SPRING 2016 FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS 9 FIRST LADIES OF ECSU 17 MUSEUM CELEBRATES ECSU 35 ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 9 125 Years of ECSU 14 Enrollment Strategy 125th Anniversary Founder's Day Enrollment strategy makes ECSU highly Weekend Celebration visible to potential students 12 Alumni Spotlight: 15 Aviation Camp Program Aviation camp brings students from Bevin Twins across the country to ECSU Joyce and Jean Bevins earned Bachelor FEATURES of Science degrees in computer science in 2012 from ECSU, then entered Indiana University’s School 6 Letter from the Chancellor of Informatics and Computing on full academic scholarships. 20 Veterans Center Veterans Center offers aid to campus vets & active duty military. 21 ECSU Graduate Warren Judge is Executive Officer of US Coast Guard Base Coast Guard Cmdr. Warren Judge’s military career could be ECSU NEWS characterized in one word: Exciting. 23 Contributions to the Arts 22 Spellings Visit ECSU artists, musicians boosts UNC President Margaret Spellings at home during the arts in Elizabeth City first campus visit. 28 Morris-US Air Force ECSU at Morris, a freshman, accepted into the White U.S. Air Force Academy. House Concert choir 29 Student Leadership performs at The Student Affairs announces White House Chancellor’s Student Leadership Awardees. 30 STUDENT NEWS STUDENT 31 Apple Scholars ECSU Students named Apple Scholars 43 Elizabeth City Area Alumni 51 Renaissance Man… Chapter Introducing Clayton Cowell The Elizabeth City Area Alumni Chapter One may never truly comprehend how installed its first 30 ECSU Graduate Legacy much student-athletes have to maintain Class of 2015 graduates. balance between academics and their respective sport. 44 Dr. Stephanie Dance-Barnes 52 Former ECSU Lineman ALUMNI NEWS ALUMNI 49 Ways to Give Participates in OTAs, 47 In Memoriam GIVING MATTERS Rookie Mini-Camp GO VIKINGS! SPORTS Darren Wilson Earns NFL Invite 48 Alumni Thank You 50 Gift Form 2 Elizabeth City State University Magazine Spring 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS 17 Museum Exhibit Museum Exhibit Celebrates 125 Years of ECSU History 162nd ECSU NEWS Commencement May 14, was the long-awaited 18 date for 193 ECSU graduates. 25 Viking Volunteer Corps Viking Volunteer Corps Aims to Enhance Student Experience. 26 AT&T Initiative AT&T Initiative brings 27 computer literacy to area Kenya Project senior citizens ECSU’s Kenya project takes flight over African continent 32 Business School Business internship program 35 Letter from NAA President 40 2015 Homecoming Recap has big impact on ECSU students 36 Alumni Profile ECSU alumnus enjoys cybersecurity career 42 Wilmington Alumni Chapter 33 Aviation Lab Wilmington Alumni Chapter is on the New aviation science 38 Alumni Donor Spotlight: move in the Port City. Kamisha Graham laboratory opens was provided with a scholarship to attend Alumna, Mary Albritton Elizabeth City State University. Alumna, Mary Albritton Douglas, humbled 34 Research NEWS ALUMNI by doctorate of public service. University cancer 42 Class News + Notes research makes important contributions to science 53 ECSU Alum Gaskins 59 Down East Classic Inducted into CIAA’s Hall of Fame 60 2016 Football Schedule 54 1971’s Mike Gale 62 Fantastic Voyage 56 Athletic Award Ceremony 63 Roast and Toast Save The Date + Upcoming Events 58 2016-2017 ECSU All-CIAA Honorees Elizabeth City State University Magazine Spring 2016 3 4 Elizabeth City State University Magazine Spring 2016 WE ARE… …RANKED #1 AMONG BACCALAUREATE COLLEGES by Washington Monthly (2012-2015) …RANKED #1 MOST AFFORDABLE HBCU by AffordableSchools.net (2016) …RANKED #2 AMONG TOP PUBLIC SCHOOLS by US News and World Report (2015 & 2016) …RANKED #18 AMONG HBCUs by College Choice (2015) WE ARE THE VIKINGS! Elizabeth City State University www.ecsu.edu Elizabeth City State University Magazine Spring 2016 5 LETTER FROM THE CHANCELLOR Letter from the Chancellor é Chancellor and Mrs. Conway pictured with ECSU Men's Basketball team at the Chancellor's Welcome Reception Dear friends of Elizabeth City State University, I am indeed pleased to welcome you to the Spring 2016 edition of the ECSU Magazine. The last few months have been extremely busy and I think you will find the reporting on many activities that have taken place since the beginning of the year interesting and exciting. I am convinced this edition qualifies as a collectors’ edition just based upon the photos and accounts from the 125th Convocation and Gala activities. It was truly a pleasure to host and honor five very classy former First Ladies of Elizabeth City State University, and it goes without saying that the opportunity to share an evening with three former ECSU Chancellors was truly unprecedented. In this edition you will also read about the work of our faculty and students in our on-campus classrooms and laboratories as well as their involvement in activities from the White House to the game reserves of Kenya. I consider the ECSU Magazine a major resource for keeping you abreast of the great things going on in the life of the University. It is my hope that you will both read and share it with pride. There is indeed