for the N.C. South Carolina. She was 1996 Civil War Atlas through the N.C. School Counselor Association’s principal of Jack Britt High, Office of Archives and History. Dr. Billy Ray Smith ’96 ’00, Northeast Region. Fayetteville. Brock Letchworth is owner of Eastern Physical communications manager/public 2003 Medicine & Rehabilitation in information officer for the city Greenville, is the Greenville-Pitt Karalee Coughlin is a mortgage of Greenville. He was director County Chamber of Commerce lender with First South Bank, of public information for Pitt 2015 Small Business Leader. Greenville. Barrett Cranford County Schools. Darryl Thomas Edmondson wed Sara Trent Jr. ’02 ’12 is principal at E.B. 1992 Colbert on May 21 at Mount Aycock Middle School, Greenville. Bill Ferrell, legal administrator Pleasant Presbyterian Church, He was assistant principal at J.H. of Colombo Kitchen Attorneys, Mount Pleasant, S.C. He is a Rose High School. Greenville, is president of project manager for Beazer continued on page 55 Want better payout rates for your Certificate of Deposits or Fixed Income Assets while leaving a legacy at ECU? We can help with that. Make a lasting impact by funding a Charitable Gift Annuity. Benefits: • Receive fixed payments to you for your life • Receive a charitable income tax deduction • Payments that may be partially tax free • Membership in the Leo W. Jenkins Society • Support of one of ECU’s four foundations Contact us for more information or visit eculegacy.org. Greg Abeyounis, CFRE Kendra K. Alexander Associate Vice Chancellor Gift and Estate for Development Planning Officer abeyounis@ecu.edu alexanderk@ecu.edu 252-328-9573 252-328-9566 Mark S. Hessert Associate Executive Director of the Pirate Club hessertm@ecu.edu 252-737-4543 Alumna snorkels the Arctic Stephanie Gandulla ’14 carries two Alpena, Michigan. After studying expedition yet, she threw her name business cards. English literature at Montana State into the mix. She knows the history of University, she arrived at East the area and how to use technology One is for her day job, and the other Carolina University in 2008 to they need—such as underwater is for the Sedna Epic Expedition, a study maritime archaeology. After robots and mobile aquariums. multiyear project for which she and a earning that degree, she took a job group of women are traveling to the The expedition is named after at Thunder Bay National Marine Canadian Arctic to raise awareness for Sedna, the Inuit goddess of the sea Sanctuary in Alpena, where she climate change, connect with locals and mother of all marine mammals, works in public outreach. and snorkel more than 1,800 miles. which hints at another purpose of Thunder Bay is home to about 200 their trip—inspiring and empowering Wait, what? shipwrecks left over from a couple of young women. “We are going to attempt a snorkel centuries of commercial shipping on The overarching theme of the relay of the Northwest Passage,” the Great Lakes, and visitors come trip is to raise awareness for Gandulla told Michael Wright of the from around the world to see them. climate change. Bozeman (Montana) Daily Chronicle “Other sanctuaries have humpback earlier this year. Gandulla is the “The people up in the Arctic, their whales that they protect, others media coordinator for the project. way of life is changing now, right in have deep-sea canyons. We have front of them with the disappearing They began July 23 in the province shipwrecks,” Gandulla said. sea ice,” she said. of Nunavut for the endeavor and A friend of hers was involved in snorkeled for about three weeks. That is also what makes their the inception of the Sedna Epic They’ll do it again for a month dream possible. Ships once tried Expedition, and when Gandulla next summer and in 2018, thus to use the passage for exports and noticed that they didn’t have a completing the entire passage. imports, but ice was in the way. maritime archaeologist on the The water temperature That has changed. will be in the low 30s, “Now we are able to move Gandulla said, and she through the water in the and her team will wear snorkel zone because of dry suits and other the disappearing sea ice,” appropriate gear. she said. Each stint in the water Gandulla credited her years will be about two hours, at ECU with helping her get and they’ll use diver to this point. propulsion vehicles to “The hands-on, real-world assist them, she added. experience I got at ECU Along the way they has really prepared me not will visit communities only for my career but also and take note of what an expedition such as the they see underwater, Sedna expedition,” she said. including microplastics Read more