IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Actor Emily Procter encourages new ECU graduates to look for opportunities and overcome challenges

“All of us at ECU want you to know that we believe in you,” Staton said. “We have witnessed your potential. Now go out and make your mark on the world.”

Dr. Cecil Staton gives his final commencement address as chancellor of ECU.

During a moment of silence, Staton remembered six ECU students who died during the school year, as well as two UNC-Charlotte students who were killed and others injured in a shooting earlier this week.

Joining Staton in greeting the graduates were Jordan Koonts, SGA president; Dr. Jeff Popke, chair of the faculty; Vern Davenport, vice chair of the ECU Board of Trustees; and David Powers of the UNC Board of Governors, who presented the BOG’s 2019 Award for Excellence in Teaching to Dr. David Wilson-Okamura, professor of English in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences.

In his introduction of the keynote speaker, Staton said Procter began her journey in front of the camera as a student at ECU and as a weekend weather anchor at WNCT in Greenville. 

Originally from Raleigh, Procter earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from ECU in 1991. Following her graduation, Procter moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting which included two seasons as Ainsley Hayes on “The West Wing” and 10 seasons as Detective Calleigh Duquesne on “CSI: Miami.”

She shared stories of her time at ECU and remembered a favorite dance professor, Joe Carow.

“ECU taught me about resiliency and belief that people can be what they decide to be,” Procter said. “And it has nothing to do with what kind of student you are. It has to do with what kind of person you are.”

In closing, she asked the graduates to be intentional. “If one drop of water ripples out wide, imagine what a boatload of Pirates can do.” Procter said.

When Valerie Shiuwegar started working on her degree in 1999, it would be another three years before the first episode of “CSI: Miami” aired. She said her employer, the City of Greenville, made it possible for her to finish her degree, a Bachelor of Science in communication.

“This is 20 years in the making,” she said, “and it just feels really good to finish something that you started.”

Actor Emily Procter ’91 told graduates that “excellence is not a point of destination; it is a habit. There’s no right or wrong way to go through life but it is possible to achieve anything if you take steps forward on a daily basis.”

Kristi Westphal Thomas of Cullowhee worked more than five years to earn her bachelor’s degree in communication with a concentration in interpersonal/organizational communication. She did it all online, and Friday was the first time that the 38-year-old set foot on campus.

“I just wanted to be here,” said Thomas, who is the executive assistant to the vice chancellor of administration and finance at Western Carolina University.

She wanted to get her degree to set an example for her 15-year-old son, Jake, and 12-year-old daughter, Kara-Lou. She raised them both as a single mom before marrying husband Brian, assistant police chief at WCU, just last year. “She’s worked her tail off, from community college to here to everywhere else,” said Brian Thomas, who attended the ceremony with the children and Kristi’s parents, Karen and Steve Westphal, making the six-hour drive across the state. “We’re all real proud of her.”

Decorated mortarboards could be seen atop a sea of purple robes.

Grads clap and cheer for their parents, families and friends who support them.

An ECU graduate shows his Pirate Pride by wearing purple shoes.

Ali Hardy of Vanceboro also majored in communication with a concentration in media studies.

“I came to school to stay out of trouble,” said Hardy, who mentors middle and high school children in New Bern. He transferred to ECU from Elizabeth City State University. He said his degree will help him to better communicate in his work and remain a positive influence on his students. 

The singer and rapper uses music to express himself and connect with teens. “I teach character development, and the way I teach is through music,” Hardy said. “I teach kids that look like me and talk like me.”

Philecia Lanier of Raleigh majored in university studies with a concentration in administrative services. She will be working with the Boys and Girls Club in Winterville. She said she changed her major four times before finding university studies, which allows students to customize their degree path while maintaining credits. “I’m still in disbelief,” she said. “I worked really hard to get here.”

A new graduate captures the view from the field during ECU’s spring commencement at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. He was among more than 5,200 students who graduated from ECU on Friday. Officials awarded 4,074 undergraduate and 1,081 graduate degrees, including 131 doctoral degrees. In addition, 50 dental and 72 medical degrees were awarded.

Recipients of the Robert H. Wright Alumni Leadership Award, the most prestigious presented by the ECU Alumni Association, are, from left, William Michael Taylor of Garner, Meghan Ashley Lower of Greenville, Michael Tyrone Denning Jr. of Garner and Austin James Allen of Asheboro. Ashley Weingartz of Greenville was unable to attend. Read more about these graduates.

Earlier in the day, Dr. Dakota Johnson celebrated his graduation from the Brody School of Medicine with his parents, Eric and Stephanie, his wife, Madison, who is a teaching instructor in ECU’s College of Health and Human Performance, and his 9-month-old son, Brody. Johnson will complete his residency training in emergency medicine at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.

Hours before the ceremony, Bryan and Ellen Safrit of Raleigh set up a tailgate – complete with custom can coolers with their son’s photo and a banner – in the stadium parking lot between Gates 7 and 8.

Their son, Stephen, graduated with a degree in elementary education after recently completing his student teaching at Belvoir Elementary School. He was one of about 25 men receiving an undergraduate degree in education, and the only man in elementary education. “He has such a passion for it, and it’s a dream he’s had,” Bryan Safrit said. “He was born to be a teacher.”

Their older son, Paul, graduated from ECU just last year with a degree in business. “As a parent, I’ve had both my children here, and I can’t recommend ECU enough,” Bryan Safrit said. “Stephen has received so much support from ECU and the College of Education.”

Before the commencement ceremony began, ECU trustee Vern Davenport announced to a group of officials and guests that $133,000 has been committed for a new endowed scholarship to be named the Catherine Davidson Staton Study Abroad Scholarship in honor of the outgoing chancellor’s wife.

Spring graduates captured the view from the field as fireworks erupted behind Dowdy-Ficklen’s southside.