We Provide Faculty Support

The Alumni Association assumes the responsibility of recognizing and awarding outstanding and deserving faculty. Each year, the Association recognizes three East Carolina faculty members for their dedication, commitment, and arduous work. The Alumni Association also supports the programs and communications of the Retired Faculty Association.



ECU Alumni Scholarship Classic &
Pirate's Bounty Scholarship Auction

What's the best way to support ECU student scholarships? By attending the Pirate's Bounty Scholarship Auction on Thursday, October 16 at the Hilton Greenville and playing in the ECU Alumni Scholarship Classic, presented by the Hilton Greenville, at Ironwood Golf & Country Club on Friday, October 17. Proceeds from these exciting events benefit Alumni Association Scholarships awarded annually to deserving ECU undergraduates.

The Pirate's Bounty Scholarship Auction will surely be a hit with Pirates as there is plenty of treasure for everyone! The nearly 100 silent and live auction items include John Hardy diamond earrings from Bailey's Fine Jewelry, a football autographed by New York Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning, dinner with Chancellor Steve Ballard, a 24” x 36” ECU print autographed by Skip Holtz, vacations to Puerto Vallarta and San Miguel, unique gifts and accessories from Greenville area businesses, and much more! Open to anyone who wants to bid on fabulous auction items while supporting ECU scholarships, tickets are $20 per person, and includes hors d’oeuvres, Pirate beverages, and beach music. A ticket to the auction is included in player packages for those golfing in the ECU Alumni Scholarship Classic.

Our four-person superball tournament offers two flight times, 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and features trophies and prizes for lowest team score for both rounds, a hole-in-one prize from Brown and Wood, longest drive, and closest-to-the-pin contests. Breakfast by ARAMARK, lunch by O'Charley's, the 19th Hole Reception in the Ironwood Clubhouse, drinks and snacks throughout the day, golfer goody bags with an ECU polo, and admission to the Pirate's Bounty Scholarship Auction are all included in player packages. Registration is $135 per person, or $540 per team, with add-on packages for 1 mulligan and 1 tee buster available.

Register today to attend the Pirate's Bounty Scholarship Auction and play a round in the ECU Alumni Scholarship Classic. Your participation truly makes a difference!



Alumni Awards Ceremony and Dinner
Honoring alumni achievement through public recognition is extremely important to the East Carolina Alumni Association. This year, we're proud to award six individuals and one couple with Outstanding Alumni, Honorary Alumni, and Distinguished Service Awards.

Join the Alumni Association on Friday, November 7 at the Hilton Greenville for our annual Alumni Awards Ceremony and Dinner. A cocktail reception will be held from 6:00-7:00 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony and dinner at 7:00 p.m.

The 2008 Alumni Award recipients are:

Outstanding Alumni
Honorary Alumni
Distinguished Service
  • Stephen D. Showfety ’70, president of Koury Corporation, board member, ECU Foundation; member, Henry VanSant Society of the Pirate Club; former Vice Chairman, ECU Board of Visitors; former Secretary, Vice Chairman, and Chairman, ECU Board of Trustees
These individuals represent the motto of East Carolina, servire, which means "to serve," through their support of and dedication to the university, and personal success in their professions and communities. Do you know an alumnus/a who deserves recognition by the Alumni Association? Nominate someone today!
Homecoming 2008: ECU Goes for the Gold!


Autumn is here and that means it’s time for Homecoming! Make plans to come home to ECU November 7-8 for Homecoming 2008: ECU Goes for the Gold!

Activities begin Friday, November 7 with a Homecoming Luncheon in Mendenhall Student Center, followed by a Bus Tour of Campus, then Classroom Experiences, including, "Did Lincoln Own Slaves?: And Other Frequently Asked Questions About Abraham Lincoln," Pat Dunn '58 shares her vision as Greenville's mayor, Lt. Gen. Gary North '76 returns to campus, and "Explore ECU Special Collections and Archives." Later Friday evening join us at the Hilton Greenville for the Alumni Awards Ceremony and Dinner to celebrate with our 2008 Alumni Award recipients.