much good news to share about our university and our alumni. We intend to make a dedicated effort to assure the regular publication of as much of that good news as possible in subsequent editions of this magazine and online. Stay tuned. Thomas E. H. Conway, Jr. Chancellor 6 Elizabeth City State University Magazine Spring 2016 ECSU MAGAZINE The magazine of Elizabeth City State University. ADMINISTRATION Chancellor, Thomas E. H. Conway PROVOST AND VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Vann Newkirk VICE CHANCELLOR FOR BUSINESS AND FINANCE Joshua Lassiter INTERIM VICE CHANCELLOR FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT Dennis Byron, Sr. CHIEF STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICER Nolan Davis SECRETARY OF THE UNIVERSITY/ASSISTANT TO THE CHANCELLOR Gwendolyn Sanders ASSOC. VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT Jocelyn Foy CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER Rafael Bones GENERAL COUNSEL Alyn Goodson DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Derrick Johnson CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER Suresh Murugen ECSU MAGAZINE STAFF Managing Editor Rhonda M. Hayes EDITORS Linita Shannon, Robert Kelly-Goss WRITERS Kesha Williams, Robert Kelly-Goss PHOTOGRAPHERS Kesha Williams, One 12 Images, Shadrick Addy CONTRIBUTING WRITERS April Emory, Russ Haddad, Barbara Sutton, Joy Smith, Cliff Vanterpool DESIGN AND LAYOUT The Sax Agency Vayakone Terry and Tamara Keller The ECSU Magazine is the official magazine of Elizabeth City State University designed to give alumni and friends an accurate view of the university’s people, programs, and initiatives. The ECSU Magazine is published by the ECSU Office of Communications and Marketing, 1704 Weeksville Road, Elizabeth City, NC 27909. Phone: 252.335.3594 E-mail: cam@ecsu. edu. Please send address changes to the Office of Alumni Relations, 1704 Weeksville Road, Elizabeth City, NC 27909. ECSU is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina. © Copyright 2016, Elizabeth City State University Elizabeth City State University Magazine Spring 2016 7 8 Elizabeth City State University Magazine Spring 2016 FEATURES é Chancellor Conway hosts a meeting with former chancellors ç Chancellor Conway presenting an award to Mrs. Lula Thorpe, ECSU First Lady (1968-1983) 125th Anniversary Founder's Day Weekend Celebration The university’s 125th Khaliq Satchell, an ECSU junior from University. The supporting cast of that anniversary brought ECSU Columbia, Md., portrayed Hugh drama included students Kris Coffield Cale, the black representative from of Kinston, N.C., ( a state legislator), supporters together for a Pasquotank County, who sponsored Matthew Johnson of Hertford who memorable series of events N.C. House Bill 383. Once passed, played the role of speaker of the that were fitting for this that bill created a state-supported house, N.C, Mitch Meador, another marker in the institution’s normal school to train new teachers state legislator and staff member history. of color. Those teachers worked in Kenneth J. Tate, director/producer of the state’s common schools and the the short drama who also played the Early in the week, a cast of students institution also educated area black role of a doubting state legislator. Tate and staff presented a dramatic pupils. That normal school expanded said it was a real pleasure to present scene inspired by a session of the its student roster and its list of such an important scene before a live N.C. General Assembly that led academic programs over the years audience celebrating Founders Day. to the creation of this institution. and evolved into Elizabeth City State Elizabeth City State University Magazine Spring 2016 9 FEATURES We were delighted to welcome former First Ladies and to recognize them for their ambassadorship of ECSU. While here, they witnessed the development of new academic programs, achievements of our students, improvements in the campus landscape, and construction of buildings that are significant to the education and overall advancement of our students." On Friday, March 11, Chancellor purchased tickets Thomas Conway delivered the that support keynote address for the Founder’s Day scholarships for Convocation. deserving ECSU students. He was On Saturday, March 12, The Elizabeth also appreciative City State University Foundation Board of employees and of Directors welcomed university other supporters supporters to the Kermit E. White who made Center for the institution’s ninth donations especially Founder’s Day Scholarship Gala. for the occasion and Their honored guests were five of those who support the university’s former first ladies who the institution at served proudly beside their husbands, events year-round. the university’s former chancellors. Mrs. Lula Thorpe, Dr. Faleese “The Board of Moore Jenkins, Mrs. LaVera Levels Directors for The Burnim, Mrs. Jacqueline Gilchrist, ECSU Foundation and Mrs. Brenda Becton received collaborated with “We were delighted to welcome the Chancellor's Legacy Awards in National Alumni Association (NAA) former First Ladies and to recognize recognition of their contributions and members to coordinate this event.