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ECRS Pledges Annual Computer Science Innovation, Entrepreneurship Scholarship

David Taylor (Executive Director of Development), Rahman Tashakkori (Program director and distinguished professor), Pete Catoe (ECR Software Corporation President and CEO), Tony Calamai (Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences) taken at the formal scholarship establishment.
David Taylor (Executive Director of Development), Rahman Tashakkori (Program director and distinguished professor), Pete Catoe (ECR Software Corporation President and CEO), Tony Calamai (Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences) in the ECRS offices.

Boone-based technology firm, ECR Software Corporation (ECRS), has announced the establishment of the ECRS Computer Science Innovation and Entrepreneurship Scholarship. ECRS will award $90,000 in scholarship funds over the next four years, to incoming Appalachian State University freshmen who intend to major in computer science. Two students will be selected each year for this scholarship, and the scholarships will be handed out in increments of $22,500 each for four years.

“We are very excited about the ECRS Scholarship Fund in our department.” Dr. Rahman Tashakkori who will direct the program mentioned. “The ECRS scholarships will provide an opportunity for CS students to experience mentoring and collaborative learning as they work with their peers in other programs. ECRS has always supported our student programs, and this is a great example of their leadership in helping our students grow to serve the region” he said.

ECRS Scholars will work closely together in academics and research, and will be provided with opportunities for internships and employment with ECRS and other technology firms. The scholarship is open to incoming freshmen. Applicants will be evaluated on academic merit, including performance in high school, involvement in innovative projects, and class rigor with a focus on a student’s aptitude in Mathematics and creative problem solving.

Preference will be given to applicants who are residents of the western North Carolina region. Other preference factors, which will be considered in the application process, include; those who currently serve in the United States National Guard or Reserve, honorable discharged status with a military branch of any member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization,  foreign nationals with U.S. asylum or refugee status who are in the process of obtaining U.S. citizenship, participation in academic competitions, experience in research through internships or other opportunities, strong demonstration of entrepreneurial activities, and a strong interest in living and serving the Western region of the state, including the Boone community, after graduation.

Through the years, ECRS has worked closely with the faculty and students in the Department of Computer Science at Appalachian State on various research, student programs, and other activities. ECRS employs many graduates of the Computer Science program in its development, distribution, and support of world class retail automation systems.

About ECRS

ECRS was started in 1989 by young entrepreneur and Appalachian State University student, Pete Catoe. Since inception, ECRS has grown into a leading provider of retail automation systems to merchants in North America and beyond. In 2013 and 2014, ECRS was named as the top retail software company by the prestigious RIS Software LeaderBoard which ranks 99-leading technology providers.  ECRS headquarters is located at 277 Howard Street in downtown Boone.