On Saturday, November 8, come visit the Taylor-Slaughter Alumni Center for Open House Breakfast and parade watching. Then we’ll head over to the stadium for Alumni Tailgate and the Pirate Homecoming game against Marshall. The Collegians, Black Alumni, ECTC/ECC, and the 50th Class will all hold reunion activities over the weekend, particularly on Saturday night. Many Colleges, Schools, and Departments will also hold Homecoming activities. Click here for complete details and to register for Homecoming events.
Where Can a Pirate Voyage Take You?
Plan your next vacation with the East Carolina Alumni Association! On October 27-31 take advantage of special member pricing for our Bahamas Cruise. Sail from Port Canaveral, Florida on Royal Caribbean's Sovereign of the Seas to Cococay and Nassau, Bahamas. This five day cruise is sure to make you feel like you're in paradise as you enjoy white sandy beaches and the azure Caribbean Sea. Register today!

100,000-pound Canned Food Drive
Calling all Pirates! We need your help to provide less fortunate families in Eastern North Carolina with healthy meals. In partnership with ECU's Volunteer and Service Learning Center, the Alumni Association will collect canned food items at every home football Alumni Tailgate. Whether you have tickets to attend our Alumni Tailgate or just want to contribute to a good cause, we ask that all alumni and friends stop by the Alumni Tailgate outside of Gate 1 of Minges Coliseum to drop off canned food items. Together we can help collect 100,000 pounds of food! For more information on this service project, please contact ECU's Volunteer and Service Learning Center.
Pirate Career Calls
Don't miss this month's exciting Pirate Career Call "Making a Presentation They Will Remember" on Thursday, October 2 at 12:00 noon (EST). This career discussion will focus on business presentations and how to leave a lasting impression. (Registrations will only be taken through 4:00 p.m. today. Click here or call 800-ECU-GRAD.)

Pirate Career Calls are a complimentary service of the East Carolina Alumni Association, the ECU Career Center, and ECU's Human Resources.

November's Pirate Career Call:
A Pirate's Life for Me!
Together with Pirate Radio 1250 & 930 AM the Alumni Association is proud to bring you A Pirate's Life for Me!, our half-hour radio program that highlights the accomplishments of ECU alumni. Tune in every Saturday at 10:00 a.m. in Eastern North Carolina on the AM dial, or listen live world wide at www.PirateRadio1250.com. Missed a recent episode? The Alumni Association archives every program after it airs. Listen now!

October guests:
  • October 4: Jason Matthews '94, Music Row’s 2006 Breakthrough Writer of the Year
  • October 11: Dustin "Dusty" Field '94 and Jason Earnest '00, owners of Tobacco Road Cellars Winery
  • October 18: Allen Thomas '92, entrepreneur and partner in Tide Development LLC & Thomas Partners LLC
  • October 25: Jim Newman '68, '74, CFO/Controller of the NC Department of Insurance and retired Navy captain
Voyages of Discovery Lecture Series
The East Carolina Alumni Association is once again proud be a sponsor of the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences Voyages of Discover Lecture Series. The premier lecture "Creative Leaders Who Have Shaped Our World" featuring Walter Isaacson will be Wednesday, October 8 at 7:00 p.m. in Wright Auditorium on ECU's campus. Isaacson is current President and CEO of the Aspen Institute and former CEO of CNN, and editor of Time Magazine.

Tickets are $10 per person and may be purchased by calling the Central Ticket Office at 252-328-4788.
Army ROTC 25th Anniversary
East Carolina is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Army ROTC Department. In recognition of this milestone, the East Carolina Pirate Battalion is hosting an Army ROTC alumni weekend October 17-18, 2008. Join us for a great weekend of fun, camaraderie, to reminisce about ROTC traditions, and visit with current ROTC cadets. Our anniversary weekend is also Military Appreciation weekend at the university, with special recognition at the football game. Click here for complete details and to register for the weekend's activities.
Be Fire Smart
Did you know that October is National Fire Safety month? Liberty Mutual and the East Carolina Alumni Association have teamed up to promote fire safety by providing educational resources for parents, teachers, and firefighters. And we're giving away a trip for four to visit the interactive exhibit "Where's the Fire?" at Walt Disney World® as well as fire safety kits.

