Honors student leaders find inspiration in Atlanta

Honors student leaders find inspiration in Atlanta

Laasya Chenna waded into shoulder-high greenery, her eyes searching for two targets: Johnson grass and ragweed. Once she spotted one of the invasive species, she carefully uprooted it and deposited it into a large bucket.

For two hours, she worked alongside fellow East Carolina University Honors College students and staff, hauling buckets of invasive species out of the greenspace under the guidance of nonprofit group Trees Atlanta.

"By the end of the weeding, we were all covered in seeds, but it was a sign of all our commitment to helping the community," said Chenna, a public health major. "It reminded me of how much can be accomplished with a goal in mind and good teamwork."

This service experience was part of a four-day, high-impact trip over fall break for Honors College student leaders - the first trip of its kind offered to these students. Students visited Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and Centennial Park, toured the Mercedes-Benz Stadium and met with ECU Atlanta alumni at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Headquarters.

"Our goal is to provide opportunities for our students to network with alumni, leave an impact on the community we are visiting via a service project and participate in an educational experience," said Dr. Todd Fraley, dean of the Honors College.

The 17 students who participated in the trip were upperclassmen involved in one of the college's leadership groups: Honors College Student Council, Honors Ambassadors and Honors College Mentors.

"To me, this trip meant that the Honors College really appreciates the work that I do and the work that all student leaders do," said Deniya Evans, a biology major and Honors ambassador. "I am especially grateful for my time as an ambassador and the skills it has provided me with. Being in the first group of students to participate in this experience made me feel appreciated and like the Honors College really values its students."

Building Connections

For some students, this trip was full of firsts that would become lasting memories. Kasey Perkins '24, the college's outreach and engagement coordinator, ate dinner with several students on the last night of the trip and talked to them about what the trip meant to them. Honors mentor and software engineering major Majoie Ngandi mentioned that not only had he never traveled to Atlanta, but as an international student, several aspects of the trip were new experiences.

"It meant so much to him that the Honors College gave him an opportunity to travel to a new place," Perkins said. "I remember him saying, 'There was no hesitation in my mind when I read the email that came over the summer about going to Atlanta.'"

The students weren't the only ones who gained meaningful experience. Perkins is also a recent graduate of the Honors College, where she served as the Honors College Student Council president her senior year. Being able to bridge the gap between student leader and alumna was pivotal for her.

"From networking to leadership and learning how to stay connected to ECU as an alum, the students took full advantage of meeting as many individuals as they could during the alumni event to grow their connections and see that the ECU community extends no matter where you are in the world," she said.

Students learned firsthand how hard work and dedication can take Pirates anywhere. Whitley McCoy, senior marketing major, was able to chat about her plans beyond graduation with alumna Misty Miller '99, the senior vice president of organizational development for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, ECU Foundation Board member and sponsor of the Honors alumni event. Other alumni attending the event included Carlester Crumpler '93, Matt Crisp '93, Dr. Vikki Armstrong Johnson '97 and Meredith Cox '23 among others.

Leadership in Action

The experiences on the trip had a basis in the Honors College's four pillars - community, opportunity, responsibility and exploration - and showed students the different facets of leadership. The college used an ECU Truist Leadership Center grant focused on student leadership initiatives to fund the trip.

Honors College Student Council president and communication major Skylar Thurston originally accepted the trip invitation for a chance to build stronger connections with her fellow students and Honors staff. However, she left with a new mindset.

"This trip showed me that leadership isn't just about a title. It's about listening, collaborating and creating opportunities for others," she said. "Visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park was unforgettable. It reminded me that leadership starts with empathy and service to others."

The trip's final stop - a tour of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium - solidified this for students. Not only was it an awe-inspiring experience to stand at the edge of the field where the Atlanta Falcons had played the night before, but hearing the history of the building and how Falcons owner Arthur Blank was dedicated to sustainability and uplifting the Atlanta community served as the perfect leadership capstone.

"It's exciting to help set the foundation for a new Honors College tradition," Thurston said. "Experiences like this can truly change how you see yourself and your role on campus."

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