East Carolina University

08/24/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 08/24/2026 08:44

ECU Honors College builds on 15 years of student success

ECU Honors College builds on 15 years of student success

  • The Honors College has grown from serving 100 students annually to 250, reflecting ECU's continued investment in student success.
  • From scholarships and research to study abroad and leadership, the Honors College has expanded opportunities that help students discover their passion and make an impact.
  • The honors experience extends beyond graduation through mentorship and the new Honors College Alumni Network, creating a lifelong community.

The East Carolina University Honors College has seen a multitude of changes over the past 15 years, but one thing hasn't changed - a dedication to student success, including expanded access to experiences beyond the classroom.

Emma Romig traveled to South Africa on a service-learning trip with the support of the Brinkley-Lane Scholars enrichment scholarship. (Contributed photo)

Founded in 2010, the Honors College offered a scholarship and the opportunity to participate in specialized courses and experiences to 100 students a year. Formerly the Honors Program, the establishment of the college formalized the experience and admissions process.

"I had a vision when honors was first funded that it had the potential to change the perception of the academic reality at East Carolina," said Kay Chalk '76, inaugural chair of the Honors College Advancement Council and supporter of the college. "East Carolina always offered a wonderful education, and for anybody who went there and worked hard, they received a lot out of their education."

Since then, the college has grown to accept 250 students a year.

"The growth is really something I'm excited about," said Dr. Todd Fraley, dean of the Honors College. "The university values what we're doing and the students we're attracting to ECU. In the 15 years we've been here, we now have students who have gone through the program, and they're successful and accomplished."

Added Benefits

In addition to the growth, the college has hit many milestones over the last 15 years. The Brinkley-Lane Scholars Program - the university's top undergraduate merit scholarship that is housed in honors - was named in 2023 and provides a fully funded educational experience for the 20 scholars admitted annually.

The program has also introduced enrichment scholarships. This funding allows Brinkley-Lane Scholars to pursue additional opportunities to enhance their college experience, from studying abroad to research travel and more.

"The greatest achievement over the past 15 years is the way the Honors College has increased its student offerings and enhanced the student experience," said Lynn Lane, former Honors College Advancement Council chair and supporter of the college. "Students can participate in research projects even as freshmen, attend or lead high-powered conferences, be accepted into impressive internships, and more students are studying abroad."

Senior nursing major Emma Romig recently traveled to Cape Town, South Africa for a service-learning trip with assistance from the enrichment scholarship.

Alumni Award

Sarah Kautz, center, receives the Dr. Richard Eakin Luminary Alumni Award.

Sarah Kautz '20 '24 has received the inaugural Honors College Richard Eakin Luminary Alumni Award. Kautz graduated from ECU with her bachelor's degree in public health and master's in physician assistant studies. She is a physician assistant at UNC Health Wayne practicing rural emergency medicine.

"ECU Honors College alumni are incredibly accomplished on campus and in their communities, so to be considered, let alone selected, among such deserving peers was truly meaningful," she said of receiving the award.

Named for former ECU chancellor and the first dean of the Honors College, Dr. Richard Eakin, the Richard Eakin Luminary Alumni Award celebrates alumni who have demonstrated extraordinary creativity, leadership and dedication in their respective field. Individuals who receive this award reflect the Honors College CORE values of community, opportunity, responsibility and exploration.

"The Honors College provided me with lifelong friendships and instilled confidence in my ability to navigate challenges," Kautz said. "It pushed me to grow not only as a student, but as a person and professional."

Since graduating, Kautz has sought to stay connected with ECU and the Honors College through the creation of a mentorship program for future physician assistants.

"One of the most meaningful parts was helping prepare meals for local schoolchildren, who told us they had been looking forward to our visit for months," she said. "Knowing something so simple could make such a big impact was incredibly rewarding."

Beyond the Classroom

Opportunity and community are two of the words that resonate with Honors College students and alumni. Students live together in Greene Residence Hall during their first year at ECU and have additional courses as part of the honors experience. However, the true impact of the Honors College is outside of the classroom.

The Honors College Alumni Network holds four panels every academic year to connect current students with alumni in their chosen field. (Photo by Kristen Martin)

"In complete transparency, the Honors College was first appealing to me as a prospective student just because of the scholarship support," said Kasey Perkins '24, an honors alumna and current outreach and engagement coordinator for the college. "Now having been through the program and returning as a full-time staff member, I can confidently say that the Honors College is so much more than just the scholarship."

Perkins began her undergraduate career with the goal of becoming a physical therapist. During her four years, she participated in leadership positions within the college and completed her signature honors project - the final piece of the honors curriculum - on creating a mentorship program within the college, an initiative that is now in its third year.

Perkins is not the only honors student who found her passion through opportunities afforded by the Honors College. Maggie Baile '22 '26 discovered her love for higher education and is the director of development for university scholarships in University Advancement at ECU. She credits the defining moment for her career change to when she was 18 years old and asked Margaret Turner, the honors director of recruitment and admissions, for a student worker position.

"What began as a student position evolved into a lasting passion for higher education accessibility, which I have been fortunate to pursue through roles in both admissions and advancement," she said. "Margaret's mentorship has had a profound impact on me, both professionally and personally. Her genuine care for students exemplifies what makes the Honors College so unique."

Both Perkins and Baile were members of the Honors College Student Council (HCSC) during their time at ECU. The college offers students a chance to pursue leadership through five groups: the HCSC, the Brinkley-Lane Scholars Roundtable, Honors Ambassadors, Honors Mentors and the Art Makers program.

Junior communication major Riley Lallathin wouldn't have pursued leadership if not for the encouragement of her mentor, Skylar Thurston, during her first year.

"Recently, I was in her former position on the programming committee while she was president," Lallathin, the current HCSC vice president said. "I was able to connect with many more honors students and first years that I hope to encourage to be involved in the leadership opportunities that the college has to offer."

Alumni Outreach

A more recent accomplishment has been the creation of the Honors College Alumni Network (HCAN), a formalized alumni group comprised of all honors alumni. The HCAN board leads initiatives that build connections between current students and alumni and is a way for alumni voices to be represented in the college. Patrick O'Shea '08, a member of the Honors College Advancement Council, was a driving force behind the creation of the group.

"From the time I joined the advancement council, I believed it was important to strengthen connections among scholarship recipients across generations," he said. "The Honors College Alumni Network is one of the intentional efforts from the Honors College team to build those connections."

Those connections are part of a larger legacy that the college has cultivated over the last 15 years. From the moment a student steps onto ECU's campus, they are surrounded by a network of support that continues long after receiving their diploma.

"When I look back over the last 15 years and everything the Honors College has accomplished, not only for the students but for the university, it has grown," Chalk said. "It has helped countless students blossom and grow into people that will be lifelong learners and leaders in their community."

Every year, the Honors College brings in 250 students who will live together in Greene Residence Hall. (Photo by Kristen Martin)

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East Carolina University published this content on August 24, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 24, 2026 at 14:45 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]