ECU graduates 5,479 students, holds fireworks display
Fireworks flew and tassels turned on a beautiful spring night in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium as 5,479 students graduated from East Carolina University on May 4.
The sun sets over ECU’s 109th spring commencement on May 4 in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium
The fireworks capped off a new format for ECU’s 109th spring commencement ceremony, which was held in the evening for the first time, with departmental ceremonies throughout the day on Friday and Saturday. Also new this year was Thursday night’s Grad Bash 2K18, a festival-style celebration for graduates, their families and the community in Greenville’s Uptown District with an estimated 2,500 attendees.
At the ceremony, Chancellor Cecil Staton congratulated the graduates on their accomplishment and encouraged them to make a difference. “Today you become a part of the history and legacy of this great university,” he said. “We are counting on you to show us the way to a productive and meaningful future for our communities, our nation and even the world.”
Introducing keynote speaker Linda McMahon, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Staton said, “Today we are honored to have with us one of our own ECU Pirates, an eastern North Carolina success story, a public figure working and advocating on behalf of the 30 million small businesses in the United States.”
Linda McMahon, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration and ECU alumna, gave the keynote address to graduates.
McMahon, a native of New Bern, earned her bachelor’s degree in French and her teaching certification at ECU, and went on to become the co-founder and chief executive officer of World Wrestling Entertainment.
In recognition of her leadership, accomplishments and service, Staton awarded McMahon an honorary doctorate of humanities degree, as approved by the ECU Board of Trustees.
“I’m honored and humbled to share this special day with you,” McMahon said. “I look at your faces and see myself 49 years ago sitting as part of this sea of caps and gowns.”
She said she’s taken a lot of risks and had some failures amid success. She said she always asks questions because she likes to learn how things work. “Challenge the status quo. At work, treat everyday as if it’s your first day on the job,” McMahon said. “Your success will come from doing something better, smarter and more innovative than what’s been done before.”
McMahon encouraged graduates to “find your passion, play to your strengths and never lose your curiosity. I think these apply to business or any path you take. While you can’t script your life, your values will drive your narrative.”
Joining Staton in greeting the graduates were La’Quon Rogers, SGA president; Dr. John Stiller, chair of the faculty; Kieran Shanahan, chair of the ECU Board of Trustees; and David Powers of the UNC Board of Governors, who presented the BOG’s 2018 Award for Excellence in Teaching to Dr. Jami Rhodes, associate professor of voice in the School of Music.
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