Mike McCammon, a kinesiology
instructor at ECU, still has the receipt
for his textbooks from his first college
semester in 1969. The cost? $160.
Today's students, by contrast, can
expect to spend around $600 per
semester on course materials, according
to the College Board, and it's not
uncommon for an individual book to
cost more than $200.
"It's harder for students now
financially," said McCammon's wife,
Susan, a psychology professor at ECU. A first generation college student herself, Sue
was only able to attend because of a scholarship.
"Back in that day, you could work to pay for what your scholarship didn't cover, and
today that's not true - you cannot work enough hours to pay for school and have time
to devote to your academic work. So I'd like to help students out with that."
Faculty like Susan and Mike McCammon interact with ECU students every day,
and their proximity throws the students' needs into sharp relief. That's why they
decided to make a bequest in their wills that will provide scholarships to students
studying psychology and kinesiology.
Mike and Susan came to ECU in 1981. Susan took a job in the psychology
department and Mike started graduate school in exercise science. They arrived
expecting to stay two years. Instead, they stayed decades. This summer, they'll both
retire.
"ECU has been a fantastic home for us," Mike said. "I like coming to work every
day. I enjoy the students, but it's hard
being a student. Being able to help them
through their time in university is really
important."
Former sociology professors and
husband-and-wife duo Ken Wilson and
Christa Reiser also wanted to give back
to ECU after long and happy careers
here.
They arrived from Purdue University
in 1974 and were told by then-chancellor Leo Jenkins that, "If you hire couples, they'll stick around."
"And he was right," Wilson said.
While Ken worked to help establish ECU's Survey Research Lab, now the Center for Survey Research, Christa relished in teaching and broadening students'
minds.
"I personally loved going to college," Christa said. "I was spoiled in that my parents covered my costs. I want to do whatever I can to help my students
have the college experience. It's such a critical time - not only opening your mind to new ideas but also meeting so many new people. It's exposure to a new
world."
Ken and Christa made bequests in their wills to support future sociology scholarships. For them, the decision to give back was simple.
"I think of students I've seen who are dedicated, hard-working and struggling to juggle two jobs," Christa said. "To think that the lack of money would keep
talented students from pursuing their goals… helping seems like the right thing to do."
