East Central University’s President’s Leadership Class is one of the university’s premier
freshmen scholarship programs made up of high potential students who demonstrate
leadership, honesty and integrity, good communication skills, are goal-oriented, and
adhere to stringent academic requirements and student conduct.
And next year, Marietta High School’s Emily Faulkenberry will be one of only 16
students from ECU’s incoming freshman class who will join the PLC.
Faulkenberry, the daughter of Bobby and Amanda Faulkenberry, has attended Marietta
Public Schools for 14 years and will graduate with a perfect 4.0, a grade point average
she has maintained while staying active in a plethora of student activities and earning
15 concurrent college credit hours.
During her high school years, Faulkenberry has been a member of FCCLA, where she
was a chapter officer, district officer, and a state officer, something that’s both a true
honor and a tremendous responsibility. She’s also been in student council and has
served as student body co-president, and is a member of the National Honor Society,
the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and FFA. She has been a member of 4-H since she
was a young child and has served as a local and county officer.
It was her involvement in these activities, displaying her strong leadership skills, as well
as her stellar academic record, that brought Faulkenberry to the attention of ECU.
“The President’s Leadership Class is obviously looking for strong leadership skills, but
also good grades and good standing in the school,” said Faulkenberry.
And she’s got all three of those practically oozing from her pores.
“Emily is an exceptional student and a wonderful person,” said MHS counselor, Tonya
Bucher. “On top of her academic successes, Emily has organized or helped to organize
several fundraising efforts for our school and community. She fills many roles here at
school and as a state FCCLA officer and has made us all proud. Her servant’s heart and
personal drive will see her through many more accomplishments, and we are so excited
for her future.”
In addition to the PLC scholarship she will also be receiving an Academic Distinction
Scholarship.
“I think it’s going to be a good fit for me,” Faulkenberry explained. “I’ve never really been
into sports. Student council was more my thing, and this is a lot like that. I think it will be
a good service role for me.”
Each PLC student must complete weekly community service requirement on the ECU
campus.
And if PLC will be a good fit for Faulkenberry, she’s even more convinced that East
Central is the perfect place for her. First, it’s her mom’s alma mater, so there’s some
tradition there.
“I like the location, too. It’s close enough to come home on the weekends, but far
enough away that I won’t depend on my parents for everything,” she said. “Ada isn’t
huge, because I don’t see myself at a crazy huge college. And my mom’s family lives in
Stratford, so they’ll be close by, and I’ll have people I can call for help if I need it.”
Clearly, she’s thought this through, to the surprise of no one who knows her.
As an ECU student, Faulkenberry plans to major in early childhood education and
become a teacher.
“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher,” she smiled. “I don’t ever remember wanting to be
anything else.”
Faulkenberry loves working with children, always has, and spends as much time as
possible doing it. She’s currently serving as an aide in the elementary school for a
couple of class periods daily.
“Not only is Emily a great student who is very smart and hardworking, but she is a
genuinely nice person who is quick to help others in need and frequently volunteers to
help,” said Principal Michael Oakley.
Emily Faulkenberry is, by all accounts, a fantastic student and person, and while her
teachers and administrators are proud of her and happy for her, they’ve paid her the
ultimate in compliments: they’re really going to miss her when she graduates.