Eastern Wayne students receive scholarships
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on April 17, 2016 1:45 AM
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Full SizeTwo Eastern Wayne High School students have received prestigious scholarship awards, with the potential to pay the bulk of their college expenses.
Gray Sasser has been offered an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point and was accepted into the Honors College at East Carolina University, which covers tuition, along with an additional Business Scholars Award, which could provide another $12,000.
"Within the Honors College, there are a few students selected for additional scholarships to sweeten the deal. The Business Scholars Award is one such example," explained Christa Coates, school counselor at Eastern Wayne. "Business Scholars within the ECU Honors College are also guaranteed a position in the MBA or MSA graduate program at ECU once they complete their undergraduate studies and they are exempt from the testing requirements of the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)."
Sasser is the first Eastern Wayne student to be offered the award, Ms. Coates pointed out.
"We've had other students to be admitted to the Honors College but not to be offered the Business Scholars Award," she said.
It may be a moot point, since Sasser's longtime goal has been to attend West Point, she said.
"He does plan to go there," she said. "He has attended their summer enrichment camp and has been working to earn a congressional nomination for a couple of years now. He is definitely going to West Point."
She called him a "phenomenal student," serving in such roles as president of the Key Club, which partners closely with the Sunrise Kiwanis of Goldsboro in community service.
"Gray is one of the most mannerly students with whom I've ever worked," she said. "He's got the whole package -- good grades, leadership experience, strong commitment to physical fitness and impeccable character."
Ethan Quinn has been accepted into the Honors College at ECU, which covers tuition, and also named an EC Scholar. The $45,000 award, or $10,000 a year plus an additional $5,000 for a study abroad experience, helps with such expenses as room and board, books and fees.
"Ethan is our first student ever at Eastern Wayne High School to be offered this full ride to ECU," Ms. Coates said, calling him one of the school's "best and brightest."
"He is an avid tennis and soccer play, vice president of Kay Club and very active at Saulston United Methodist Church," she said. "He was chief junior marshal at last year's graduation ceremony. But perhaps Ethan's crowning accomplishment was organizing a Stop Hunger Now event at his church, which required him to raise $3,000 and recruit 50 volunteers to package 10,000 meals."