Leadership, Service Earn Full Scholarships for Two Incoming 91ӣƵ Students
Ricky Smith
Two Edgecombe County high school graduates will attend 91ӣƵ tuition-free after being selected as recipients of the Dr. Hartwell H. Fuller Jr. Endowed Merit Scholarship.
Gabrielle Allen of Edgecombe Early College High School and Ricky Smith of SouthWest Edgecombe High School received the scholarship, which covers the full in-state cost of an associate degree, including tuition, books and a laptop computer.
Named for former 91ӣƵ President Dr. Hartwell Fuller, who led the college from 1994 to 2004, the scholarship is awarded annually to two graduating seniors from Edgecombe County public high schools who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership and community involvement.
“I feel amazing,” Smith said after learning he had been selected. “This scholarship lifts a burden financially, and it truly blesses me.”
At SouthWest Edgecombe High School, Smith was active in academics, athletics, leadership and community service. He was a member of the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society, served as a group leader with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and volunteered as a youth leader and social media coordinator at his church.
Smith also earned certifications in CPR, automated external defibrillator (AED), first aid and first aid for opioid overdose response.
His honors include the Animal Science Award, Public Safety Achievement Trophy, Edgecombe County Schools Golden Key Award, Rocky Mount Optimist Youth Appreciation Award, Mitch Mason Influence Award in football, Honor the Game Award in basketball, Sportsmanship Award in football and the 360ENC Internship and Volunteer Award for completing more than 115 hours of service.
“I can see myself working in a hospital or radiography facility,” Smith said.
The scholarship will help him pursue that goal as he begins his studies at ECC.
Gabrielle Allen
For Allen, the scholarship removes financial concern as she works toward a career in nursing.
Allen, a Pinetops resident, said her desire to work in healthcare grew through both personal experience and hands-on training.
“My grandma’s cancer had progressed and she was put in hospice care,” Allen said. “In her final days, I became her primary caregiver. The night she passed, I thought about how fortunate I was to take care of my grandmother when she needed it most.”
Allen has already earned certification as a nursing assistant. She said caring for her grandmother reinforced her commitment to a career dedicated to helping others.
“Helping people is a passion of mine,” Allen said. “I knew that I wanted to go into nursing, and I didn’t want to stress about getting through nursing school and how I was going to pay for it.”
After ECC, Allen plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing and hopes to work as a pediatric nurse.
Her record of service and achievement includes induction into the National Honor Society during her junior year and participation in the Scholar Teacher Program. Through the program, she assisted a first-grade teacher at Martin Millennium Academy each week.
She also volunteered through ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital’s VolunTEEN Program, completed an internship at ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital and currently works as a certified nursing assistant at The Barclay House of Tarboro.
Applicants for the Dr. Hartwell H. Fuller Jr. Endowed Merit Scholarship must maintain a weighted grade-point average of at least 3.5 throughout high school, demonstrate active involvement in extracurricular activities and maintain at least a B average while enrolled at ECC.
Students interested in applying for the scholarship should contact their high school guidance counselor. Applications are reviewed by the ECC Scholarship Committee, and finalists participate in an on-campus interview.
Additional scholarship opportunities are available through 91ӣƵ. Information and applications can be found at edgecombe.edu/scholarships.