College of Business celebrates record $1.2 million in scholarships

An older man in a blue and white square jacket stands to the left. A young woman with curly hair stands in the middle. A tall man in a gray jacket stands to the right. — Alumnus Steve Eagle ,81, Archie R. Burnette Scholarship winner Katelyn Haley, and College of Business Dean Michael Harris

The East Carolina University College of Business (COB) celebrated a record $1.2 million in scholarships during its Scholarship Awards Ceremony on Sept. 18 in the Main Campus Student Center.

The COB recognized 450 student recipients and thanked over 125 donors for their contributions. The event’s attendees also had the opportunity to hear from current and future business leaders.

In his remarks, Dr. Michael Harris, dean of the College of Business, highlighted the ways that scholarship donors help the college achieve its top goal of student success. Harris pointed out that COB students contributed over 57,000 field work hours in client-based projects during the 2024-25 school year and set a record with 1,200 students involved in roughly 26 clubs and student organizations.

“We’re proud to celebrate the achievements of our students,” he said. “Our alumni and donors make this possible and we are so thankful for their unwavering support. Investing in our students always produces a strong ROI (return on investment).”

Katelyn Haley, a senior finance and economics major from Pittsboro, received the Archie R. Burnette Scholarship worth $2,500 and was the featured student speaker at the event. She learned of her scholarship award at the end of a lengthy day of studying in Joyner Library for a spring semester corporate finance exam.

“At the very end of my study session, I received an email and noticed that it was from the College of Business scholarship committee,” Haley said. “I opened it and it said I had a scholarship for finance. It means everything to me. All the work and Pirate grit that I’ve put in the past three years has been recognized and celebrated, which I really appreciate.”

In her remarks, Haley recalled attending her first Financial Management Association (FMA) meeting as a sophomore. She felt nervous and out of place that day, but it was a critical turning point in her ECU journey as she met her closest friends and began to build a network while getting involved in the organization.

“Real growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone,” she said. “Scholarships like this are recognition of that journey — not just the GPA or resume line items, but the choices, risks and resilience along the way.”

Steve Eagle graduated from ECU in 1981 from what was then known as the School of Business with a degree in economics. A first-generation graduate, Eagle is a partner at Sterling Seacrest Pritchard, an insurance brokerage/consulting firm in Savannah, Georgia. He supports the Steve and Carter Eagle Risk Management and Insurance scholarship, which is primarily awarded to a first-generation student.

“Everyone has a journey, a story and a path,” he said. “In many ways, my journey began here at East Carolina. If my gift can shine a light on a path for someone here and help them along their journey, then they become part of my story and I become a part of theirs.”

Sophomore Ava Dutiel and senior Alexa Hoffer were this year’s recipients of the Steve and Carter Eagle Risk Management and Insurance scholarship.

Dutiel, a double major in management, and risk management and insurance, believes the scholarship will help her pursue her dreams.

“I’m able to pursue my dream because of the scholarship,” she said. “I want to go into brokerage right now. As a freshman, last year was a lot of new experiences, but I was able to branch out and it helped me so much to be able to have that motivation.”

The scholarship has helped Hoffer both afford college and network as she looks to work in the risk management industry after graduation.

“It means a lot to me,” she said. “I’m grateful that I’ll be able to use the money to help get through school. It’s also with my insurance concentration and has allowed me to network.”