Enter to win the Be Fire Smart Sweepstakes by completing an online entry form. (No purchase required.) Then follow the link to visit our interactive approach to safety at BeFireSmart.com to:
  • Develop a fire escape plan
  • Watch our fire prevention video
  • Take the Fire Escape Challenge
  • Find additional resources to keep your family and home safe
It's our goal to help you and your family live safer, more secure lives.
Pirates All Access Launches New Media Player
East Carolina University's official athletics web site www.ecupirates.com has launched an enhanced and upgraded Pirates All-Access media player in partnership with CBS College Sports. The new Pirates All-Access is powered by Microsoft's Silverlight technology, providing increased web browser compatibility and a redesigned user-friendly, state-of-the-art interface. Those user whose computers do not have Silverlight, was was utilized by NBC during its internet coverage of the Olympics in Beijing, will be required to perform a quick on-time download of Silverlight before accesssing the new video player. Click here to read more.

Pirates All-Access Content Highlights:
  • Football video coverage of home games and selected road games (subject to TV rights agreements)
  • Football audio coverage of all games
  • Audio coverage of weekly Skip Holtz Show
  • Audio coverage of post-game and post-practice interviews with Skip Holtz
  • Live video of the television feed of all East Carolina games (in any sport) shown on CBS College Sports Network
  • Men's and women's basketball and baseball video coverage of home games and C-USA road games (subject to TV rights agreements)
  • Men's basketball and baseball audio coverage of road games
  • Women's basketball audio coverage of selected games
  • Audio coverage of weekly Mack McCarthy Show
  • Volleyball and women's soccer video coverage of home matches and selected road matches
  • Sofball video coverage of selected games
  • Various CBS College Sports features and highlights of East Carolina athletics
  • Selected other features, press conferences, and game coverage
Cusomer Service Links:
Need ECU Pirate Wear? Get it here!

See what's on the CBS College Sports Network. 
Vote Coach Holtz for Coach of the Year
Do you think our Gridiron Pirates' Coach Skip Holtz should be recognized as the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year? Then vote now and vote often to ensure Coach Holtz wins this annual competition.
Pirate Nation News
Jerry Tolley '65, '66 receives NAIA Hall of Fame honor ... [More]

ECU grad wins silver medal at Paralympic Games ... [More]

Ride with the Voice the raise funds for nursing scholarships ... [More]

Pirates sweep C-USA weekly honors ... [More]

ECU Athletics Director addresses postgame celebrations ... [More]

Renovated Todd Dining Hall opens ... [More]

Patrick Pinkney named the AT&T All-America Player of the Week ... [More]

Pirates take down #8 Mountaineers, 24-3 ... [More]

ECU takes on second life in virtual world ... [More]

Research could lead to new blood pressure treatment ... [More]

Chad Wolfe '01, '03 named Carolina League Trainer of the Year ... [More]
Event Photos
Upcoming Events
October 2
Pirate Career Call
"Making a Presentation They Will Remember"
Via Teleconference
[More]

October 4
2008 Down East Walk to Defeat ALS
Greenville, NC
[More]

October 4
A Pirate's Life for Me!
Featured Guest - Jason Matthews '94, Music Row's 2006 Breakthrough Writer of the Year
Pirate Radio 1250 and 930
[More]

October 4
Carolina Beer and Beverage Tour and Tasting
Mooresville, NC
[More]

October 10
Pirate Club Social
Charlottesville, VA
[More]

October 11
Away Game Tailgate - Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
[More]

October 11
A Pirate's Life for Me!
Featured Guests - Dustin "Dusty" Field '94 and Jason Earnest '00, owners of Tobacco Road Cellars Winery
Pirate Radio 1250 and 930
[More]

October 16
Pirate's Bounty Scholarship Auction
Greenville, NC
[More]