about the levels, wildlife and any project at www.sednaepic. shipwrecks. com and follow their Gandulla is 43, a progress on Twitter @ Bozeman native and a sednaepic. Follow Gandulla maritime archaeologist on Twitter @sgandulla. who now lives in —Doug Boyd 1990 Carolina. Zeta chapter in Chatham County. and one of only 36 U.S. artist- Based on She also received an Educator produced works selected by Cathy Kirkland ’90 ’04 is actual events, Emeritus Award from Chatham exhibit jurors from Australia, principal at Wintergreen it tells the County schools. China, France and the United Elementary School, Greenville. story of a She writes: “My grandmother Kingdom for inclusion in an She was principal at Eastern teenage girl was also a teacher, and she exhibit dedicated to water- Elementary School. who falls for a also graduated from ECTC. based painting media touring 1989 boy while Unfortunately, my grandmother six Chinese museums. He is the staying with died when she was 45 years old. fine-arts thesis coordinator at Lane B. Mills is superintendent her grand-Although I never knew her, she the College of Architecture, of Wilson County Schools. He parents for was one of the reasons that I Art and Design at Mississippi was superintendent of Craven the summer. was interested in attending East State University, Starkville, Miss. County Schools. But a family tragedy, kept hidden Carolina. When I visited and saw Dan Kenney ’75 ’77, former 1986 for 15 years, wreaks havoc when the beautiful campus, it was ECU assistant basketball coach Connie Pritchard was promoted it is revealed. The Bridge also where I wanted to go. So after (1975-77) and UNC Pembroke to vice president with the Jones speaks to the sacrifices military several years of working and athletics director (1998-2012), Financial Group of Wells Fargo families make. It’s available going to school at night, I was was inducted into the inaugural Advisors, Greenville. through Amazon and Create able to attend. class for the newly created Space in paperback or Kindle “I want to thank East Carolina Peach Belt Conference Hall of 1985 and in area bookstores. A retired for preparing me for my life’s Fame, Augusta, Ga. In 2012, he Donald R. Payne Jr. ’85 ’87 Air Force officer, Gill is married passion.” retired from college athletics joined MBL Advisors, Charlotte, to Alyson Gill ’82 and plans a and became chief of staff at 1976 as managing director. He was sequel in the spring. UNC Pembroke. E. Paul Schiffel managing partner of Harris, Vera W. Braswell ’76 ’78, a III was named to the Catawba 1978 Crouch, Long, Scott & Miller. financial professional with County Sports Hall of Fame Marjorie Ellen Riddle Watson ’78 New York Life Insurance Co., Class of 2016. As a swimming 1981 ’82 retired in July after 40 years Greenville, earned the retirement coach in schools and swim clubs, Tom Gill ’81 of state service beginning with income certified professional he has provided opportunities published The social services in Cumberland designation from The American for thousands of young people Bridge, a summer and Lee counties before she College, Bryn Mawr, Pa. to learn to swim. In 1989, he romance with attended ECU and continuing established and continues to 1975 tragedy, suspense after graduation as a special coach and operate the Catawba and mystery set education teacher. She’s a Brent Funderburk’s ’75 ’78 Valley Aquatic Club. He was a on the Crystal member of Alpha Delta Kappa watercolor painting, “Flying varsity swimmer at ECU. Coast of North and president of the N.C. Alpha World,” is among 150 works MAKE A NO T E OF Y OUR NEW S AND A C C OMPLISHMENT S Complete this form (please print or type) and mail to: Class Notes Editor, Howard House, Mail Stop 107, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353. Please use additional paper as necessary when sending your news. You also can email your news to ecuclassnotes@ecu.edu. While East happily prints wedding announcements, it is our policy not to print engagement announcements. Also, when listing fellow alumni in your news, please include their class year. Please send address changes or corrections to: Division of University Advancement, Greenville Center, Mail Stop 301, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353, or email advancementservices@ecu.edu. NAME First Middle Last Maiden CLASS YEAR E MAIL DAY PHONE EVENING PHONE ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP YOUR NEWS ©Jenny Crofton Photography ©Jenny Crofton Photography Alumnus devotes decades to fire, police service You never know when a moment from your past will drop into your present. You just hope it has a good outcome. That’s what happened a