Horizons
Changing Lives, Changing Communities
Blake Butcher
Hometown:
Pantego
Major:
Geology with a concentration in environmental geology
Career goals:
Work in the mining or groundwater industry
Scholarships:
Bob VanGundy Field Course Scholarship
C.Q. Brown Scholarship for the Best Rising Senior
What does receiving this scholarship mean to you?
These scholarships mean a lot to me in two different ways. Financially, they’ve allowed me to continue my education and buy extra geology books for my classes. Secondly, I didn’t “apply” for these scholarships; I was chosen by the professors in the geology department, and I was shocked when they told me. Their decision has given me confidence in my ability as a student and is one of the many reasons why I’ve applied to graduate school.
What do you like most about your major?
I think what interests me most about my major is how much there is to learn. I’ve never been to a geology class and not learned something new that day. And the professors in the geology department are so supportive. I did my geology field course virtually this year due to COVID-19, and it was difficult for me personally. The virtual learning has been quite a transition. I’m ready to get back into the classroom and out into the field again with some of the friends I’ve made at the geology department.
Donor spotlight: Bob VanGundy
Bob VanGundy ’76 was a science education major at ECU but always felt most at home in the geology department. A scholarship was the reason VanGundy was able to attend ECU, and he established an endowment to provide a scholarship for future students. The Bob VanGundy Scholarship supports geology students taking summer field courses.
Pirate Nation Gives
Pirate Nation Gives inspires 1,200 donors, raises $6.5 million
East Carolina University’s fifth annual Pirate Nation Gives fundraising day March 17 set records for the number of donors and amount raised. The one-day, social media-driven campaign raised more than $6.5 million for the university, surpassing its goal of $3.2 million. It also met the goal of 1,200 unique donors. Last year’s event had 432 unique donors, making this year’s participation a 179% increase.
“It’s truly inspiring to see so many Pirates come together to be part of this day of giving,” said ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers. “This success shows how small actions made by many people can have a huge impact. Thank you, Pirates.”
A number of university wide and college-specific challenges encouraged giving with a competitive spirit. Bonus money was earned for challenges including the farthest away gift (New Zealand), most gifts (College of Business) and Pirate pet photo (awarded to a dog named Banks). A friendly competition between the Army and Air Force ROTCs led to the most student gifts. One donor increased his existing planned gift by $500,000, according to University Advancement.
Priorities for this year’s Pirate Nation Gives included student scholarships, pandemic response and research, and diversity and inclusion.
Steven Wright
Alumnus Steven Wright ’78 created a giving challenge in honor of his mother, Ledonia Wright, a former ECU professor and namesake of the Ledonia Wright Cultural Center in the Main Campus Student Center.
She dedicated her career to increasing opportunities for minority and underserved students at ECU. Steven Wright matched all gifts to the cultural center on Pirate Nation Gives up to $3,000.
More information about ECU’s day of giving and a full list of champion donors is at
Other gifts made during Pirate Nation Gives include the following:
A $30,000 gift to the ECU Annual Fund from Oak Foundation to help the university respond to immediate and pressing financial needs.
A $5,000 gift to Beacon Scholarships from Matt ’96 and Kelly Slate. A $5,000 gift to Beacon Scholarships from Matt ’96 and Kelly Slate.
A $21,000 gift for the College of Nursing from Jim ’63 and Selba ’64 Harris. A $21,000 gift for the College of Nursing from Jim ’63 and Selba ’64 Harris.
A faculty fellowship in the College of Business. Diana Haykto, chair of the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, gave $25,000 for an unlocking challenge that was met thanks to donor support. The fellowship is in memory of her mother, Elizabeth Haytko.
A $10,000 gift to EC Scholars and a $10,000 gift to EC Scholars and a $10,000 gift to Access Scholarships were unlocked thanks to donors support and the generosity of Ken ’68 ’71 and Kay ’76 Chalk. $10,000 gift to Access Scholarships were unlocked thanks to donors support and the generosity of Ken ’68 ’71 and Kay ’76 Chalk.
A $100,000 gift for medical scholarships from Tim Robinson ‘83 in honor of his parents, in addition to a $30,000 challenge gift for the Division of Health Sciences. A $100,000 gift for medical scholarships from Tim Robinson ‘83 in honor of his parents, in addition to a $30,000 challenge gift for the Division of Health Sciences.
-Erin Ward