Edgecombe Community College receives $35,000 from the Rocky Mount Rotary Club
Shown from left are RM Rotary and ECC representatives Jet Hatu, Tameka Kenan-Norman, Samanthia Phillips, Lyn Brown, Chayce Bryant, Dr. Greg McLeod, Anna Kate White, Sherlock McDougald and Kristen Brabble
Edgecombe Community College was presented with a $35,000 check from the Rocky Mount Rotary Club during the recent Tackle the Tar Celebration. ECC joined North Carolina Wesleyan University and Nash Community College for the annual celebration, where the Rocky Mount Rotary Club distributed a total of $105,000 evenly among the three local higher-education institutions.
“We are so honored to partner with the Rocky Mount Rotary Club and their members in support of our local students and are thankful to all of the sponsors, donors and runners who help make the Tackle the Tar 5K mud run a wonderful success,” said ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod. “This gift represents more than financial support. It represents opportunity, encouragement and hope for students pursuing their educational and career goals.”
Since its inception in 2016, Tackle the Tar has awarded $825,000 in scholarships to local students. Encouraging recipients to pursue their higher education within the Twin Counties and remain in the region to build their careers remains a core mission for event chair Kristen Brabble and Rocky Mount Rotary Club members.
For students like Chayce Bryant, a 19-year-old freshman at ECC, the scholarship provides a life-changing opportunity. Bryant, a Rocky Mount native pursuing a degree in business administration, aspires to enter the gaming industry or start his own business.
“Growing up, going to college was always a goal that my family and I talked about,” said Bryant. “Even as a child, I knew that getting a college education was important, but one of the biggest questions was how we were going to pay for it. Coming from a single-parent household, my mom and I knew that pursuing higher education would be a challenge financially.”
Bryant noted that the support from Tackle the Tar has allowed him to focus fully on his academic and professional goals without the overwhelming weight of tuition costs.
“Receiving the Tackle the Tar scholarship has made a tremendous difference in my life,” Bryant added. “It has helped relieve some of the financial burden and has allowed me to continue my education after high school and focus more on achieving my educational goals.”
The Rocky Mount Rotary Club will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Tackle the Tar event on May 15, 2027, at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex. To learn more or to get involved, visit tacklethetar.com.