few years ago to Richard Huneycutt ’64. Here’s how he told it last year to the Hampton Roads (Virginia) Business Journal: “I used to teach health and physical education. For older kids, we practiced (CPR) on one of the dummies. But I also taught it to sixth-grade kids with the group watching me. “One time, when I volunteered for the fire department, we got a call about an 18-month-old who had fallen in a lake. When we got there, there were no signs of life, but a young girl was working on her giving her cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We took over, then the baby started to gasp for air. “Later, I went to visit her in the hospital. She was fine, sitting up. The little girl who was doing CPR had learned it in my class. She was able to keep air going and the blood circulating. “What she did saved the baby’s life.” That’s just one of many experiences that stand out for Huneycutt, who worked as a P.E. teacher after graduating with a physical education degree from East Carolina but began volunteering with his local fire department in 1957 and as an auxiliary police officer in 1966. For those decades of service, the city of Portsmouth, Virginia, honored him last year as it “first citizen,” an award going back 82 years that recognized Huneycutt for his police and fire service as well as his volunteer work with the Portsmouth Seawall Festival and helping to create the Come Home to Cradock Festival. Honeycutt is assigned to elementary schools as a school resource officer with the auxiliary police force. “Now I go to every (elementary) school to be there for the students and for the principals,” Huneycutt told the newspaper. “I take care of unruly students, sometimes taking them home and contacting the parents. But most of the time, I try to calm them down, maybe do a little walking around with them, and we do a lot of talking.” In 1976, he did the first mounted police patrol in the city, using his own horse and trailer. For 41 years, he’s volunteered to work on Christmas Day. “That is the only way many police officers can be with their family, because they try to let as many people as possible to be off that day,” he said. As a student at Cradock High School, he began volunteering with the fire department. “There were times when I would be at school, hear the siren and go out for the firetruck to pick me up. After fighting the fire, I would go back to class,” he said. Among today’s youth, he said he sees the effects of poor parenting and poor discipline among students. “It is the lack of leadership in the home that kids are missing,” he said. “Parents need to strive to be involved in their kids’ lives. “And don’t believe they don’t have homework. I also think it is never too young to get kids into an activity.” —Doug Boyd IN MEMORIAM 2000s Disease Risk Factor this, but Morgan made it happen Identification/Reduction where it had to: in the state Delores “Dee” Brown ’04 of Program. In 2008, he was Legislature.” Atlanta, Ga., died April 14. She In 1966, Morgan introduced recognized as a “Centennial was a solution center consultant the bill to make East Carolina a Leader” at ECU. He was II at Automatic Data Processing, university and prevailed. Then-department head of health and Alpharetta, Ga., for eight years. Gov. Dan Moore opposed this bill exercise science at Colorado Dorothy “Dee” Jameson and the earlier medical school1930s Rockingham, and she retired Norwood P. year career as a private piano State University for 18 years. Sanders ’07 of New Bern died bill, but without the veto power, from Richmond Community Whitehurst teacher. She was also a William Leonidas May 13. She taught first grade. Bob L. Myers of Winston-Salem he couldn’t stop them. College. Helen Jones Sumner ’47, ’56 of published composer with “Bill” Nisbet ’35 Shane Evan died April 6. He taught in ECU’s “He was someone who really formerly of Rocky Mount, died Greenville numerous songs published by of Wilmington Tomlinson ’03 business school from 1960 to 1965. knew how to get things done April 18. She was a home died May 5. A Tennessee Music & Printing in the Legislature,” said Tom died April of Orlando, Dale Rice of Lawrenceville, economics extension agent, a 4-H U.S. Army Company in annual church Eamon, associate professor 10 at 101. Fla., died June Ga., died May 14. He taught leader, a substitute school Korean War convention songbooks, the most Robert B. Morgan ’47, a small-of political science at ECU He owned 12 in the science education at ECU from teacher and a private tutor. veteran, he recent being in 2013. Jane Eva town lawyer who rose to the U.S. and author of The Making of Nisbet’s Orlando mass 1977 to 1979. retired