Forty Under Forty

Alumni Relations & Engagement

Forty under forty

NOMINATIONS FOR THE EPSILON COHORT ARE NOW OPEN!

what to know

About 40 Under 40

Established in 2017, the Office of Alumni Relations and Engagement recognize 40 emerging leaders under the age of 40 biannually who have made significant impacts in business, research, leadership, education, public service, or philanthropic endeavors. Join 120 Viking Alumni who have connected their achievements back to their ECSU roots.

40 UNDER 40 SOCIETY

Submit your nominations (self-nominations are welcome) for individuals to receive the honor of being named to the Elizabeth City State University 40 Under 40 Society. The purpose of the 40 Under 40 Society is to honor and engage forty (40) Elizabeth City State University young Viking Alumni who are making strides in their careers, contributions to their communities, or impressions on the ECSU campus and beyond.

ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION CRITERIA

Alumni must have received their undergraduate or graduate degree from one of Elizabeth City State University’s campuses and meet the following:

Applicants must be under the age of 40 as of December 31, 2025
Alumni with any degree from ECSU are eligible
Must be making a significant contribution to their field, career, society, or community
Must be willing to be featured in alumni and university publications and marketing materials
Graduates from all ECSU campuses are eligible
Be committed to raising and/or giving at least $1,000 to support a special ECSU initiative to benefit current students prior to March 27, 2026 (with Signed Pledge agreement)

It is very important to enter each nominee’s correct email address as additional required information will be requested from nominees using the email address submitted in the nomination form.

Nominations will remain open from Thursday, August 21, 2025 until Sunday, September 21, 2025. All nominees will be contacted via email on or before October 3, 2025 for additional information. For more information, please email ecsualumni@ecsu.edu or contact us by phone at (252) 335-3498.

FORTY UNDER FORTY SOCIETY BENEFITS

Honorees join a Society of Viking Alumni who are emerging leaders across various fields. Therefore, gaining access to a network of Young Alumni who will:

be committed to raising at least $1,000 to support an ECSU initiative that benefits our current Viking students;
be recognized through the University, local, regional, and national media outlets;
be honored during the 2026 40 Under 40 Awards Ceremony;
be pictured with Chancellor Hargrove and ECSU Administrators during the 2026 40 Under 40 Awards Ceremony; and
be selected on occasion to serve the University in various capacities at institutional initiatives such as Open House, Homecoming, Viking Fest, Founders Day Convocation, etc.

Submit Your Nomination

AWARDS CEREMONY

The 40 Under 40 Society Awards Ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, April 10, 2025 on the campus of Elizabeth City State University. Honorees will be allowed to bring up to two (2) guests to join the ceremony at the ticketed price of $75 per person (Ceremony meal and Football Ticket included).

TICKETS

Tickets will be available for purchase on January 30, 2026. The ticket link will be located here. Please check back for details.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For more information, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations and Engagement.

Contact Us

252-335-3498

Email Us

ecsualumni@ecsu.edu

Stay Up To Date

Important Dates

DATE	DESCRIPTION
August 21, 2025	Nominations open
September 21, 2025	Nominations close
October 3, 2025	Nominees contacted for additional information (resume/CV, bio 250 words or less), professional headshot (solid background, no “selfies”, etc.)
October 16, 2025	Nominee's deadline to submit additional information
October 23, 2025	Nomination committee convenes to select top Honorees
October 29, 2025	40 Under 40 Honorees notified
November 12, 2025	Official information required from Honorees
December 10, 2025	40 Under 40 Honorees Unveiled
January 30, 2026	40 Under 40 Society Awards Ceremony Tickets on Sale (Honorees and Invited Guests Only)
March 17, 2026	Ticket Sales End
April 10, 2026	40 Under 40 Society Awards Ceremony (Time & Location TBA)

Sponsorship & Underwriting Opportunities

40 UNDER 40 TITLE SPONSOR: $5,000

Ten (10) Luncheon tickets with seating in a prominent location
Brief speaking opportunity during the 40 Under 40 Luncheon
On-screen recognition at the luncheon
Recognition on the website and in the luncheon souvenir booklet
Verbal recognition from the podium during the 40 Under 40 Luncheon
Sponsorship can be purchased here.

Per the IRS, only the portion of the contribution that exceeds the fair market value of benefits received is tax deductible.