October 17
ECU Alumni Scholarship Classic
Greenville, NC
[More]

October 17
Freeboot Friday
Greenville, NC
[More]

October 18-19
Occupational Therapy 20th Reunion
Greenville, NC
[More]

October 18
3rd Annual Run for Respiration Race
Greenville, NC
[More]

October 18
NY Metro ECU Alumni Fall Service Project
New York, NY
[More]

October 18
SOLD OUT: Alumni Tailgate - Memphis
Greenville, NC
[More]

October 18
A Pirate's Life for Me!
Featured Guest - Allen Thomas '92, entrepreneur and partner in Tide Development LLC & Thomas Partners LLC
Pirate Radio 1250 and 930
[More]

October 18
Football Viewing Parties
Various Locations
[More]

October 21
Retired Faculty Association Board Meeting
Greenville, NC
[More]

October 22 and 23
Published Pirates
Greenville, NC
[More]

October 25
A Pirate's Life for Me!
Featured Guest - Jim Newman '68, '74, CFO/Controller of the NC Department of Insurance and retired Navy captain
Pirate Radio 1250 and 930
[More]

October 27-31
Pirate Voyage
Bahamas Cruise
[More]

November 1
A Pirate's Life for Me!
Featured Guest - Sabrina Bengel, East Carolina Alumni Association Board Chair
Pirate Radio 1250 and 930
[More]

November 1
Special Disney Tours for ECU Friends & Family
Orlando, FL
[More]

November 2
Bus Trip to UCF Game from Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville, FL
[More]

November 2
Away Game Tailgate - Central Florida
Orlando, FL
[More]

November 2
Football Viewing Parties
Various Locations
[More]

November 6
Pirate Career Call
"Ask Your Career Coach"
Conference Call
[More]

Elexis Gillette '07



Elexis Gillette is the proud winner of a silver medal and two new Amercian records from the 2008 Paralymic Games in Beijing. Held September 6-17, shortly after the 2008 Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games used the same facilities in Beijing. Gillette, who is visually impaired, competed at the famed "Bird's Nest" in the long jump, a sport in which he wond silver at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens and the triple jump, in which he placed fifth overall. Gillette achieved new American records for blind athletes in both events. “I wasn’t really nervous. I just got out there on the track and started jumping,” he said. “I scratched on my first jump, but my second jump was good. As I kept jumping, I kept getting better. On my fifth jump, I won silver.”

On the 2008 Paralympic Games experience Gillette said, “It was unlike anything I’ve ever done before, from the opening ceremonies to the end.” The Raleigh native is now back in the United States, already planning for the London 2012 games.

Source: ECU News Bureau

2008 ECU Alumni Scholarship Classic
presented by the Hilton Greenville
 
Golf Committee




The East Carolina Alumni Association would like to extend a warm “Thank You!” to our 2008 ECU Alumni Scholarship Classic committee members for their gifts of time and talent to raise money for student scholarships. The Golf Committee is comprised of dedicated ECU alumni, friends, faculty, and staff. These individuals have been busy behind-the-scenes helping the Alumni Association plan and prepare for our annual ECU Alumni Scholarship Classic to be held at Ironwood Golf and Country Club on October 17, 2008. In addition to a day on the links the tournament includes breakfast, lunch provided by O’Charley’s, plenty of prizes and the 19th Hole Reception. The Golf Committee has also been hard at work preparing for the Pirate’s Bounty Scholarship Auction. This event will be held Thursday, October 16th, the night before the golf tournament, at the Greenville Hilton. Committee members have secured many donations from local businesses including one-of-a-kind vacations to exotic destinations such as Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel, and Disney, ECU sports memorabilia, spa packages, jewelry, home furnishings, and much, much more!

Golf Committee Members Pictured: Brenda Myrick '92, Linda Tripp '80, '81, Kendra Alexander, Randy Tripp, Julie Abeyounis, Kevin Youngs '98, '04, Liz Ellerbe '01, and Paul Clifford. Not pictured: Leslie Craigle and Kiplan Clemmons.