in 1999 Sapp Van De Car ’66 of Senate, died July 16 at his home a Southern Democracy: North Ladies Shop 1950s shooting at from his Wilmington died May 12. A Bryson Douglas Trexler Jr. of in Buies Creek. He was 90. Carolina Politics from Kerr Scott and Country the Pulse Judith accounting firm. William Steele captain in the U.S. Air Force, she Cary died April 29. He taught He was a longtime figure in to Pat McCrory. Vogue. From nightclub. He Stallings Winesett ’54 of Rowland died was a nurse on Cam Rahn Base in earth science at ECU from state politics and a staunch After serving as state attorney 1965 to 1978, he was manager Alford ’53 of May 4. A WWII U.S. Marine Corp Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, during the supporter of his alma mater, general, Morgan ran in 1974 for 1977-1978. was a member of Louisburg veteran of the Battle of Iwo Jima, Vietnam War from 1969-1970. She and lead vocalist of Frequency serving as chair of the alumni the U.S. Senate seat previously the Redevelopment Commission Band of Orlando, a member of association board, as trustee held by Sen. Sam Ervin. He died April 27. he worked with Weyerhaeuser later served in various nursing of the city of Wilmington that Joyful Choir of Orlando and STAFF won and served on the Armed chairman for nine terms in the She taught at Forestry Department and later capacities for Veterans Affairs. planned and developed much former member of the Multi-1960s. He helped lead the fight Services Committee and others, Smithfield General Motors Insurance, from John “Johnny” Willis Burrus of the downtown riverfront as 1970s Cultural Student Union of with Chancellor Leo Jenkins to worked to pass federal anti-trust Elementary, which he retired after 33 years. of Hookerton died May 9. it is today. On his 101st birthday, Cabarrus County and ECU establish a medical school at ECU. legislation and became an ally of Bunn Barry Hobbs ’70 of Charlotte He formerly worked in law the Wilmington Rotary Club 1960s Gospel Choir. “The achievements usually President Jimmy Carter. Elementary died April 19. He retired from enforcement at ECU. Ann Molic recognized him as a Paul Harris credited to Leo Jenkins, then But that and his support for and Wendell Elementary schools. Elizabeth a 40-year career in real estate Heumann of Greenville died May 2010s Fellow and an honorary member. president of East Carolina, would a treaty turning control of the Willa Rae Harper Bullock ’54 ’57 Smith Borum sales. Barbara L. Fox ’74 of 18 at 91. From 1964 to 1986, she never have been possible without Panama Canal over to Panama He played on the first football Sebastin L. May ’12 ofof Farmville died May 13. In 1994 ’61 of Farmville Bridgewater, Va., died April 20. was an administrative secretary his ally in the N.C. State Senate, were used against him in his team at ECTC. Chesterfield, Va., died May 2. He she retired after teaching second died May 4. She was a master seamstress, to four different department Sen. Robert Morgan,” said John 1980 re-election campaign. In a was a U.S. Navy veteran. 1940s grade at Sam D. Bundy She taught in artist and painter of watercolor. chairs in ECU’s Department of Tucker, a professor of history at race decided by about 10,000 Elementary School for 33 years. Hopewell, Va., Howard Cole Jones III ’76 of Foreign Languages and Literature. ECU and university historian. votes out of nearly 1.8 million Alma Whitley Glenda Harris Coker ’59 of and Prince Beaufort died April 24. He taught FACULTY Almire Major Smith of Greenville Morgan grew up in Lillington cast, Morgan lost to Republican Adcock ’48 of Henrico died April 28. She taught George at Beaufort Middle School, died April 22 at 94. A WWII U.S. and in 1942 followed a sister to John East, a political science Wilmington Ralph Hardee in the Northampton County County, Va., West Carteret High School and Army veteran, he retired from East Carolina Teachers College, professor from, ironically, ECU. died April 2. Rives ofSchool System until retirement. school Carteret Community College. ECU with more than 30 years as as it was called then. He was At ECU, the race, Eamon said, She taught Enfield diedAlice Cornelia systems. Later she was a civilian Elsie Dallas Griggs Hollowell housekeeping supervisor. treasurer of his freshman class, “put some people on the spot.” music in May 20. He but left school in 1944 to join Morgan was one of the driving Farmville, N.C., was an ECU the Navy. He then returned and forces in the development of ECU, Squires employee of the U.S. Army at the Pugh ’70 ’74 of Raleigh died Johnson ’51 of Pentagon in Washington, D.C., May 6. She taught elementary and Wichita, alumnus and