Astemo presents ECC Foundation’s Scholarship Convocation, with Keynote Speaker Dedicated to Workforce Development

The Edgecombe Community College Foundation will recognize more than 130 scholarship recipients during its Scholarship Convocation, presented by Astemo, on Thursday, Sept. 17, in the Thomas S. Fleming Building on the Tarboro campus.

Tracy Crenshaw, an ECC alumna and the director of existing industries and workforce development for the Carolinas Gateway Partnership, will serve as the keynote speaker. Crenshaw graduated from ECC with an Associate in Applied Science in Office Management and later earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from NC Wesleyan University. In her current role, she serves as a liaison between industry, education, workforce partners and the community, helping employers address challenges, pursue growth opportunities and develop essential talent.

Tracey Crenshaw, 2013 graduate of Edgecombe Community College

Crenshaw joined the Carolinas Gateway Partnership in 2013 and advanced from program coordinator to office manager and director of operations before being promoted to her current position in 2024. She is also the founder and executive director of Begin Again Literacy Ministry (BALM), a nonprofit dedicated to empowering adults through literacy, education, digital skills and personal development.

“A keynote speaker is featured at every Scholarship Convocation, and we strive to select an alumnus who has advanced in our local area,” said Tameka Kenan-Norman, executive director of Public Information and Institutional Advancement at ECC. “Tracy Crenshaw was the perfect choice. Her story is inspiring, and her work aligns with the mission of ECC—enriching the educational, training and lifelong learning opportunities for our community.”

More than $170,000 in scholarship funds have been awarded to students at the start of the fall semester. During the Scholarship Convocation, each student will receive a certificate and have the opportunity to meet the donors who help make their educational goals possible.

Table sponsorships are being accepted. For more information, visit edgecombe.edu/convocation.

In Memory of C Rudolph Knight