Todd Davis Endowment
Todd’s Story
Todd Davis grew up in Wilson, NC, in a loving, family-oriented home. He had a passion for road and mountain biking and was a proud Eagle Scout. He dreamed of becoming an engineer, just like his father, who graduated from NC State. Todd was active in his fraternity while majoring in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Environmental Engineering. Yet, what set Todd aside from the rest of his peers came when he was diagnosed with cancer just weeks before his 22nd birthday. After biking, at times over 60 miles a day, he complained of backaches, fatigue and lack of appetite. These symptoms were not from the physical demands on his body from riding his bike, but instead, a rare cancer located in his gastrointestinal system. Todd’s determination never allowed him to be intimidated by the disease, despite multiple surgeries and intense chemotherapy. In the middle of his college career, he continued to display a positive and goal-oriented attitude.
Already an inspiration to his family and those around him, Todd displayed immense perseverance for 15 months, completing assignments and exams to meet his goal of graduating from NC State. In the end, he succeeded in doing so; however, his courageous journey with cancer ended on December 18th, 1994, just a few days before his diploma was presented at the graduation ceremony. Though he never had the chance to begin his engineering career, Todd completed what he had set out to achieve academically.
Endowment Fund Info
In recognition of her brother, Amy Timberlake created the Todd Davis Endowment Fund in 2016 to financially support students undergoing treatment for cancer and to encourage a focus on health and healing during this challenging time. Each year, an NC State student is selected to receive a scholarship from this endowment fund. Recipients of the scholarship have expressed gratitude for the availability of this unique financial assistance.
“With this financial blessing, I have found support to continue my studies without worrying, especially during this time when most of my finances are dedicated to medications and doctor visits after my recent diagnosis. This scholarship has ensured my financial safety at NC State.”
“I had to take some time off this year to cope with my health issues (stage IV cancer), and in turn lost some financial aid. Dealing with appointments and my health have been challenging enough without having to worry about paying for an extra year of school. It’s a relief receiving financial help.”
The Todd Davis Endowment is the first of its kind at the university, managed by Campus Health to maintain the HIPAA privacy rule.
To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit: http://go.ncsu.edu/davisendowment.