Dr. Rosemary Thomas introduced Chowan University’s Twentieth Annual Scholarship Luncheon on November 7, 2024 speaking to the recipients of scholarships, “Students, you have an opportunity to meet the people who are making a difference in your lives. It is such a blessing to be in a place where the names that are on the buildings, the names that are on the walls, the names that are on the scholarships are not just in the history books. Although they are a very important part of our history, they are here. The names you walk past on a daily basis on buildings, they are names that you hear when you talk about how this institution has become what it is today.” She went on to say to the donors, as she introduced students who will represent all those receiving scholarships, that they are “indicative of what Chowan University is all about.”

The first speaker was Elizabeth Heller, a scholarship recipient, a student-athlete. She is a senior, a Business major, and a member of the Honors College. She participates on Chowan’s Women’s Lacrosse and Cross Country teams. Heller doesn’t come from a traditional educational background; she grew up with five brothers and sisters who were homeschooled, with her oldest sister responsible for teaching them all how to read and write. “I knew early on that going to college would be very difficult financially. I needed to use sports as a resource.” While traveling with a softball team she was introduced to Ashley Gustafson (then Softball Coach), which led her to Chowan. Scholarships gave her the possibility of a college education and becoming a Chowan Hawk. 

Heller shared her deep gratitude, “The last four years have been transformative for me. During the first three weeks I had to earn a position on the Softball team while adjusting to Mrs. Dilustro’s Honors Composition class. I played softball for three years and was able to take the skills and transition them into Cross Country and Lacrosse. I found my Chowan family by extending my relationships with friends and faculty. They have supported me as I found my place in the world. None of this could have been done without them. Thank you all for being part of my story. As I go forward I carry with me the lessons learned.”

Ronaldo Williams, an International Student from Jamaica, a subject tutor in Biology, Chemistry and Physics and a Writing Center tutor, is focused on helping students. He was also part of the STEM mentoring program and is a member of the Men’s Lacrosse Program. Dr. Thomas introduced Williams saying, “He’s a student that came to Chowan with an idea and an ideal. He’s a student that came here to make a difference not only in the now, but in the future. I know that faculty and students join me in saluting this young man, because you see when you are in an institution that is intensely focused on teaching, not necessarily research, it’s not always that you find a young scholar who when asked, ‘Will you please tell Mr. Davis about your academic award, and he shyly said, which one Dr. Thomas?’ His pedigree is growing on a daily basis and we are very proud of him.”

Williams was recruited by ten schools out of high school.  “I chose to continue my academic and athletic career at Chowan University. I was drawn to Chowan because of its vibrant community, supportive environment, and the opportunities it offered to grow academically and athletically. As a senior biology major, I’m beyond grateful for the doors your support has opened for me.”

Sometimes he felt that he wouldn’t be able to return each year due to financial concerns and being far from home. He said, “Thanks to your generosity, I’ve been able to overcome those obstacles, devote myself fully to my studies, and immerse myself in experiences that have shaped my future in profound ways.” Williams was one of twelve students selected for a research program at East Carolina University, where tobacco use patterns across different generations in the United States was studied. He has shared his research at two scientific conferences and submitted the study for publication in the journal, Substance Use and Misuse. “This experience fueled my passion for research and helped solidify my interest in pursuing a career in science, particularly health care. As a senior nearing the end of my time at Chowan, I am proud to stand here, having built a strong foundation academically and personally. Your belief in me and my peers has empowered us to strive toward our dreams, and I am committed to honoring your support as I step into the next chapter of my life.Thank you, truly, for your investment in my education, in my peers, and our futures. I am profoundly grateful to be a part of this community, a community made stronger by your kindness and generosity.”  

Jane Burke, Trustee and Scholarship Donor, represented the donors in sharing her viewpoint. Dr. Thomas introduces her by saying, “When you think about the name Jane Burke, who can help but think about educational quality. Who can help but think about academic and athletic excellence. Who can help but think about the whole vision, and who can help but think about extreme generosity.” 

Burke, thanking the donors, said,  “It is so important for the success of Chowan to have the scholarship funding to recruit and accept students who are going to be academically successful and who are going to take advantage of the educational opportunities presented to them.”  

To the students, she requested that they have a mindset of giving. They are leaders and with that comes the responsibility of helping young people find that Chowan “is a true live family.” She asked them to find a way to make a difference. Burke passionately shared, “There are many students on this campus who are less fortunate than you are. They are struggling financially; they are struggling socially; they are struggling finding their faith and they are struggling finding out who they are. You are part of that, because I believe your assertiveness and kindness to those students who are not like you academically or not like you socially makes a difference. They are not surrounded by support. You know who those students are. They are eating in the cafeteria alone. They are walking the halls alone. It is hard for individuals who are struggling to be able to stay anywhere. I ask that you keep in mind that you can be someone else’s hope, that you can be someone else’s heart, and that you can be the reason someone doesn’t leave after second semester. Keep your heart open. Keep your mind open. And make sure that on a daily basis you do what’s important in making sure that all students on our campus are successful and that all students on our campus feel like they belong to a true Chowan family. Everybody has worth.” 

Dr. Thomas closed the celebration of scholarship with comments to both scholarship recipients and donors, sharing Chowan’s plans to prosper. “When we think about the future, we think about what the future holds. We think about what the future looks like. We think about what the future can potentially be. We think about the Chowan that does not turn its back on why it’s here, faith and family. But we also must think about a Chowan that makes a difference to all who we can reach. When you look through the pages of this book. Every student at Chowan receives some kind of support. 10.3 million dollars in scholarships are represented here today. Not everybody comes from the same family. Maybe you come here with the support and the love and the belief and the faith from your own family and some of you come here desperately seeking to build a family for yourselves. We admire that and we want you to indeed pay that forward. We are investing in our Chowan family. We hope that today gave you a look at what truly is possible for your contribution. If we keep the faith. If we build our family. Our future will not only be strong, it will be extraordinary. We have you to thank for that.” 

Ronado Williams, in his comments, admonished his fellow scholarship recipients, “I hope your journey has been as rewarding as mine has been. I know we all share a deep gratitude for the generosity that has made our journeys possible. When it’s our time to give back, I hope we’ll be ready to support future students as we have been supported.”