FRIENDS graduated in 1947. Eamon said, while East was a Atkinson died and ended her career as a GS15 school in Greenville, Virginia Kan., schools spent more In 2007, Morgan spoke to popular faculty member who had May 16. She from the Program Executive Beach, Pasquotank County and Jessie Lord Parkerson of before moving than 30 years a reporter about his days been active in Republican circles. worked in the Office, Enterprise Information Camden County, was principal Wilmington died April 5. She to Wilmington where she taught as an English on campus. “There were a “It was hard-fought,” Eamon histology Systems. Gerald Wingfield of Grandy Primary School and was a pastor’s wife and Sunday elementary school music for 20 professor at thousand girls, and there said, and a bit of a surprising department “Jerry” Gilliam ’68 of Forest, Va., an administrator in the Camden School teacher for more than outcome. at James died May 2. A U.S. Navy veteran, County School System. She was 50 years. Memorial gifts may years until retiring in 1988. ECU. The Ralph Hardee Rives weren’t but 50 boys. ‘Course Joyce Louise Chair in Southern Literature was the boys were off to war, you But that wasn’t the end of Walker he retired after 34 years in an elementary school principal in be given to The Women’s know,” Morgan said. “When Morgan’s involvement in state Dunham Akins endowed in his honor. The Ralph Hospital and New Hanover management from Babcock Salem, Conn., and was appointed Roundtable at ECU Honors we’d walk down the campus, politics or working to advance ’43 of Atlanta Hardee Rives Collection at Regional Medical Center, where and Wilcock. After retirement he superintendent of schools in College Endowed Scholarship the girls would whistle at us.” causes he believed in. In 1985, died May 1 at Joyner Library includes materials she was head of the histology was a part-time cost analyst at the Salem School System, the Fund. Checks may be made After graduating from East he was tapped to lead the 93. She he compiled relating primarily to department for many years. Eagle Eyrie Conference Center. first woman to hold that post. to ECU Foundation Inc. with Carolina, he went to law school State Bureau of Investigation. graduated the Hardee-Rives and related Emmett Jeanne G. Gray ’64 of La Grange Carlton “Wayne” Vandiford ’71 EC3057 in the memo or online at Wake Forest. He began his He returned to law practice in valedictorian, families of North Carolina and at Women’s Roundtable at political career while still a 1991, continuing to practice into Coleman “EC” died April 10. She taught more of Fayetteville died April 28. He summa cum the United Kingdom, the history Merricks Jr. than 30 years in Wayne County was a retired banker. ecu.edu/give. Please send checks student, becoming clerk of court his 80s. He also founded and laude, from of eastern North Carolina in Harnett County. led the North Carolina Center ’58 of Public Schools, primarily at c/o Stephanie Bunn to 2200 ECTC in 1943, 1980s (especially Halifax County and In 1955, after a second stint for Voter Education, a Raleigh- Charlotte died Goldsboro High School. Harry S. Charles Blvd, Greenville, NC was an unprecedented president the town of Enfield), the United in the Navy, he was elected to based nonprofit and nonpartisan April 2. A U.S. Patteson Ashley Knight ’67 of Douglas Glenn Williams ’89 27858 and state in memory of of junior and senior classes and Methodist Church in eastern the state Senate and rose to its organization that seeks to Marine veteran North Chesterfield, Va., died of Benson died April 20. He Jessie Parkerson. was named an all-time Top 100 North Carolina, and state, local highest office, president pro tem. increase civic engagement in of 20 years April 11. A U.S. Army Vietnam was a computer programmer ECTC student when only 1 in 25 and national politics. Correction Tucker credits Morgan, along North Carolina. with two tours War veteran, he was a specializing in UNIX. women attended college. She with another senator, the elder ECU recognized Morgan by Richard G. A photograph taught English, French and in Vietnam, he psychologist in public schools 1990s Walter B. Jones of Farmville, and conferring upon him an honorary “Gay” Israel of of Norwood retired as a commercial airline until retiring in 2005. Nancy state Rep. W.A. “Red” Forbes degree; presenting him with the Spanish in Wilmington before Bruce E. Buscaglia ’90 of Fort Collins, Whitehurst, pilot with Sunbird Airlines and Lucas Loughlin ’65 of of Winterville with winning Jarvis Medal, the university’s moving to Children’s Village in Midlothian, Va., died May 10. He Colo., died incorrectly director of