WINTERVILLE—Eastern Carolina Vocational Center (ECVC), a nonprofit agency with a workforce comprised primarily of employees with disabilities, endowed a scholarship with the PCC Foundation this fall to provide tuition assistance to Pitt Community College students with disabilities.
In September, ECVC President/CEO Jason Thomas presented a $15,000-check to PCC Foundation representatives to establish the scholarship endowment. PCC Scholarships Coordinator Kim Simpkins says the first recipient will be announced this month and awarded a $500-scholarship to help with the cost of tuition during 2025 Spring Semester, which begins in January.
Since its founding in 1965, ECVC has sought to help people with disabilities attain a higher quality of life through vocational achievement. The agency is the largest employment services organization for people with disabilities in eastern North Carolina.
Each year, ECVC identifies employment opportunities for more than 150 workers with disabilities, through community job placement and direct employment on its federal, state, local government and commercial contracts. The center is a leading supplier to the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies, as well as military base supply centers around the world.
To be eligible for the ECVC Endowed Scholarship, applicants must be PCC students with disabilities, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. They must be registered with the college’s Office of Accessibility Services and living in eastern North Carolina.