CHANCELLOR’S SOCIETY SPONSOR: $1,000

Four (4) Luncheon tickets with seating in a prominent location
On-screen recognition at the luncheon
Recognition on the website and in the luncheon souvenir booklet
Verbal recognition from the podium during the 40 Under 40 Luncheon
Sponsorship can be purchased here.

Per the IRS, only the portion of the contribution that exceeds the fair market value of benefits received is tax deductible.

DEAN’S GOLD CIRCLE SOCIETY SPONSOR: $500

Two (2) Luncheon tickets
Recognition on the website and in the luncheon souvenir booklet
Sponsorship can be purchased here.

Per the IRS, only the portion of the contribution that exceeds the fair market value of benefits received is tax deductible.

FULL PAGE COLOR AD: $300

Full Page Ad – 8” wide x 10.5” tall
Print-ready ads must be electronically submitted to blspence@ecsu.edu no later than April 5th, 2024 to be included in the souvenir booklet.
Refunds will not be provided.
The sponsorship and operations committee reserves the right to refuse publication of any ad.
Ads can be purchased here.

Ad Specifications:

Color and Ink

Convert all colors to 4-color process (CMYK) — all photos, logos, graphics and type
PMS/spot and RGB colors are not accepted. Convert all color elements to CMYK.

Accepted Formats

Portable Document Format (PDF) – Preferred

PDF images with 300 DPI resolution
All fonts embedded
Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPG or JPEG)
JPG with 300 DPI resolution
CMYK color mode

Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPG or JPEG)

JPG with 300 DPI resolution
CMYK color mode

Microsoft Publisher (PUB, PUBX), Microsoft Word (DOC, DOCX) and Microsoft PowerPoint (PPT, PPTX) files will not be accepted. Please Save/export PUB, DOC and PPT files as PDF for submission.

Note: Faxed ads will not be accepted.

HALF PAGE COLOR AD: $200

Full Page Ad – 8” wide x 5.125” tall
Print-ready ads must be electronically submitted to blspence@ecsu.edu no later than April 5th, 2024 to be included in the souvenir booklet.
Refunds will not be provided.
The sponsorship and operations committee reserves the right to refuse publication of any ad.
Ads can be purchased here.

Ad Specifications:

Color and Ink

Convert all colors to 4-color process (CMYK) — all photos, logos, graphics and type
PMS/spot and RGB colors are not accepted. Convert all color elements to CMYK.

Accepted Formats

Portable Document Format (PDF) – Preferred

PDF images with 300 DPI resolution
All fonts embedded
Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPG or JPEG)
JPG with 300 DPI resolution
CMYK color mode

Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPG or JPEG)

JPG with 300 DPI resolution
CMYK color mode

Microsoft Publisher (PUB, PUBX), Microsoft Word (DOC, DOCX) and Microsoft PowerPoint (PPT, PPTX) files will not be accepted. Please Save/export PUB, DOC and PPT files as PDF for submission.

Note: Faxed ads will not be accepted.

Past Honorees

2025 Epsilon Cohort

Christopher Allen '11	Jayquan Jenkins '23
Alyssa Banks '11	Ansley Lassiter '18
Akeadra Bell '14	Chelsey Lee '13
Vinson Biggs ’08 & ‘24	Cassidy Lewis '11
Olivia Bridges '16	Christian Lewis '10
Jasmine Brumsey '21	Nealand Lewis '11
LaSheeda Butler '08	William Nelson '18
Kamara Campbell '15	Dexter Peele '11
Keeshonna Cartwright '12 & '25	Mykal Polite '23
Taurean Cartwright '12 & '24	Charlie Price '08
Jimmy Chambers '22	Lauren Pruitt '08
Latisha Coston '09	Courtney Ramsey '20
Roberta Draughn '10	Justin Saunders '21
Racquel Ferguson '15	Kelsie Sellers '23
Joshua Finney '13	Se'Quan Tutt '14
Ashley Gatling '09	Tracie Twine-Moss '15
Catherine Harris-Brown '11	Lisa Westbrook '09
Jasmine Harris-Green '14	Ajanae Willis '17
Anthony Harrison '13	Myla Worthington '16
Kenya Holley '14	Grace Wright '11

