The scholarship is established in honor of Mrs. Peggy Wood, former chair of the Health Information Management Department within the East Carolina University School of Allied Health Sciences, who retired in 1996. Mrs. Peggy Wood had a profound influence in the field of health information management and served this field at both the state and national levels, as state president in 1974 and national president in 1985. She was instrumental in the founding of the Assembly on Education and chaired ECU's department of health information management for 26 years. This scholarship, honoring her tradition of service and excellence, is awarded annually to a deserving student who demonstrates a commitment to the health information profession. The scholarship is valued up to $1000 and is awarded to a junior with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and demonstrates a commitment to the health information profession.