Elizabeth City, NC – A simple conversation between a father and daughter almost 12 years ago has grown into a movement and now, Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) is benefiting. On Sept. 11, the nonprofit organization, E2D (Eliminate the Digital Divide), visited ECSU's Ridley Student Center to distribute laptops to students free of charge.
Over 200 fully refurbished laptops with a minimum of 8GB of RAM, 128GB of hard drive, the latest Windows 11 operating system and a three-month technical warranty were given to freshmen at ECSU. This drive to equip students with the tools they need has been a mission 12 years in the making.
The vision for E2D was birthed in 2013 when the 12-year-old daughter of the nonprofit organization's founder, Pat Millen, came home with a troubling observation. Her teachers assigned homework requiring computer access, but many classmates didn't have laptops at home.
"She said, 'Dad, every assignment we get here in seventh grade assumes you have a computer at home to do the work and I know some kids at school who don't. That's not fair.'"
Millen's daughter, Franny Millen, said, "Dad, what are we going to do about it?"
At the time, Millen was in another career entirely. However, that question hit hard, and so did the reality of this digital divide. Millen, who had always been passionate about education, was moved to act.
"We got kind of stuck on that question as a family and started looking into it," Millen added.
What followed was a flurry of outreach to Millen's network of executive friends and colleagues. One by one, they stepped forward, providing the funds necessary to purchase laptops for students. In that first year, E2D provided computers for 150 families.
At ECSU, the laptop giveaway event proved E2D's vision to have a need and purpose. For many ECSU students, this opportunity couldn't have come at a better time. As technology continues to drive education, access to reliable tools like laptops is essential. E2D's commitment to helping bridge this gap ensures more students can keep pace with the ever-evolving demands of academic life.
Seeing firsthand the difference having access to technology can make, Millen says it's not just about technology, but about opening possibilities, careers and futures. Students walked away from the Ridley Student Center with fully refurbished laptops and a world of opportunities in tow.
As ECSU continues to invest in student success, partnerships like these will continue to make a lasting impact on the campus and beyond.
For more information about eliminating the digital divide, go to www.e-2-d.org.