2024 Delta Cohort

Gilbert Avent	Jerome Mitchell
Brandon Barnes	Nina Nelson
Delasio Bartley Jr	Tramar Pettaway
Kyenna Benjamin-Judkins	Dwayne Ponton
Arthur Brodie	Kyra Purvis
Mya Brown	Lyteshia Riddick
Cortez Bryant	Sha-Teisa Sharpe
Amber Cherry	Dawn Stallings
Michael Cobb	Shanice Stephenson
Astashia Davis	Antonía Taylor
Jessica Fields	Janeen Tisdell
George Fulwood	Curtis Vinson
Jason Gaddy	Avianne Waithe
Danielle Graves	Tiara Watford
Whitney Graves	Brian Wayne
David Hill	Dr. C'monee' Wilkins
Tristian Holley	Mukier Williams
Wayne Holloway	Keyona Williams
Kristina Jiles	Ivan Laney
Kenyona Lewis	Ryan D Lawrence

2021 Gamma Cohort

Gregory Ackles, Jr. ’03	Brandon Dean Johnson ’12
Branden Germaine Anderson ’03	Wade Javon Johnson ’06
Sheba Starlette Andrews ’03	Brandon Jones ’15
General Irvin Barrett ’03	Aletea Joosten ’04
Karman Lee Battle ’11	Courtnay Jordan ’05
Jeffery Billups, II ’05	Corey Kellam ’13
Tanya Marie Blackshear-Arellano ’03	Julian M. Lee ’09
Andrew Robert Brumfield ’13	Brandi Nicole Matthews ’09
Garry Cameron ’08	Jason A. Mitchell ’02
Tony Lee Coley ’12	Micaela Morris ’07
Javon Cordell Copeland ’16	Torrey B. Nowell ’09
Darrin Corbin ’16	Ronald Q. Nixon, II ’06
Alesha J Covington ’08	James Donte Prayer ’20
Constance Fleming Davenport ’06	Keith O. Richardson ’03
J'Vonn Davis ’11	Malone Cortez Silver ’12
Krystal Michele Harris ’03	Rena Spellman ’11
Valerie Edwards Henderson ’14	Bryan Spence ’09
Marcus Andre Hilliard ’04	Quinnesha Staton ’03
Marion Hudson ’12	Jessica D. Tabb-Jones ’12
Gerry N. Jackson, Jr. ’08	Shante Nicole Trumpet ’07

2019 Beta Cohort

Mikel Brabham '01	Julia Madison '08
Sabrina M. Brown '04	Joshua Mallory '07,'13
Demetrius Deloatch '15	Kevin Marshall '09
Kodi Fleming '04	Jaime Mercer '06
Trevei Foreman '12	Kristynna Oliver-Smith '08
James Futrell Jr. '10	Brian Overton '04
Jason Griffin '13	Tania Overton '08
Michael Hoffler '09	Adriane Patterson Walker '01
Sherri Horner Lawrence '02	Jonas Pope, IV '02
Damika Howard-Wayne '11	Nadia Rhodes '09
Taneshia Jernigan '15	Jason W. Richardson '01
Nina Jones Griffin '01,'18	Ja'Naye "Jay Cee" Ruffin '14
Richard Jowers '12	Barbara Sutton '04
Tre'ona Kelty-Jacobs '05	Crystal Waters '09
Kevin Leonard '07

2018 Inaugural Cohort

Shekeria Smith Barnes '00	Brian Keith Phelps '00
Emanuel L. Basnight Jr. '02	Alysha K. Purvis '13
Enoch D. Bond '04	Glasher S. Robinson '11
Mike Brown '09	Lionel Ray Robinson '10
Gregory Burgess '03	Lance N. Sanders '11
Bryce Lennon Carmichael '09	Lia Scott '12
Steven D. Carter '09	Shakia O. Seabrook '11
Brandon La'Mont Cobb '11	Jenelle Simpson '02
Lynell Patrese Coston '99	Courtney Slaughter '14
Peter M. Eley '00	Ebony Sneed '00
Charity M. Fisher '08	Alicia Nicole Clayvon Stokley '14
Jasper L. Fleming '09	Mckinley Strother '16
Anthony B. Garrett '10	Timothy C. Summers '06
Julian Hoggard '08	Illiana Thomas '10,'12
Natasha Coley Holley '03	Justin L. Waddell '14
Oliver Andrew Holley '01	Kevin Jemar Wade '02
Darrien J. Jerman '08	A'Lelianne Warren '08
Jeremy T. Jones '13	Jeremy Lionel Whidbee '10
Tremaine Kwasikpui '08	Darrius Devon Wiggins '03
Trequita D. Overton '99	Canisha L. Young '15

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Alumni Relations & Engagement