operations for CCAir. Wilmington died April 7. She legislative approval of a one-year highest service award; naming New York to teach under- worked at Dupont for almost 20 April 16. He identified as Louie Lenward Tyndall ’56 of taught math and science at medical school program for East him Outstanding Alumnus; and privileged children. She later Ayden died April 25. A U.S. Army Williston Middle School until her years. John Edwin Weaver ’90 of taught at ECU Henry N. Carolina. presenting him with its Alumni moved to teach at Savannah High. Wilmington died April 12. He had from 1981 to Whitener ’56 Service Award. veteran, he taught in public retirement. Sandra Willoughby “He did this despite substantial Doris Lamm Baxley ’43 of schools and then worked for 30 Stanley ’63 ’67 of Wilmington a career in which he completed 1996, founded (left) in the opposition from the N.C. Board He is survived by his wife, Rockingham died May 4 at 93. professional interviews with ECU’s Human Spring issue of of Higher Education, then the Katie, three children and several years as a manufacturing died April 16. She taught music She taught at Grainger High authors and provided book Performance East, was due governing body for higher grandchildren. A daughter, Alice supervisor with Dupont in at Sunset Park Middle School for School in Kinston and reviews for many accomplished Lab and served as founder and to an error in the 1956 education in North Carolina,” Jean Morgan, died before him. Kinston until retiring in 1991. several years and began a 30 Rockingham High School in authors. director of the Cardiovascular Buccaneer. Tucker said. “Jenkins was behind —Doug Boyd 58 59 “We are not here to destroy the old and accept only the new, but to build upon the past…” Robert H. Wright, Nov. 12, 1909 UPON THE PAST From his inaugural address and installation as East Carolina’s first president Light bill raises students’ire Ficklen Stadium welcomed fans in 1975 to a facility with a powerful new lighting system—and left students with a bill of about $475,000 to pay for it. The new lights, which replaced six sets of pole-mounted lights inside the stadium, and a variety of intramural sports additions raised student fees from $152 to $157 a quarter—or $15 a year. Most of that went to the intramural programs, but $6 was used to pay debt service on the the new lights —a decision that left students in the dark. “The students as a whole had no input into this decision which arbitrarily requires them to pay additional monies to the university,” SGA President Bob Lucas (who later chaired the ECU Board of Trustees) wrote in the Fountainhead, the campus newspaper. “I can assure you that if $6.00 was taken from all the staff and faculty salaries, to pay for lights, they would have a tendency to get upset.” The action led to a campus referendum where 97 percent of 6,400 ballots cast favored students being consulted before further fee increases. Eighty-four percent came out against the fee increase to pay for the lights. In an interview in the 1975 Buccaneer, the campus yearbook, Chancellor Leo Jenkins said he understood student opposition to fee increases in a bad economic time. But at the time trustees voted to move ahead with the project, the SGA president, an ex-officio member of the board, didn’t express any objection, he said. Rob Luisana, who was SGA president in 1972 when the project was approved, told the Fountainhead his vote was only for “some vague lights project” with no mention of the cost or that student fees would rise as a result. Jenkins promised that any future work at the stadium, such as enclosing one end to form a horsehoe with an eye toward admission into the Atlantic Coast Conference, would not be paid for with student fees. He also addressed the issue of the energy the lights would consume at a time when students were being asked to cut back their electricity use or face a separate increase in dorm rates. “The vacant homes of people attending the football games would cancel the use of energy by the new lights,” Jenkins said. 60 East Howard House Mail Stop 107 East Carolina University Greenville, NC 27858-4353 electronic service requested Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID East Carolina University East Carolina University senior jumper Avion Jones not only won gold in the high jump at the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships in May, but also lofted himself into the realm of the elite athletes in the world. His mark of 7 feet 7 inches was the second- highest of any athlete on the planet this year and set the AAC meet record and program outdoor record. Photo courtesy American Athletic Conference